Large Fire in Suspected Squat in Ghent Forces Evacuation
A large fire broke out in a suspected squat in central Ghent early Wednesday morning, causing the second floor to collapse and forcing the evacuation of approximately 200 hotel guests and dozens of nearby residents. No injuries were reported.
Fire services received the alert in the early hours of July 15 at the Lange Boomgaardstraat, near the Zuid district, according to VRT NWS. The blaze quickly escalated into a fully developed fire, with flames spreading through the vacant property suspected of being occupied by squatters.
Rapid Response and Evacuation
Multiple crews from Brandweerzone Centrum responded to the scene. Anouk Veyt, spokesperson for the fire department, told HLN that the second floor of the building collapsed during the blaze, complicating the operation. “It was presumably a squat. Our crews had a lot of firefighting work,” Veyt said.
The fire was so intense that it spread to an adjacent property, which was also declared uninhabitable. The burning building sat next to Hotel Getaway on Seminariestraat, where roughly 200 guests were staying. All hotel guests and dozens of local residents were evacuated as a precaution and temporarily housed at the Van Eyck swimming pool.
Firefighters conducted three complete sweeps of the building to search for potential victims. “We conducted three sweeps to check if there were any victims, but no one was found,” Veyt confirmed. The all-clear was given in the early morning, allowing residents and hotel guests to return to their homes and rooms.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Police and the public prosecutor’s office (parket) have launched an investigation and appointed a fire expert to determine the origin of the blaze. The building has been seized by authorities, and the Lange Boomgaardstraat remains closed to traffic with a fire crew monitoring the site.
A Longstanding Issue in Ghent
The incident has reignited debate about squatting in Ghent, a city with a well-documented history of property occupation. In December 2017, the City of Ghent introduced an 11-point action plan to address squatting, combining repressive and preventive measures, as VRT NWS reported. The plan included establishing a contact point for property owners, appointing a vacancy coach, and investing €10 million in social housing.
More recently, squatting in social housing has declined significantly. According to a VRT NWS report from November 2025, cases dropped from 294 in 2023 to just 135 in 2024 — a 54% decline — with only 52 cases reported in the first ten months of 2025. However, as then-alderman Filip Watteeuw noted, “We will never be able to completely eliminate squatting.”
Broader Concerns
This fire highlights ongoing tensions around squatting in private properties. Neighbors quoted in HLN reported that the occupants had been causing nuisance in the area for some time but that no action had been taken. Under Belgian federal law, squatting is a criminal offense, but for vacant properties, the owner must first file a complaint with police — a process that some residents and commenters suggest is too slow.
The incident also raises questions about public safety risks in squatted buildings, which often lack proper fire safety measures, insurance, and maintenance. With two homes now uninhabitable, the financial burden falls on property owners, as squatters typically do not carry insurance.
What to Watch For
As the investigation continues, attention will turn to whether this incident prompts renewed calls for stricter enforcement or faster eviction procedures in Ghent. The fire serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with abandoned properties, and city officials may face pressure to review current policies balancing property rights, public safety, and the underlying housing affordability issues that drive squatting.