Middelkerke (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Middelkerke unveils €140 million multi-year plan. Mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker and Alderman Marc Descheemaecker prioritise a €35 M sea wall, €25 M town hall, Leffinge school (€8.7 M), and reduce debt by €30 M.
As VRT News reported, Middelkerke, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, has unveiled its multi-year plan, showing how the town will spend nearly €140 million over the next 6 years. Mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker (LDD) and Finance Alderman Marc Descheemaecker (N-VA) presented the plan together.
“Of course I’m proud,”
the mayor begins,
“that we can invest €140 million and that we don’t have to raise our taxes for that. We’re keeping the personal income tax at 3 percent. After Knokke-the only municipality where the personal income tax remains at 0 percent-that’s the lowest percentage in the entire Flemish Region.”
How will Middelkerke spend €140 million and raise second-home taxes?
The largest part of the budget, €35 million, will go to a new sea wall to protect the coast from storms and rising water. Another €25 million will fund a modern town hall to improve municipal services and provide a welcoming space for residents. In Leffinge, the plan includes a €7.3 million sports hall and a new school costing €8.7 million.
“We’re making these investments entirely with our own savings. I’m proud of that. Imagine being able to buy a house as a private individual without having to go to the bank- that’s nice too, isn’t it?”
The plan also sets aside funds for smaller projects across the municipality. Officials said the investments are carefully balanced with the town’s budget to ensure financial stability.
“A budget is not just about spending. It is about planning where the money comes from and making sure it is used wisely,” said Descheemaecker.
“Second-home owners are our driving force,”
Alderman for Finance Marc Descheemaecker explains the healthy financial situation.
“We have the highest number of second-home owners on the entire coast. Two out of three mailboxes belong to second-home owners, that’s about 65 percent. With the resources they bring in, we have a very healthy financial profile.”
Middelkerke will increase the tax on second homes, while keeping the supplementary personal income tax unchanged. In 2026, the second-home tax will rise from €800 to €950. From 2027, it will go up by €10 each year. For comparison, neighbouring municipalities already charge more. Nieuwpoort’s second-home tax is €1,100, and Koksijde’s is €1,210. The municipality will also raise funds from the sale of its former tennis site.
“That’s building land, which we’ve had revalued. It could fetch €21 million, and perhaps even more. We also have €40 million worth
Comments
12 responses to “Middelkerke Allocates 140 Million Following Second-Home Tax Hike”
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Oh, brilliant! Middelkerke’s found a way to squeeze more from second-home owners while claiming they’re not raising taxes—classic Belgian sleight of hand! 😂 Must be nice to have a budget that magically expands without a single coin from the locals!
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Oh, brilliant! So, we’re hiking taxes on second homes to fund a sea wall and a town hall – classic Belgian ingenuity! 😂 Who needs a bank when you’ve got the creativity of local bureaucrats?
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Just when you thought Middelkerke was done squeezing every last cent from second-home owners, they whip out a €140 million party plan! 😏 Who needs a bank when you can just tax the holiday homes?
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Investing €140 million without raising taxes? Now that’s a magic trick even Houdini would envy! ✨ But hey, if your mailbox is one of the two out of three that belong to second-home owners, I guess it’s just a lovely tax hike to go with your sea view, innit? 🇧🇪💸
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Good to see Middelkerke embracing the notion of “investing without raising taxes” while giving second-home owners a nice lil’ tax bump! It’s like saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll just politely ask you to cough up a bit more for the privilege of owning a slice of paradise!” 😂💸
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Seems like Middelkerke’s found the magic formula: tax the second-home owners just enough to build a fancy sea wall, and voilà, no need to touch the personal income tax! 🎩💸 Who knew financial wizardry could be so… straightforward? 😏
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Blimey, €140 million for a sea wall and a town hall—who knew protecting the coast could be so trendy? Maybe next they’ll throw in a gold-plated bench for the second-home owners to lounge on! 💰🏖️
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Oh, lovely, nothing screams “financial prudence” like a tax hike on second homes while patting yourself on the back for not raising personal income tax. Next, we’ll be investing in a gold-plated town hall, yeah? 💸🏛️
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Oh sure, let’s celebrate a €140 million plan funded by taxing those pesky second-home owners – brilliant! It’s like throwing a lavish party and asking the guests to pay for the snacks while you keep the finest wines for yourself. 🍷💰
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Oh, brilliant! So, they’ve found a way to splash €140 million while giving a cheeky nod to second-home owners. I guess being a cash cow has its perks in Middelkerke! 🐄💰
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Investing €140 million without raising taxes? Sounds like a fairy tale, mate! 🎩 Just wait till the second-home owners find out they’re funding a new sea wall—better grab a life jacket! 😂
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Oh, brilliant move, eh? Tax the second-home owners more while pretending it’s all rainbows and sunshine—because who doesn’t love paying extra for the privilege of owning a holiday shack? 😂💸
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