Flemish commuters and business travellers face significant disruption from 7 to 10 April as public-sector unions launch rolling provincial strikes at De Lijn, the region’s state-owned bus and tram operator. According to a 7 April strike bulletin from Dutch travellers’ association ANWB, only about 40 % of scheduled services are running in Flemish Brabant on day one, with Limburg, Antwerp, and East/West Flanders set to follow on successive days.
![Four-Day De Lijn Strike Starts Today, Disrupting Flanders’ Bus and Tram Network]()
For those who still need to arrange or update their travel documentation amid the chaos, VisaHQ can streamline the process. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides fast visa and passport services for Belgium and dozens of other destinations, letting commuters and corporate travel managers check requirements and track applications in real time—helpful support when unexpected strikes are already stretching schedules.
Unions say the walkout is a response to fresh austerity measures: on top of an existing €30 million cut to De Lijn’s 2026 budget, the Flemish government plans an extra €5.5 million reduction this year. Workers argue that under-funding has already led to staff shortages, ageing rolling stock and declining punctuality. The transport minister counters that savings are achievable through route optimisation and digital ticketing without mass layoffs. For employers, the timing is awkward. Many international firms in Leuven’s research cluster and Antwerp’s port logistics hub are still clearing Easter backlogs. HR teams have activated tele-work arrangements and arranged hotel shuttles from Brussels Airport, where border-control delays linked to the EES rollout are compounding travel stress. The strike does not affect SNCB rail services or Brussels’ STIB metro, but inter-regional commuters who rely on “last-mile” De Lijn buses from train stations may be stranded. Ride-hailing platforms report surge pricing of up to 60 % on affected corridors. Companies with posted workers should remind staff that Belgian labour law obliges employers to reimburse reasonable alternative transport costs when public services fail. If no agreement is reached, unions warn of a 24-hour general stoppage later in April. Mobility managers should therefore build redundancy into meeting schedules, monitor De Lijn’s live service map and keep clients informed of potential delays when scheduling site visits in Flanders.
For those who still need to arrange or update their travel documentation amid the chaos, VisaHQ can streamline the process. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides fast visa and passport services for Belgium and dozens of other destinations, letting commuters and corporate travel managers check requirements and track applications in real time—helpful support when unexpected strikes are already stretching schedules.
Unions say the walkout is a response to fresh austerity measures: on top of an existing €30 million cut to De Lijn’s 2026 budget, the Flemish government plans an extra €5.5 million reduction this year. Workers argue that under-funding has already led to staff shortages, ageing rolling stock and declining punctuality. The transport minister counters that savings are achievable through route optimisation and digital ticketing without mass layoffs. For employers, the timing is awkward. Many international firms in Leuven’s research cluster and Antwerp’s port logistics hub are still clearing Easter backlogs. HR teams have activated tele-work arrangements and arranged hotel shuttles from Brussels Airport, where border-control delays linked to the EES rollout are compounding travel stress. The strike does not affect SNCB rail services or Brussels’ STIB metro, but inter-regional commuters who rely on “last-mile” De Lijn buses from train stations may be stranded. Ride-hailing platforms report surge pricing of up to 60 % on affected corridors. Companies with posted workers should remind staff that Belgian labour law obliges employers to reimburse reasonable alternative transport costs when public services fail. If no agreement is reached, unions warn of a 24-hour general stoppage later in April. Mobility managers should therefore build redundancy into meeting schedules, monitor De Lijn’s live service map and keep clients informed of potential delays when scheduling site visits in Flanders.
