Flemish Out-of-School Childcare Costs Surge as BOA Decree Takes Effect

Out-of-school childcare prices are rising sharply across multiple Flemish cities and municipalities as the new BOA decree (Buitenschoolse Opvang en Activiteiten) prepares to take full effect on 1 September 2026. The reform, which transfers responsibility for organizing after-school care from the Flemish government to local authorities, has led to price increases of up to 100 percent in some municipalities, prompting fierce criticism from the opposition PVDA party.

What the BOA Decree Changes

The BOA decree fundamentally reorganizes out-of-school childcare in Flanders. Under the new framework, cities and municipalities take full responsibility for organizing care and setting their own tariffs. Crucially, the reform expands the scope of care beyond simple supervision — municipalities must now offer structured activities including sports, arts, music, and creative workshops. According to VRT NWS, the decree was initially approved in 2019 and has been implemented with various transitional provisions since January 2021.

Price Increases Vary by Municipality

The impact on families differs significantly depending on where they live. In Mechelen, the tariff has doubled from €0.75 to €1.50 per started half-hour. Denderleeuw saw a 50 percent increase from €1.00 to €1.50. Hasselt and Genk have standardized their rates at €1.25, meaning some parents pay more while others pay less than before. Ghent has abolished certain fixed fees, making care more expensive for parents who require longer hours. This marks the first price increase for out-of-school childcare since 2013, though social tariffs remain in place across all municipalities.

Political Backlash

Lise Vandecasteele, a PVDA parliamentary member, has been the most vocal critic of the price hikes. “In many places in Flanders, the prices of out-of-school childcare are seriously increasing. It’s really about doubling,” Vandecasteele told VRT NWS. “The cities and municipalities are passing the bill on to parents.”

Vandecasteele warned that the increases threaten the accessibility of childcare for working families. “A quarter of families have difficulty paying the bill. If it rises further, it will become unaffordable for more and more people,” she said. The PVDA is calling for additional Flemish funding and the introduction of maximum price caps to prevent further cost escalation.

The Funding Gap Debate

At the heart of the controversy is a significant funding gap. The Flemish government has allocated €200 million for the reform, but organizations including the VVSG (Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities), Gezinsbond (Family League), and Vlaams Welzijnsverbond (Flemish Welfare Association) estimate that €334 million is needed to deliver quality care across Flanders — a shortfall of approximately €134 million.

Minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit), who oversees the reform, defends the government’s approach. Her cabinet noted that the budget was increased by €80 million during the current legislative term, with an additional €80 million set aside for municipal startup costs. “We want to evolve towards a quality after-school care offering close to home for every child rather than an offering for a limited group of children,” Gennez stated. She emphasized that local authorities make their own choices about organization and tariffs but must consider affordability and accessibility.

Local Officials Respond

Local officials acknowledge the price increases but point to rising quality standards and insufficient subsidies from the Flemish government. Sabe De Graef, an alderman in Mechelen (Vooruit), defended the city’s decision to double its tariff, noting that the new rate includes collaborations with neighborhood associations, a minimum supervisor ratio of 1 per 21 children, and that the social tariff remains in effect. Jo De Ro, mayor of Vilvoorde (Anders-CD&V), stated that price increases are unavoidable given the funding shortfall.

Broader Implications

The price hikes come at a time when Belgian families are already facing significant cost-of-living pressures, with inflation reported at 3.4 percent on the same day. The PVDA argues that the reform’s goals of supporting dual-income families and providing enriching after-school activities may be undermined if families cannot afford participation.

As early as September 2023, a VVSG survey of eight out of ten Flemish municipalities warned that the BOA decree could lead to a smaller and more expensive out-of-school care offering. With the full implementation now weeks away, the question remains whether the Flemish government will increase its budget allocation to close the funding gap — or whether families will bear the cost of quality childcare.

What to Watch For

As the 1 September deadline approaches, attention will focus on how families in different municipalities respond to the price increases, whether the promised quality improvements materialize, and what impact the changes have on female labor participation, given that women still bear a disproportionate share of childcare responsibilities. The political debate is likely to intensify, with the PVDA potentially gaining support from affected families ahead of future elections.