RTBF’s New HQ Hit by €112 Million Construction Dispute
Just one day after the grand inauguration of its new headquarters in the presence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Belgium’s French-language public broadcaster RTBF finds itself at the center of a €112 million construction dispute. The Valbesina consortium — comprising BESIX, InAdvance, and Valens — is claiming the sum from RTBF over costs, delays, and unpaid invoices related to the construction of Media Square, a 38,000 m² state-of-the-art facility on the Reyers site in Brussels.
The Dispute
The consortium filed its initial claim in 2023, but the full scale of the dispute only became public on June 19, 2026, when Belgian financial newspaper L’Écho revealed the figure. The claim has grown significantly from the €70 million first reported in March 2025, according to La Libre Belgique.
Valbesina points to a two-year extension of the construction timeline, which it attributes to modifications imposed by RTBF at “near-zero cost.” The consortium also denounces unpaid invoices and what it describes as an “absence of any discussion” with RTBF management, despite having lodged its claim as early as 2023.
RTBF’s Position
RTBF’s Chief Financial Officer Chris Vandervinne disputes the consortium’s characterization, stating that there is “permanent dialogue” between the parties. He confirmed that the broadcaster has set aside provisions of €116 million by the end of 2025 to cover potential liabilities.
“We are only at the beginning of the procedure with the expertise ongoing,” Vandervinne told RTBF Actus. “We’re in for many years.” Court-appointed experts have been tasked by the Brussels Enterprise Court to assess the claims.
The Media Square Project
Media Square represents a major investment in the future of public broadcasting in Belgium’s French-speaking community. The building, with a total budget of approximately €236 million, was financed in part by a €157 million loan from the European Investment Bank. It features 18 soundproof studios, concrete core activation for energy-efficient heating and cooling, and achieved an airtightness value of 0.30 Vol/h — significantly better than the 0.55 target.
BESIX, which led the construction alongside Valens (part of the Eiffage Group) and InAdvance, announced the successful completion of the building in May 2025. Mark Beyst, General Manager of BESIX Belgium-Luxembourg, noted at the time that the project had faced “the challenges of the pandemic, the inflation in material prices, and production issues due to the geopolitical situation in Ukraine, but also changing demands due to the rapid rise of new media.”
Political and Reputational Fallout
The timing of the dispute’s revelation is particularly damaging for RTBF. The building was inaugurated on June 18, 2026, with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in attendance — a moment meant to celebrate the broadcaster’s modernization. The very next day, the €112 million claim dominated headlines.
The controversy comes at a time of political turbulence for RTBF. In May 2026, five MR (Mouvement Réformateur) board members resigned, and board president Joëlle Milquet faced criticism. Administrator General Jean-Paul Philippot, who hailed Media Square as “a welcoming place for our audiences, stimulating dialogue and equipped with innovative infrastructure,” is set to depart in October 2026.
The €112 million claim represents approximately 47% of the total €236 million budget, raising questions about financial oversight and project management at the public broadcaster. The outcome of the legal proceedings — which Vandervinne expects to last “many years” — could have significant implications for RTBF’s financial stability and its ability to fulfill its public service mission.
What’s Next
With court-appointed experts now assessing the claims, the dispute is expected to be a protracted legal battle. Key questions remain unanswered: What specific modifications did RTBF request that led to the two-year delay? Why did the claim escalate from €70 million to €112 million in just over a year? And how will the departure of Jean-Paul Philippot affect the resolution process?
For now, both sides appear dug in. The consortium maintains that it has been left with no choice but legal action, while RTBF insists it has acted in good faith and set aside adequate provisions. As the legal process unfolds, the dispute serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of large-scale public construction projects — and the reputational risks when celebration and controversy collide.