Oudenaarde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Oudenaarde will enforce an alcohol ban around the train station from October 1, 2025. Mayor John Adam (Open VLD) said police can confiscate open containers to maintain safety and cleanliness.
As VRT News reported, Oudenaarde, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, will enforce a complete alcohol ban in and around the train station starting October 1st, 2025. The city took this step after residents reported repeated disturbances caused by groups drinking in public. Mayor John Adam (Open VLD) said the noise and behaviour of these groups make neighbours feel unsafe.
“The police will also be allowed to confiscate openly packages.”
John Adam, Mayor of Oudenaarde (Open VLD)
Why is Oudenaarde implementing an alcohol ban around the train station?
The problem also includes litter. Communities leaving behind cans, bottles and other waste have lowered the quality of life in the streets surrounding the station. Mayor Adam stated they want to be better about cleanliness and create a more welcoming environment.
“This means that alcohol will no longer be allowed in the station area, on the platforms, in the bicycle parking facilities, or in the surrounding streets. And the police will also be authorised to confiscate open containers,”
explains John Adam
Concerns have emerged that banning alcohol around the station might push the problem to other areas. Mayor John Adam (Open VLD) said the city is aware of this risk.
“We will apply the ban for six months and then evaluate the results,”
he explained.
“If needed, we will make adjustments to ensure the measure works effectively.”
Oudenaarde has already taken several steps to manage the issue.
“That helped, and we will certainly take further action in the near future, but I can’t say anything about that yet,”
said the mayor.
Since the summer holidays, a reporting centre has operated at the station, staffed regularly by a community warden and a youth worker to help residents and respond to complaints. The municipal council will decide on the alcohol ban on September 25, 2025.
“Young people and others can go there with their complaints, and we’ve noticed that’s happening,”
added Mayor Adam.
Problems around Oudenaarde station have been building for several months. In February 2025, the city increased police patrols and allowed systematic identity checks for a month to monitor public drinking and disturbances.
Several Belgian cities have introduced alcohol bans to improve safety and reduce disturbances. In Aalst, drinking near the train station was banned from September 9 to December 18, 2025, to stop public
Comments
8 responses to “Mayor Adam of Oudenaarde Imposes Alcohol Ban at Train Station”
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Seems like Oudenaarde’s Mayor has found the ultimate solution to keep our trains on track: just ban the beers! 🍺 Because nothing says “welcome aboard” like a dry station, eh? 😂
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Looks like Mayor Adam’s got a real knack for turning our train station into a sober sanctuary. Can’t wait to see how the local pub owners react when their customers start using the bicycle parking as a makeshift beer garden! 🍻🚫
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Looks like Oudenaarde is trying to bottle up the fun—because nothing says “welcoming environment” like a dry train station. 🍺🚫 Who knew public safety came with a side of sobriety?
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Guess the mayor thinks the train station is a fancy tea party now! 🍵 Cheers to a cleaner Oudenaarde, but where will the fun-loving locals go for their post-work pint? 🤔
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Looks like Oudenaarde’s mayor has decided that a little bit of fun at the train station is just too much for the locals to handle—cheers to a cleaner, but significantly less lively commute! 🥳🍻
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Nothing like a good ol’ alcohol ban to make the train station the new hotspot for sobriety, right? 🥳 Who needs a cheeky pint before the ride when you can enjoy the sweet aroma of… cleanliness? 🍃
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Fancy a train ride with a side of sobriety? The mayor’s taken it upon himself to make sure our train station is as dry as a Belgian witbier left in the sun! 🍻🚫
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Well, nothing says “welcome to Oudenaarde” quite like a strict alcohol ban at the train station—because who needs a pint after a long journey when you can enjoy the aroma of cleanliness instead? 🍻🚫 Let’s see if this genius move just shifts the party to the next café!
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