Flemish Budget Hit as 200+ Pilots Demand Up to €18 Million
The Flemish government is facing a significant financial setback as more than 200 maritime pilots collectively demand up to €18 million in back pay for unpaid seniority compensation, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. The claims, which include substantial late payment interest, represent an unexpected expenditure that will need to be addressed in the regional government’s financial planning.
The dispute dates back to 2002, when the Flemish government issued a circular letter requiring pilots to hold a “kapitein van de lange omvaart” (long voyage captain) brevet, equivalent to 60 months of experience—or 8.5 years including weekends and holidays. The government allegedly failed to pay this seniority for years, setting the stage for a legal battle that has now escalated into a multi-million euro claim.
What Are Maritime Pilots?
Maritime pilots are experienced professionals who guide ships safely through the Westerschelde, Beneden-Zeeschelde, Boven-Zeeschelde, and the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal to the ports of Ghent, Antwerp-Bruges, and Brussels. They are civil servants employed by the DAB Loodswezen, part of the Agency for Maritime Services and Coast (MDK). Pilots work day and night, and experienced pilots can earn €9,000-10,000 net per month. The Beroepsvereniging van Loodsen (BvL), founded in 1944, represents the interests of river, canal, and multivalent pilots in Belgium.
A Two-Decade-Old Dispute
About 20 years ago, one pilot took the government to court over the unpaid seniority and won approximately €25,000 in back pay. Dozens of other pilots followed suit and were also successful in court. The government then reached a settlement (dading) and paid over €1 million in back seniority to pilots who did not go to court.
Despite these settlements, approximately 210 pilots who pursued legal action are now collectively demanding €16-18 million from the court. The high amount is partly due to late payment interest (nalatigheidsinteresten) that has accumulated over the years. A court ruling in first instance is expected in March 2027.
In August 2024, the government’s own Agency for Government Personnel estimated the total amount owed for seniority dossiers at approximately €10 million, as Flows.be reported. The current claim has since grown to €16-18 million, reflecting the additional interest that has accrued.
Pension Reform Conflict and Port Disruptions
The seniority dispute is not the only source of tension between pilots and the Flemish government. Since October 2024, pilots have been conducting actions against the federal pension reform, which would have reduced pilot pensions by up to 45% for new entrants. The actions caused significant disruption to Flemish ports, with up to 140 ships waiting at times.
The conflict reached a critical point in October 2025, when a full-scale strike began. As the Scheepvaartkrant reported, about 100 ships were waiting to enter or exit the ports of Antwerp, Ghent, and Zeebrugge, while shipping companies increasingly diverted vessels to other ports. An ACOD spokesperson criticized the government’s approach, saying, “They simply confronted the sector with a dictate.”
The social actions in 2025 cost Port of Antwerp-Bruges an estimated 2.4 million tons of throughput—about 1% of annual volume—according to CEO Jacques Vandermeiren, as Flows.be reported. Ships were diverted to other ports, including MSC container ships avoiding Antwerp, and cruise ships avoided Zeebrugge.
The July 2026 Pension Agreement
After months of negotiations, the Beroepsvereniging van Loodsen (BvL) reached a pension reform agreement with Flemish Ports Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) in early July 2026. The VRT NWS reported that Minister De Ridder expressed satisfaction with the agreement, writing on X: “Satisfied that we have reached an agreement with the pilots of BvL. Relieved that the service to our ports can be resumed and we are now working on the further translation within the competent consultation bodies.”
Under the agreement, a young newly-started pilot still builds up €800 less gross pension per month than a currently retired colleague. Without the agreement, the loss would have been €1,800 gross per month. The net pension of a young pilot is approximately €2,800. The Flows.be reported that the agreement brought an end to the actions that had a heavy impact on shipping. The Schuttevaer.nl also confirmed that the agreement ended the months-long conflict that had disrupted service to Flemish ports since October of the previous year.
A New Private Pilot Company
Despite the pension agreement, tensions remain. In June 2026, a group of about ten pilots announced plans to establish a private pilot service (Vlaams Loodswezen) to start in 2027, operating alongside the existing public DAB Loodswezen. As HLN reported, Geert Dermaut (ACOD) criticized the initiative, saying: “The rigid political attitude of recent months now gets an explanation. They were already working behind the scenes to set up such a private pilot service. They are trying to break the pilots’ right to strike here.”
Harbor employers’ organizations reacted positively to the private initiative. HLN reported that VeGHO, Alfaport Voka, APZI-Voka, and OPUA-Voka stated: “A smooth and reliable nautical chain is essential for the competitiveness of our ports.” The organizations see a parallel system of public and private pilots as an opportunity to strengthen the reliability, efficiency, and customer focus of nautical services.
What This Means for the Flemish Budget
The €16-18 million claim represents a significant unexpected expenditure for the Flemish government, particularly at a time when it is already dealing with the economic fallout from the port disruptions. The government’s own estimate from 2024 was approximately €10 million, meaning the claim has grown by 60-80% due to accumulated interest.
The pilots’ actions in 2025-2026 have also had a measurable economic impact. The Knack reported that during national strikes, the port estimated economic damage of €1 million per hour. While the pension agreement has brought some stability, the seniority dispute remains unresolved and could further strain the relationship between pilots and the government.
What to Watch For
The court ruling in first instance, expected in March 2027, will be a critical moment. If the court rules in favor of the pilots, the Flemish government could face a payout of up to €18 million, plus potentially additional interest. The government will need to plan for this contingency in its budget.
Meanwhile, the proposed private pilot company, slated to begin operations in 2027, could fundamentally reshape the maritime pilot landscape in Flanders. Whether it succeeds in reducing disruptions or further complicates labor relations remains to be seen. For now, the pilots’ seniority claim looms as a significant financial challenge for the Flemish government, with implications for both its budget and its relationship with a critical maritime workforce.