Ostend Youth Problems: Local Factors Key, Not Just Brussels Visitors

For years, a persistent narrative has blamed youth-related disturbances in the Belgian coastal city of Ostend on visitors from Brussels. But according to Mayor John Crombez, the reality is far more complex — and local socioeconomic conditions play a significant role that has been overlooked.

In an interview published on June 27, 2026, with La Libre Belgique, Crombez — who became mayor of Ostend in November 2024 — directly challenged the simplistic framing that has dominated public discourse. “I am a happy and proud mayor, because this city is special, well-being is high, and then we have the sea,” he said, while acknowledging that managing this popular tourist destination can prove “complex” in the face of visitor disturbances.

The “Brussels Visitors” Narrative

The narrative linking youth problems in Ostend to visitors from Brussels has been building for several years. In August 2024, a La Libre article quoted Police Inspector Lieven Luyten deploring “a certain mentality, especially among young Brussels residents.” That same month, the mayor of neighboring Middelkerke made headlines by declaring, “It’s a can from Molenbeek that’s thrown on the beach!” — explicitly linking litter to Brussels’ Molenbeek district.

These statements resonated during peak summer periods when Ostend’s population swells dramatically. In August 2024, the city saw up to 68,000 tourists on some days, straining local infrastructure and emergency services. Incidents including drownings, child disappearances, fights, and littering fueled public frustration and reinforced the perception that outside visitors were primarily responsible.

A More Complex Reality

However, data from Ostend’s own youth programs tells a different story. The city’s “Undo project,” launched in July 2022, allows minors from age 14 to perform alternative sanctions — such as writing essays, helping at community centers, or assisting beach rescue services — instead of paying GAS fines of €175 for nuisance offenses.

According to a VRT NWS report from July 2023, nearly one-third of all nuisance offenses recorded in Ostend were committed by local youth aged 14 to 16. Alderman Maxim Donck (N-VA) noted that “of all the observations we could make, almost a third were between 14 and 16,” explaining why the city lowered the eligibility age for the Undo program from 16 to 14.

By July 2023, the city had recorded approximately 60 minor offenses in the program’s first year and 133 in its second year. Yet only about one in five parents chose the alternative sanction over the fine, suggesting that the issue of youth nuisance — whether local or visiting — remains a challenge that simple explanations fail to capture.

Socioeconomic Dimensions

Ostend, a city of approximately 71,000 residents, faces structural challenges that extend beyond seasonal tourism pressure. Like many coastal towns, it has areas of socioeconomic deprivation that contribute to youth issues. The Undo project data demonstrates that local youth are a significant part of the problem — a fact that the “Brussels visitors” narrative obscures.

Crombez, a former president of the Flemish socialist party Vooruit (2015-2019) and former Secretary of State for the Fight against Social and Fiscal Fraud, has political incentives to present a nuanced view. As a socialist mayor governing in coalition with the N-VA, he must balance the concerns of local residents with the need to avoid stigmatizing an entire group based on the actions of a few.

Implications for Social Cohesion

The debate over Ostend’s youth problems carries broader implications for Belgium’s social fabric. The simplistic “Brussels visitors” narrative risks deepening divisions between Dutch-speaking Flemish residents of Ostend and French-speaking Brussels residents, potentially exacerbating the country’s linguistic and regional tensions.

If the problem is framed as “outsiders causing trouble,” policy responses tend to focus on exclusion — bans, increased policing, and restrictions. But if the reality is more complex, involving local socioeconomic factors and the structural challenges of managing a tourist city with limited resources, then more holistic solutions are needed.

What’s Next

As Ostend heads into another summer season — with Belgium experiencing a significant heatwave, including temperatures reaching 44°C in Brussels in late June 2026 — the pressure on the city’s infrastructure and services will only intensify. Mayor Crombez has indicated that problematic individuals can be banned from certain places in the municipality, but he appears committed to a more nuanced approach that addresses root causes rather than scapegoating visitors.

The interview with La Libre Belgique represents a significant intervention in an ongoing public debate — a reminder that the most convenient explanations are not always the most accurate ones.