Bruges Seeks Removal of Vlaams Belang Council Member
The city of Bruges is seeking to remove Marie Laeremans, a Vlaams Belang city council member, from her position after authorities determined she no longer resides in the city. The Bruges College of Mayor and Aldermen voted on Monday to strike Laeremans from the municipal population register, citing seven police home visits to her registered address at Adriaan Willaertstraat 7 that found her absent each time, according to VRT NWS.
Laeremans, 55, who has served on the council since October 2024, categorically denies the allegations. “I still live above the hospitality business I run in Bruges’ city center,” she told VRT NWS. “Nothing has changed. Of course I will contest this decision. This really feels like a personal reckoning.”
The Residency Dispute
The city claims Laeremans actually resides in Sint-Martens-Latem, a wealthy municipality in East Flanders near Ghent, where her partner reportedly owns a secondary residence. Mayor Dirk De fauw (CD&V) explained that the decision followed multiple police checks at her official address above Coffeebar Adriaan in the city center.
“She was absent each time,” De fauw said. “That’s why she was removed from the population register.” The mayor noted that such removals occur regularly, stating that “this certainly happens monthly. Many people move elsewhere without reporting it to the Population department.”
According to KW.be, investigators went as far as checking whether a toothbrush was present at the residence during their visits.
Laeremans’ Response
Laeremans says she was on vacation when the decision was made and learned about it through the press rather than through official channels. “I was completely taken by surprise,” she said. “I’m on vacation. I had to learn about it through the press. That decision was made on Monday at the College and yesterday I was called by a journalist from De Krant van West-Vlaanderen.”
She also noted that she has not yet been contacted by the council chairperson, Annick Lambrecht. “I still haven’t heard from the chairperson,” Laeremans said. “Maybe they sent me a letter, but I missed it because, as I said, I’m on vacation.”
Vlaams Belang faction leader Stefaan Sintobin has voiced support for Laeremans, calling the procedure “shameful” and suggesting it resembles a “witch hunt.” He noted that Laeremans’ partner’s secondary residence in Sint-Martens-Latem is “not forbidden as far as I know,” according to Focus-WTV.
Procedural Path Forward
Under Flemish municipal law, council members must meet eligibility requirements, including residency in the municipality, to continue serving. This is verified through the population register, as outlined by the Flemish government’s local governance portal.
Laeremans now has 30 days to contest the removal before the commission in Brussels (Ministry of the Interior). If she does not contest, or loses the appeal, the procedure moves to the city council, which can declare her mandate void for failing to meet residency requirements.
Mayor De fauw explained the stakes: “If she doesn’t do that, she essentially admits she was wrongly registered in the population register. Then the procedure will automatically follow for the city council, where it will be determined that she no longer meets the requirements to serve as a council member.”
The Bruges city council website still lists Laeremans with her address at Adriaan Willaertstraat 7, according to the city’s official council member directory.
Political Implications
The dispute carries notable political undertones. Laeremans, who joined Vlaams Belang in 2023 and was elected on the party’s fourth-place list position in October 2024, has framed the decision as a “personal reckoning,” suggesting she believes political motivations may be at play.
Her background as a hospitality entrepreneur who runs Coffeebar Adriaan and a B&B above the establishment adds a local business dimension to the case. In a 2024 interview with KW.be, she emphasized her commitment to protecting Flemish identity and promoting quality tourism in Bruges.
What’s Next
The coming weeks will determine whether Laeremans can provide evidence of her Bruges residency or successfully contest the administrative decision. A positive domicile check could resolve the matter before it reaches the council. If the appeal fails, the city council will hold a hearing where Laeremans can present her case before any final decision on her mandate.
This case could set a precedent for how Belgian municipalities enforce residency requirements for elected officials, testing the legal framework that governs municipal council membership across the country.