Belgian Motorhome and Caravan Market Grows Nearly 10%

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.

Camping Metsu in Bredene, Belgium, will lose 90 of its 320 pitches by the end of the year. New owner Yannick Desmet plans to modernize the site and create larger pitches, citing the increasing size of caravans. Seasonal campers, who must vacate their pitches by November, have called the decision "scandalous".

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.

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'.