First there was no boat anymore, now the organizer is bankrupt: exclusive party falls into the water (Kortrijk)

A total concept of music, gastronomy, entertainment and animation. With renowned DJs such as Yves Deruyter (known from Globe and Bonzai), Phi Phi (known from Extreme and Boccaccio), Greg S (Tomorrowland and Bonzai), Retro Belgica (from Retro Belgica Records), Sven Lanvin (Zillion), Dimaro (Tomorrowland) ), Michiel Cnudde (Retronation) and Deacon (Zuco).

For example, Retr’O’Lux was announced months ago on the professionally created website. The cards flew out the door. According to the website, 79 euros for the cheapest tickets, 190 for the most expensive (with champagne). But, as it turned out, different types of tickets were circulating and prices also fluctuated. Some only paid 40 euros, others 69 euros.

READ ALSO. Organizer sells tickets for a party on the water, but suddenly there is no date and no boat anymore

On April 8, a message from organizer Didier Verduyn suddenly appeared on Facebook: “Due to force majeure and unforeseen problems with the ship’s permits, we are forced to move the Retr’O’Lux event of May 9, 2024 in Harelbeke/Kortrijk to a new date. to be moved in the near future.” Organizer Bar’O’Lux BV did not respond to our many telephone calls and text messages.

Many ticket buyers already smelled trouble and demanded their money back. Because the organizer was not ready for his test piece. He also went bankrupt as an event organizer more than ten years ago.

Last week he posted another message in which he blamed the shipping company. “The shipping company that rents out the ships has not issued any permit to the organization, so the event was cancelled.”

The Dutch shipping company would moor on the Leie in Kortrijk with a party boat and sail towards Antwerp with the dancing company. But that contract was canceled by registered letter on March 29, it appears.

In the meantime, there was already an agreement with another Dutch shipping company. The owner says that from the first contact he made it clear that he had a boat available, but that it was too large to moor in Kortrijk or Harelbeke. Ghent was an option, but they did not get permission from the harbor master there because there were works going on. So Antwerp was an alternative. The moorings had now been arranged, so the party could continue at a later date. But the advance was not forthcoming.

The hundreds of people who bought a ticket have since heard nothing from the organization. But now it appears that the boat reservations have been canceled. The curator confirms to us that the Business Court of Ghent, Kortrijk department, declared Bar’O’Lux bankrupt on April 23.

Swingers party

This also applies to the other organizations. Bar’O’Lux organized even more this summer: “On May 24, we will welcome 1,000 guests on our ship in Ghent. We need someone to run the cloakroom. Only serious candidates,” we read on Facebook. And on June 29 there was normally Er’O’Lux, a big swingers party on a boat.

Several participants at the parties who had already purchased tickets have now filed a complaint with the police.

Debt claim declaration

Curator Laurence Montagne says that anyone who has purchased a ticket can file a debt claim via the Solvency Register on the site www.regsol.be. “There they must create an account, look for the bankruptcy file in the name of BV BAR’O’ LUX or via the company number 1005638392, complete the form and upload the supporting document.”