Liège Converts 3,000 Free Parking Spaces to Paid Zones

The city of Liège is extending its paid parking zone to the Outremeuse and Fragnée (Guillemins) districts, converting approximately 3,000 previously free parking spaces into paid spaces starting in November 2026. Residents have already noticed dozens of new parking meters being installed across both neighborhoods, wrapped in black plastic as the city prepares for the transition, according to RTBF.

The measure will be on the agenda of the Liège communal council on Monday, September 7, where the PTB opposition party has already signaled its opposition. Econostrum notes the change is part of a broader effort to coordinate parking policy with the arrival of the tram and new P+R facilities.

Context: A Broader Parking Reform

The extension is part of a comprehensive parking policy reform that took effect on July 1, 2024, following the arrival of the city’s new tram system. The reform simplified resident parking zones from 60 to 17 larger areas and introduced a range of new tariff structures, as detailed by QU4TRE. As the City of Liège explains, the objectives include reducing the “edge effect” in neighborhoods bordering existing paid zones, eliminating “anchor vehicles” that occupy spaces for days on end, and promoting alternative mobility options.

What Changes in Each District

In Outremeuse, the current configuration includes 1,094 resident spaces, 440 paid spaces, and 2,330 free spaces. After the change, the district will maintain its 1,094 resident spaces while the paid spaces will increase to 2,770, as reported by La DH. The district faces significant traffic pressure from major generators including the B3 cultural center, school clusters, the Palais des Congrès, and the Boverie museum.

In Fragnée, near the Liège-Guillemins railway station, 216 resident spaces will be preserved while paid spaces will grow from 90 to 690, according to L’Avenir. The area is heavily impacted by the station’s 450 daily trains, substantial real estate developments, and nearby schools. A total of 68 new parking meters are being installed in Outremeuse and 30 in Fragnée, with card payment capability planned for the November activation.

City Defends the Measure

Joëlle Saive, spokesperson for the City of Liège, told RTBF that the goal is to eliminate so-called “anchor vehicles.” “When there are free spaces, we sometimes see vehicles parked for a week without moving,” she said. “This prevents rotation of vehicles and parking spaces, and doesn’t facilitate commercial or service functions.”

Mayor Willy Demeyer has previously defended the expansion as a matter of protecting neighborhoods suffering from intense car pressure. “We’re not banning cars, but we regulate their use,” he said in an earlier RTBF report from August 2025.

The city emphasizes that residents will not be disadvantaged. Each household can maintain up to three free resident parking cards, and residents can park free on paid spaces within their own zone. Free parking remains available for close caregivers, the first 15 minutes are free for everyone, and SHOP&DRIVE spaces remain free for 30 minutes.

Mixed Reactions from Workers and Businesses

Not everyone is convinced. Isabelle, a bakery saleswoman who parks on the right bank of the Meuse, told RTBF that she will now have to pay to come to work. “When you work, it shouldn’t be to have to pay for a parking space,” she said. “There’s a subscription, but it’s expensive.”

Virginie, a midwifery student at Haute École du Barbou, expressed similar concerns: “I park here every day because it’s free. I don’t know what I’ll do. It’s really annoying because we’re students. It’s not easy for us already.”

Local merchants are divided. Laurent Beudels, president of the neighborhood committee, said reactions range from merchants fearing they will lose customers to those who say they will finally regain clients who couldn’t find parking. “I’ve had reactions from merchants saying it’s a catastrophe, I’ll lose my customers, and other merchants telling me it’s great, I’ll finally get back customers who couldn’t find parking when they came to my shop,” he told RTBF.

Political Opposition

The PTB opposition party has consistently opposed the expansion since the city first signaled its intention to potentially triple the paid parking zone in August 2025, as La DH reported at the time. Sophie Lecron, PTB group leader in Liège, has accused the city of using parking fees to “fill the municipal coffers with the money of the people of Liège,” as reported by RTBF. The party has long argued that the city lacks viable alternatives to car use, pointing to the example of Dunkerque, France, where free public transport significantly reduced car usage. The PTB Liège has also highlighted the financial burden on home-care workers and teachers who depend on their cars.

The city counters that reduced subscription rates address these concerns. Annual subscriptions for home-care professionals have been cut from €600 to €100, and Liège residents living outside the paid zone can access a reduced annual rate of €400 instead of €600. A daily flat-rate ticket of €6 is also available for all users.

What to Watch For

The communal council vote on Monday will be a key test of political support for the measure. If approved, the paid zone will be activated in November, and the city says it will continue to promote alternative transport options, including the tram, bus networks, and cycling infrastructure serving both districts. As the City of Liège notes, the reform is part of a broader effort to make the city more livable while accommodating the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors alike.