🇧🇪 Belgium — OpenVan.camp
Belgium
The Weser-Göhl police zone released its report on incidents from 15–16 September 2026. Overnight on 14–15 September, unknown persons entered a property on Totleger street in Lichtenbusch, smashed the rear window of a parked car, released its handbrake and pushed it aside to steal a caravan parked behind it. On the same day in Hergenrath, a delivery van with a trailer struck one of two cyclists riding electric fatbikes during an overtaking manoeuvre; the injured cyclist was taken to hospital in Eupen, and the van driver fled the scene.
Belgium
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East Flanders province will start personal guidance for 240 owners of permanent pitches at De Gavers campsite from 2027. The decision to scrap the pitches remains in force.
Residents and users of the caravan park at the Domaine provincial de Chevetogne in Belgium have launched a petition against an annual fee increase from €1,594.32 excluding VAT to €2,152.00 excluding VAT, effective January 1, 2027. They argue the hike of over 35% is unjustified given deteriorating infrastructure and services. Demands include freezing the increase, formal consultations, and a renovation plan.
According to the Belgian Caravan-Camping and Motorhome Association, registrations of new caravans increased by 13% compared to the same period in 2025. This growth outpaces the 9.4% rise in motorhome registrations. A total of 732 new caravans were registered, with 15% of buyers purchasing a caravan for the first time. In comparison, 4,022 motorhomes were registered during the same period, with 40% of buyers being new to the segment.
Belgium
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From January to July 2026, Belgium registered 4,754 new recreational vehicles, up 9.9%. Motorhome sales rose 9.4%, caravans 13%.
Belgium
Starting January 1, 2026, the Netherlands doubled the road tax on motorhomes, prompting owners to sell. Meanwhile, Belgium saw a rise in new motorhome and caravan registrations: 4,022 motorhomes (+9.4%) and 732 caravans (+13%) between January and July. About 35% of motorhome buyers and 40% of camper van buyers are first-time purchasers, making Belgium an attractive market for Dutch sellers, though 90% of purchases involve financing.
Jacqueline Bens, 84, is the only official permanent resident of the Belgian campsite Tulderheyde, located near the Dutch border. She moved there 50 years ago with her late husband from Antwerp, drawn to the rural lifestyle. Bens assists the campsite management by collecting entrance fees for the pond and regularly provides free meals to those in need. Her only complaint concerns the behavior of some Dutch holidaymakers.
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Camping Metsu in Bredene (Belgium) will lose 90 of 320 pitches for motorhomes and caravans. Permanent guests must remove caravans by November; 230 pitches remain.
Unknown perpetrators broke into a caravan near Torhout beach on Bruggestraat in Torhout, stealing a game console and its controllers. The incident occurred on Monday, August 25, 2026. Police are investigating; the identity of the suspects is unknown, and the value of the stolen items has not been disclosed.
The Dupont family from Hensies, Belgium, completed a year-long caravan journey across Europe, covering 36,421 km in 371 days and visiting 20 countries. The children have returned to school: two daughters passed their CEB exams, while the older sons partially passed CE1D and CE2D exams and must retake some subjects. The parents noted that homeschooling was challenging and advise notifying schools and authorities in advance about such projects.
Belgium
A photo of a luxury Niesmann+Bischoff motorhome with a personalized license plate reading 'OPVERLOF' (Flemish for 'on vacation') has gone viral on Facebook. Prices for such models can exceed 200,000 euros, while a personalized plate costs around 1,000 euros. Social media users praised the originality, commenting 'Well thought out' and 'Finally one with meaning'.
A fire broke out on Friday evening around 8:30 p.m. at the Domaine de Clairefontaine campsite in Godarville, destroying several caravans. Firefighters from the Hainaut-Centre rescue zone arrived to find the caravans ablaze and called for reinforcements from La Louvière and the Hainaut-Est zone. The fire was brought under control by 10 p.m., with no injuries reported and only material damage. The large smoke plume, visible for kilometers, triggered numerous calls to emergency services from nearby residents, prompting additional checks to rule out other fires.
On Sunday, a group of travelers from Brittany set up on a plot on Rue Mathy in Eghezee without authorization. According to acting mayor Michel Dubuisson, about 20 caravans had arrived by noon, with up to 50 expected. Authorities plan to discuss the situation at a meeting on Monday evening and hope to shorten the anticipated one-month stay. The incident also highlights the lack of designated stopping areas for travelers in Namur province.
Le Monde du Camping-Car has published a guide to motorhome travel in Belgium. The article lists traffic rules, equipment requirements, low-emission zones and three recommended itineraries. It also notes restrictions on travelling with animals and parking specifics.
A caravan stolen in Stolberg was located in Belgium after the owner spotted it while walking his dog and tracked it via GPS. Police in Aachen alerted Belgian authorities, who stopped the vehicle on the E40. Two men, aged 19 and 26, were arrested. The caravan, fully packed for a holiday, is being returned.
Police search for two men who robbed tourists and set their motorhome on fire in La Roche-en-Ardenne
Belgian federal police have issued a wanted notice for two men who on July 31 in Samrée, near La Roche-en-Ardenne, threatened a couple with a knife, stole money and valuables, and then set their motorhome on fire. The owner, trying to save his dogs, was seriously burned when the vehicle exploded. The suspects fled in a dark blue car towards Baraque de Fraiture. Police ask anyone with information to contact 0800 30 300 or opsporingen@police.belgium.eu.
According to Statbel, diesel prices rose by about 18% between January and June 2026. Organizer Mila Evrard says nomadic travel remains popular, noting that it would take a much larger increase to deter people. The festival attracts over 3,000 enthusiasts and features more than 60 vans. Savings come from not paying for accommodation and the flexibility to adjust routes and trip lengths.
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A motorhome was stolen overnight in Lontzen, Belgium. The MC Louis Twid was spotted in Herve at 2:05. Police ask witnesses to come forward.
A motorhome was stolen on Rue de Liège in Lontzen during the night of 30 July 2026, after a failed attempt two nights earlier. On the night of 27–28 July, the same thieves tried to steal it but were foiled when the owner's dog barked continuously between 2 and 3 a.m. The owner checked the vehicle; police found it had been opened with an electronic device and a short-circuit attempt was detected, causing material damage. The second attempt, two days later, succeeded.
On Wednesday around noon, a caravan burned down completely on Landweg, on the border of Tielt and Wingene. Firefighters quickly contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to a nearby building. No injuries were reported; the cause is under investigation.