Brussels Plans Second Car-Free Day for 2027 Amid Mayors’ Funding Demands

Brussels is set to introduce a second annual car-free day in 2027, expanding the long-running “Dimanche sans voiture” tradition that has closed the city to traffic every September for decades. While the 19 Brussels mayors broadly support the initiative, they have made their backing conditional on one key demand: that the Brussels Region cover all organizational costs.

The proposal, included in the regional government’s coalition agreement, was first announced by Lotte Stoops (Groen), Vice-President of the Brussels Parliament, during the Fête de l’Iris celebrations in May 2026, as reported by RTBF. Since then, it has sparked a lively debate over funding, timing, and the broader direction of the city’s mobility policy.

The Mayors’ Bottom Line: Regional Funding Required

At a meeting on July 2 between the Conference of Mayors, Minister-President Boris Dilliès (MR), and Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen), the mayors delivered a unified message: they are in favor of a second car-free day, but not if it strains municipal budgets.

“No date has been fixed or revealed,” said Benoît Cerexhe (Les Engagés), Mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. “But overall, we mayors are in favor of this second day — provided that the organization costs are covered by the Brussels Region.”

Sophie Devos (DéFI), Mayor of Auderghem and President of the Conference of Mayors, echoed the sentiment: “We reiterated that we do not want this to be an additional financial burden for the communes.”

The costs are not trivial. Police zone expenses range from €27,000 for the Marlow zone (Auderghem, Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort) to €70,000 for the West zone (Molenbeek, Berchem, Jette, Ganshoren, Koekelberg). Municipal staffing adds another €15,000 to €27,000 per commune. The Montgomery police zone, covering Etterbeek and the Woluwe communes, requires over 70 officers at a cost of €37,000 for a typical car-free Sunday.

The Date Controversy: Mother’s Day and School Holidays

The most contentious issue has been the proposed date. The second car-free day is tentatively planned for around May 8-9, 2027 — coinciding with the Fête de l’Iris, Mother’s Day, and the end of Francophone school holidays.

Olivier Maingain (Libre.s), Mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, has been the most vocal opponent. “There will not be a single staff member assigned to organizing a second Car-Free Day,” he declared, estimating his commune’s cost at €30,000. He argued that holding the event on the Sunday following May 8 would trap families returning from holiday at the city gates.

Geoffroy Coomans de Brachène, an MR Brussels deputy, published a carte blanche in 21news.be criticizing the plan, calling the date “not insignificant” and accusing policymakers of being “disconnected from family realities.”

Minister-President Boris Dilliès has since intervened, clarifying that the date “is not decided” and that organizing the day on Mother’s Day would be “counterproductive.” Mobility Minister Van den Brandt has promised to return to the mayors with concrete proposals by September 2026.

Beyond the Date: Safety, Awareness, and Political Dynamics

The debate extends beyond scheduling. The 2025 car-free day was marred by a tragedy when a young girl was struck and killed by a vehicle in Forest, highlighting the need for better safety measures. Mayors and regional officials agree that the second edition should focus on genuine sustainable mobility awareness rather than becoming a “giant neighborhood party” or “urban aperitif.”

The proposal also reveals tensions within the Brussels coalition government. While Mobility Minister Van den Brandt (Groen) is driving the expansion — she has previously expressed interest in up to four car-free days per year — her coalition partners in MR have been more cautious. The mayors, unusually united across party lines, have made regional funding their non-negotiable condition.

What’s Next

With the traditional September car-free Sunday approaching on September 20 — which will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Brussels metro — the political calendar is set for a decisive autumn. Van den Brandt has committed to presenting concrete proposals to the mayors by then, including a finalized date and a clear funding plan.

If the region agrees to cover costs and a suitable date can be found, Brussels will join a select group of European capitals hosting two citywide car-free days annually. If not, the plan could stall — revealing the delicate balance between Brussels’ green ambitions and the practical realities of governing 19 distinct communes.

Reporting based on sources from RTBF, Bruxelles City News, Bruxelles Today, and 21news.be.