Violent Fight Between Seasonal Workers Forces Evacuation of Belgian Hotel Domain

A large brawl between seasonal workers at the Château de Looz hotel domain in Hoepertingen (Borgloon), in the Belgian province of Limburg, forced police to evacuate the premises on Thursday evening after approximately 300 people were found staying in a building permitted for only 50 to 60 guests. Three people were seriously injured and taken to hospital, according to VRT NWS.

The Incident

Around 50 people were involved in the fight, split into two groups of roughly 20 to 25 each, according to Mayor Jo Feytons of Tongeren-Borgloon. “Different groups got into a fight with each other and a large brawl broke out,” Feytons told HLN. “They kept hitting each other with iron bars of two meters long and wooden sticks with sharp points. It was intense.”

Three victims were transported to hospital with serious injuries, though one reportedly jumped out of the ambulance en route and never arrived. The local police zone Haspengouw received assistance from other police zones to bring the situation under control.

Neighbors reported hearing what they believed to be gunshots, but neither police nor the mayor could confirm this. Feytons noted that the sound of two iron bars striking each other could resemble a gunshot. No suspects have been arrested.

Capacity Violation and Evacuation

The scale of the accommodation breach became apparent during the police response. According to TVL, approximately 300 people—primarily seasonal workers in the region for fruit picking—were staying at the facility, far exceeding its permit capacity of 50 to 60 guests.

“There was a permit for 50 to 60 guests,” Feytons said. “The police therefore had to evacuate the hotel because safety could not be guaranteed.” The mayor ordered the evacuation, as reported by Belga.

The hotel owners stated that the seasonal workers were housed in outbuildings of the domain, not in the hotel itself, and that the workers were not employed by Château de Looz. “To avoid any misunderstanding: the seasonal workers did not stay in the hotel and were not employed by Château de Looz,” the owners said in a statement. “Our hotel guests were not involved in the incident.”

This was reportedly the third disturbance at the location within one week, according to regional press reports.

Impact on the Fruit Sector

The incident comes at the peak of the fruit harvest season in Haspengouw, Belgium’s main fruit-growing region. Fruit growers who had arranged accommodation for their seasonal workers at the hotel domain must now find alternative housing.

“This is very unfortunate for the fruit sector,” Feytons lamented. “Seasonal workers are very important for the sector and work hard, and because of this incident a certain number of people will not go to work. Several fruit growers have had to let the seasonal workers leave. We must ensure safety, but it’s unfortunate for the sector. And right at the peak of the harvest…”

Broader Housing Concerns

The incident highlights persistent challenges with seasonal worker accommodation in Belgium. Housing quality for agricultural workers has been a recurring concern across Flanders. In a separate report from August, VRT NWS noted that inspections in Vlaams-Brabant found problems in 95 of 100 checked housing units, including missing smoke detectors, electrical hazards, and unsafe stairs. Flanders has specific rules for seasonal worker housing that are currently under evaluation.

Château de Looz itself is a recently renovated four-star hotel. The 17th-century water castle, formerly known as Kasteel Mariagaarde, was purchased in 2022 by the van Vloten brothers and opened as a hotel in March 2024 after a complete renovation, according to Hotel Business.

What’s Next

Mayor Feytons said he will meet with the hotel operator to discuss how the capacity was so significantly exceeded. “Normally all workers must register, but perhaps they registered in different municipalities to bypass the control,” he suggested. All seasonal workers must leave the accommodation, and fruit growers must arrange alternative housing for their workforce.

The cause of the fight remains under investigation, and authorities have yet to identify or arrest any suspects.