Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – After 10 days of talks, Leuven’s auxiliary prison remains overcrowded with 218 inmates in 149 spaces. ACV-OD Justice warns lack of a budget prevents safe prisoner separation, raising serious risks.
As VRT News reported, Leuven’s auxiliary prison is facing overcrowding, and no solution has been found after 10 days of talks. The prison on Maria Theresiastraat was built to hold 149 inmates. Emergency measures have increased capacity to 204 with extra beds.
Despite this, 218 prisoners are currently held there. 14 of them sleep on mattresses on the floor. Frederique Baele, chair of ACV-OD Justice, said 3 to 4 inmates share a 75-square-meter cell. She said the cramped conditions create tensions among prisoners.
“We hear that there is not even enough money to pay for prisoners’ meals.”
Frederique Baele
What is driving overcrowding and the crisis at Leuven Auxiliary prison?
Overcrowding is putting heavy pressure on staff and prison facilities.
“At first, the talks went well,”
says Bale.
“We were hoping for quotas, but other prisons are also overcrowded. In Brussels, they’re also at their wits’ end, I fear an implosion of the entire prison system “
The ACV-OD Justice union is urging the government to act immediately to address the crisis at Leuven’s auxiliary prison. Union chair Frederique Baele said the situation is critical.
“It’s five past twelve,”
she said.
“The government needs to announce emergency measures. Staff tell us there is not even enough money to provide prisoners’ meals. Is that the next step? This is a ticking time bomb.”
The union has announced a strike day on November 7, 2025. Baele said that if the government does not respond, further measures will follow.
“Staff and prisoners are at their wits’ end,”
she said.
The director of the auxiliary prison is currently unavailable for comment. During a previous protest, he expressed understanding for the concerns of staff and union representatives.
“The problem has been raised for so long, it can’t continue like this,”
he said at the time.
BelgiumBelgium’s prison system has been facing overcrowding for years. As of June 24, 2025, there were 13,118 inmates in facilities built for only 11,040 places, with around 320 prisoners forced to sleep on mattresses on
Comments
17 responses to “Leuven Auxiliary Prison Struggles with Overcrowding, No Solution in Sight”
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Ah, the fine art of cozy living in Leuven’s auxiliary prison—who needs luxury when you can share a 75-square-meter cell with your closest mates, right? 😏 Just think of it as an exclusive club where the food’s optional and personal space is merely a suggestion!
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Looks like Leuven’s auxiliary prison has turned into a trendy hostel for felons—who needs a comfortable bed when you can share a mattress with your cellmate? 😂 Talk about a budget hotel experience, but without the breakfast! 🍞
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Seems like Leuven’s auxiliary prison is really going for that trendy “shared living” vibe, just without the hipster coffee and artisanal snacks. 🍞🛏️ Good luck finding room for even a decent cuppa!
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You’d think they were running a hostel rather than a prison, with all those extra beds and cozy floor accommodations. 😏 Maybe they could charge for premium mattress space?
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Seems like Leuven’s auxiliary prison is the latest hotspot for a cozy sleepover—who needs a budget when you can have bunk beds and shared snacks? 😂
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Looks like Leuven’s auxiliary prison is really rolling out the red carpet for its guests—who wouldn’t want to share a cozy mattress on the floor with three mates? 😂 Just another day in the “luxury” Belgian hospitality industry, eh?
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Looks like the Leuven Auxiliary Prison is giving new meaning to “cozy living,” eh? Who needs luxury when you can share a mattress with your mate? 🤷♂️
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Just brilliant, isn’t it? A prison with 218 guests for 149 beds – sounds like a trendy boutique hotel, only with more ‘interesting’ company and no breakfast included! 😏
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Seems like the Leuven Auxiliary Prison is auditioning for the next big horror flick—who knew a budget could be scarier than the inmates? 🍿👮♂️
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Crikey, who knew that cramming 218 inmates into a space meant for 149 could lead to a bit of tension? Must be the latest team-building exercise in Belgian hospitality—free floor accommodations included! 😂
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Looks like Leuven’s auxiliary prison is really nailing that “cozy” vibe with 218 inmates crammed into a space meant for 149. Maybe they should consider offering group discounts for the ‘luxury’ floor mattress experience! 😂
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Looks like Leuven’s auxiliary prison is really hitting the high notes in the overcrowding symphony—who knew sharing a mattress with a mate would be the latest trend in budget accommodation? 😂
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Seems like the Leuven Auxiliary Prison is the hottest new club in town—no room for newcomers, but hey, who needs personal space when you can share a cozy 75-square-meter cell with a few mates? 😂 Just hope they serve better than prison food or it might really hit the fan!
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Looks like Leuven’s got an exclusive club going on—who knew overcrowding could turn a prison into a trendy hostel? 🤷♂️ If only they had a budget for snacks, maybe the inmates would stop sharing their cozy 75-square-meter cell like a bunch of mates at a festival! 🍻
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Isn’t it just charming how Leuven’s auxiliary prison has turned into a real-life episode of “Survivor”? Who doesn’t want to share a cozy 75-square-meter cell with three friends? 😂
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C’est magnifique! Who needs space when you can have a cozy little slumber party with 218 of your closest friends? 🎉 Guess it’s all part of the new “intimate prison experience”! 🛏️
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Oh, splendid! Who knew that cramming 218 inmates into a space meant for 149 would be such a *breezy* experience? 😏 Guess sharing a cell is the new European trend! 🛏️✨
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