Mayor Hans Bonte: “Will Vilvoorde remain a Flemish city or will it be absorbed by Brussels?”

The demand from Vilvoorde to be recognized as a central city and the demand from our entire region to recognize Halle-Vilvoorde as a central region is old news. But a study by Flemish Minister of the Interior Rutten on the possible reform of the Municipal Fund is sufficient reason to put the issue back on the table, according to Mayor of Vilvoorde Hans Bonte.

“I am an absolute supporter of the fact that the region around the capital – and by extension – the entire Halle-Vilvoorde region benefits from additional support, just as regions elsewhere in the country such as the coastal regions can work with specific challenges and specific resources,” it said. . “Now take the 13 central cities such as Leuven, Aalst, Kortrijk or Bruges, they receive significantly more money, but I think Vilvoorde has greater challenges than those cities.”

Greater support is needed to address the problems surrounding education and childcare. “Within the next five years, 60 to 70 percent of Vilvoorde residents will be of immigrant origin. Integrating them will be a huge challenge,” says Bonte. “We invest a lot in language, but language is of no use if the children have to continue to go to Brussels schools or if there is no childcare. The same with unemployment: you have a lot of people who want to work and follow training, but ultimately cannot find work because there is no affordable childcare.”

According to Bonte, the new Flemish and federal government are facing an important decision. “Without additional support, Vilvoorde is heading for an irreversible loss of identity as a Flemish city and will de facto become an integral part of the actual Brussels living environment,” the mayor is sharp. “All Flemish Brabant political leaders should speak out unequivocally about recognition as a central city. This way it would at least be clear to the voter who really defends the quality of life in the region.”