Walibi Attractions Lose Permit After Noise Complaints; Park Remains Open

Belgium’s Council of State has annulled the integrated permit granted to Walibi Belgium amusement park in Wavre in June 2022, following a legal challenge from neighboring residents over noise pollution. The ruling, issued on June 29 and published on July 29, means several of the park’s newer attractions are now formally in violation of urban planning regulations, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. Despite the legal setback, the park remains open to visitors while Walibi works with the Walloon Region on a revised permit.

The annulment was triggered by a legal challenge from three neighboring residents and the non-profit organization Les Versants de la Dyle, who have long complained about noise pollution from the park. The affected attractions include the Kondaa mega-coaster, which opened in 2021, the Tiki-Waka roller coaster from 2018, the Fun Pilot from 2019, and the interactive dark ride Popcorn Revenge from 2019. Several renovated restaurants and newly built toilet blocks are also affected, as RTBF reported.

The Typographical Error at the Heart of the Dispute

The core legal issue revolves around a typographical error in the 2022 permit. The Commission de recours des implantations commerciales (CRIC), which granted the permit, referred to Walibi as a “restaurant” (singular) rather than “restaurants” (plural) or “the establishment.” While both parties agreed it was a “scrivener’s error,” they disagreed on the correct replacement term. Walibi argued it should read “restaurants,” while the residents argued it should read “the establishment” to cover the entire park.

The Council of State ruled it could not interpret the contested act, as doing so would risk reforming it, which is beyond its competence. This led to the annulment, as Looopings detailed.

The distinction matters because it determines the scope of noise monitoring requirements. The wording determines whether noise limits apply to the entire park or just specific facilities.

A Long-Running Legal Battle

This is not the first time Walibi’s permits have been challenged. In February 2022, the Council of State annulled the park’s 2018 permit following similar complaints from residents, forcing the park to revert to its 2015 situation. Walibi then received a new permit at the last minute in March 2022, allowing the park to open 100% for the 2022 season, as RTBF reported at the time.

The residents filed an appeal against the integrated permit granted by the CRIC in June 2022, as RTBF confirmed. The dispute has been ongoing since at least 2018, when the park was granted permission to raise daytime noise limits from 55 dBA to 60 dBA, according to Looopings.

Residents have also raised concerns about special event days, which allowed up to 10 exceptional opening days per year with higher noise allowances, and fireworks displays permitted at 75 dBA, as Pretparken.be detailed. The 2022 permit’s noise measurement requirements were a point of contention: the permit text was ambiguous about how often Walibi must conduct noise checks - potentially two per year, or only when new attractions open, as Looopings noted. Residents want measurements at least once a month.

Park Remains Open During Legal Process

Despite the annulment, Walibi has continued operating all attractions. The park argues that the March 2022 permit remains applicable, though this is disputed. Denis Brusselmans, lawyer for Les Versants de la Dyle, told RTBF that the residents have no intention of stopping the park’s activities.

“The law provides that the park continues its activities illegally if it does not stop,” Brusselmans explained. “It is possible to have activities stopped, but the Council of State ruling is not enough. It is necessary to go through a court decision that orders, possibly with a penalty payment, the cessation of activities.”

He noted that since a new decision is expected from the Commission quickly, probably before the end of August, and because the ruling came just before the judicial holidays, it was not deemed appropriate to initiate proceedings to request the cessation of the park’s activities.

What Happens Next

The Commission de recours met on August 18 to hear both parties, and a new permit is expected by September 8, 2026. Walibi has started a new procedure with the Walloon Region for a revised, watertight permit that takes into account the Council of State’s comments.

Walibi stated that the annulment “does not mean that the attractions concerned are without a permit: the March 2022 permit remains applicable. The case is currently being examined by the Appeals Commission, which is the competent authority in this matter and must rule by September 8.”

The Mecalodon family coaster and Dock World themed area from 2025 fall under a separate permit from November 2023, which is also being challenged before the Council of State. A request for temporary suspension was rejected in September 2024.

Both parties have 60 days to appeal any new decision to the Council of State, meaning this legal saga could continue well beyond the summer. The case highlights the tension between economic development and quality of life for nearby residents, as well as the complexity of Belgian administrative law, where even a typographical error can invalidate an entire permit.