After-School Care Costs Rise in 1 in 3 Municipalities

Starting September 1, one in three Flemish municipalities is raising prices for after-school care, according to a survey by the Vereniging van Vlaamse Steden en Gemeenten (VVSG) among 97 local governments. The increases follow the implementation of the BOA-decreet, which transfers full responsibility for organizing after-school care to cities and municipalities. VRT NWS reports that this marks the first price increase for after-school care since 2013.

The BOA-decreet Reform

The BOA-decreet (Buitenschoolse Opvang en Activiteiten) is a Flemish government measure that regulates how municipalities organize after-school care and leisure activities for children aged 3 to 12. It covers care before and after school, on Wednesday afternoons, during holidays, and on school-free days. The reform aims to provide children with maximum freedom of choice in their after-school activities while helping parents combine work or education with family life, as Vlaanderen.be explains.

The previous system of after-school care (IBO) had been in place for about 50 years, organized and subsidized directly by the Flemish government. Under the new system, local governments receive subsidies directly and decide how to organize care—either themselves, through schools, or through external partners.

Price Increases Across Flanders

The Flemish government distributes 200 million euros annually among 285 cities and municipalities for the reform. However, calculations by VVSG, Gezinsbond, and Vlaams Welzijnsverbond indicate that approximately 334 million euros would be needed for quality care across Flanders—meaning only two-thirds of the required funding is provided. HLN reports that nine out of ten municipalities add their own funding on top of the Flemish contribution, with about half contributing between 100,000 and 500,000 euros extra annually.

Specific price changes vary by municipality. In Dendermonde, the rate rises from 1 euro to 1.5 euro per started half-hour. In Mechelen, prices double for some parents from 0.75 to 1.5 euro. In Kortrijk, schools may charge up to 2 euro per started half-hour. In Ternat, the price actually decreased by 10 cents to 1.35 euro per started half-hour. In slightly more than half of municipalities, prices remain the same, and in 2 percent, prices actually decrease.

“We see that cities and municipalities fully support that goal and are now investing much more in collaborations between schools, associations, and care initiatives,” says Nathalie Debast, spokesperson for VVSG. “But financing remains the biggest challenge.”

Concerns About Affordability

Netwerk tegen Armoede (Network against Poverty) warns that access to after-school care is becoming dependent on where families live. “It depends very much on where you live whether you will be able to afford after-school care,” says Heidi Degerickx of Netwerk tegen Armoede. “We’re worried about that, because children, especially from socially vulnerable families, need that environment to develop their talents and opportunities. We’re asking for a Flemish income-based rate for after-school care, like in childcare.”

PVDA parliamentarian Lise Vandecasteele has also criticized the price increases, noting that cities and municipalities are passing the bill on to parents. “In many places in Flanders, after-school care prices are seriously going up. We’re really talking about doubling,” she said. “A quarter of families struggle to pay the bill. If it keeps rising, it will become unaffordable for more and more people.”

VVSG defends local autonomy over pricing, with Debast arguing that “the BOA-decreet gives autonomy to local governments. The offering will be different in each municipality, so pricing should also remain in the hands of municipalities.”

Local Protests and Adjustments

The reform has sparked protests in several municipalities. In Kapelle-op-den-Bos, parents started a petition because free after-school care was shortened and children would be bused to a central location, as VRT NWS reported. In Sint-Niklaas, about 30 parents protested at city hall before the city reached an agreement guaranteeing care at all schools with a transition period until September 2027, according to VRT NWS. In Tielt, a petition gathered 1,500 signatures, leading the city to keep one of four locations open, as VRT NWS documented.

Childcare workers also protested in Brussels in April, citing job insecurity and quality concerns under the new system. As VRT NWS reported, workers fear losing seniority, pay, or benefits when organizations change through tendering processes. “Stability falls away,” said Kathleen Claes of Ferm Kinderopvang. “For children, continuity is essential for their development.”

Quality Improvements and Remaining Challenges

Despite the cost increases, two out of three municipalities report that the quality of the offering has improved, with 43 percent now able to organize more activities. The number of care places remains the same in 66 percent of municipalities, and opening hours remain unchanged in 83 percent.

However, two out of three municipalities say they need additional resources to meet the reform’s objectives. The VVSG is asking the Flemish government for extra financial support for local governments in the 2027 budget. As TVL reports, the funding gap remains the central challenge, with concerns that further price increases or reduced services may follow if additional resources are not allocated.

What’s Next

The VVSG’s request for additional funding in the 2027 Flemish budget will be a key test of the government’s commitment to the reform. With some municipalities starting later due to transition periods, implementation across Flanders remains uneven. The debate over whether pricing should remain in local hands or be standardized at the Flemish level—as Netwerk tegen Armoede and PVDA advocate—is likely to intensify as families across the region adjust to the new costs.