Belgian School Costs Rising: What Schools Can Charge and How Parents Can Save

As the new school year approaches on September 1, Belgian families are bracing for another year of rising education expenses. School books in secondary education now cost an average of 200 to 300 euros per year, and when laptops and practical materials are added, the total bill can reach hundreds of euros more. According to VRT NWS, the costs vary significantly depending on the study direction, with vocational and technical programs carrying additional expenses for materials such as toolboxes, welding glasses, aprons, and kitchen knives.

The Legal Framework: What Schools Can Charge

The rules differ sharply between primary and secondary education. In primary schools, textbooks must be provided free of charge by law, and a maximum bill (maximumfactuur) caps additional costs at 55 euros for kindergarten and 110 euros for primary education for the 2025-2026 school year, as outlined on the Flemish government’s education website.

Secondary education operates under a different set of rules. There is no maximum bill, no list of materials that schools must provide for free, and no legal cap on what schools can charge. As the Flemish government explains, schools may ask for contributions toward didactic materials, activities, and services, provided these are at reasonable prices and clearly communicated in the school regulations.

Laptop Costs and Reference Prices

One of the fastest-growing expenses is the school laptop. Under the Digiplan program, the Flemish government has established reference prices for mobile devices: 575 euros for a 14-inch Windows laptop, 275 euros for a Chromebook, 475 euros for an iPad, and 250 euros for a refurbished Windows laptop, all including service costs. The Kenniscentrum Digisprong clarifies that these are reference prices, not maximum prices, though schools exceeding them must justify their choice and provide a discount on the school bill.

However, these reference prices are increasingly being exceeded in practice. A survey by Het Nieuwsblad, cited by Vlaams Belang, found that nearly two out of three secondary schools that require laptops charge above the reference prices, with some billing parents hundreds of euros more than the 575-euro benchmark. Vlaams Belang parliamentarian Roosmarijn Beckers argues that the reference prices offer parents little real protection, calling them “an empty political compromise” that was set up as a concession to coalition partner Vooruit.

Political Pressure for a Maximum Bill

Both opposition parties are renewing calls for a legal maximum bill in secondary education. Groen parliamentarian Kim Buyst argues that “the parents’ wallet should never determine which study direction a young person chooses,” noting that while the government has allocated 40 million euros to reduce costs in the most expensive study directions, this support remains limited. “A family still does not know today where the upper limit lies,” Buyst said.

Vlaams Belang has long advocated for a maximum bill as well, pointing out that total school costs in secondary education can reach 1,200 to 1,950 euros per year. As Vlaams Belang parliamentarian Michiel Awouters stated, “More and more families have to choose between paying school bills and basic needs. That is unacceptable.”

The debate is not new. In August 2023, then-Education Minister Ben Weyts argued that a maximum bill for secondary education was “no magic solution” and could make technical and vocational education more expensive, as Knack reported.

The Digisprong Legacy

The current cost pressures have roots in the Digisprong program of 2021-2022, which provided schools with approximately 510 euros per student for laptops. As VRT NWS reported in 2024, those funds have been depleted, and some schools have begun passing laptop costs to parents. Koen Vandenhoudt of the Vlaamse ICT-coordinatoren Liga warned that “abolishing laptops is certainly not an option,” calling for rental systems or other formulas to ensure every student has access to a device.

Practical Tips for Parents

Despite the rising costs, parents have more options than they might think. According to Nele Beerens of Onderwijs Vlaanderen, parents are not required to buy school books from the school’s preferred supplier. While schools can legally require specific textbooks, they cannot dictate where parents purchase them. However, Beerens cautions that buying books independently often costs more, as schools work with large distributors that offer volume discounts.

Practical strategies for keeping costs down include:

• Buy second-hand books through platforms like Vinted or 2dehands.be, though parents should check whether digital licenses are required separately.
• Ask which books are mandatory versus optional, as schools must clearly indicate this.
• Consider a refurbished or existing laptop, as schools cannot force parents to buy new devices, provided the device meets technical requirements.
• Communicate payment difficulties to the school, which must provide financial accommodations such as installment plans, ensuring no child goes without books or a laptop.

For families facing financial strain, the De Morgen reports that some parents describe the summer as “always a stressful period” as they anticipate the school costs for their children. With 10 percent of children in Flanders growing up in families at increased risk of poverty, the affordability of education remains a pressing concern.

What to Watch For

The 40 million euro measure announced by Education Minister Zuhal Demir in June 2026, which provides funding to schools with vocational, arts, or technical programs to reduce costs for parents, represents a step toward addressing the issue. As VRT nws.nws.nws reported, schools can use the funds to purchase materials like construction supplies, knife sets, or protective clothing.

Whether this measure will be sufficient, or whether political pressure will eventually lead to a legal maximum bill in secondary education, remains to be seen. For now, parents are advised to review their school’s contribution regulations carefully, ask questions about mandatory versus optional costs, and reach out to schools early if they anticipate payment difficulties. The Katholiek Onderwijs Vlaanderen has emphasized that reference prices are not maximum prices, but schools are expected to remain within them as much as possible.

As the new school year begins, the debate over who should bear the cost of education - and how much - is far from settled. What is clear is that for many Belgian families, the school bill has become a significant financial burden that requires careful planning and, increasingly, advocacy for change.