Language protestors demonstrate against French-speaking schools in Flemish suburbs

Activists from Flanders' Language Action Committee (TAK) have locked shut the gates of several schools in the Brussels periphery with bicycle locks as part of a protest against French-speaking schools being subsidised by Flemish taxpayers.

The schools concerned are primary schools in Kraainem, Wezenbeek-Oppem, Linkebeek, Drogenbos and Sint-Genesius-Rode - all "facility communes" with flexible language arrangements that allow residents to conduct their business with the local authorities in French.

These schools are situated on Flemish territory, meaning they receive Flemish resources despite being part of the Francophone education system.

“This arrangement dates back to the 1960s and was defended at the time as a way of promoting integration,” TAK said.

“Today, it’s clear that the measure has overshot its target. Flanders is now contributing to the Frenchification of its own territory.

"Anyone who really wants to stand up for the future of Dutch in Flanders cannot possibly continue to accept this situation."

According to figures from Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA), French-speaking schools in the facility communes surrounding Brussels together receive about €18 million in Flemish subsidies each year.

An estimated 6% of pupils in these French-speaking schools located within Flemish territory live in the Brussels region, according to the latest figures from 2021.