New tourist tax for holiday rentals in Bruges

The City of Bruges has announced a new tax regulation for licensed holiday rentals, with significant financial implications for overnight visitors. While the measure is intended to generate additional revenue, it raises serious concerns about the long-term vision for tourism in Bruges.

• As of January 1, 2026, the City of Bruges will impose a tourist tax of €3.75 excluding VAT per adult (+18) per night in a licensed holiday rental. In practice, this means that guests already pay €4.00 including VAT per night as of January 1, 2026.
• From March 1, 2026, this amount increases further to €4.20 including VAT, due to the announced VAT increase on accommodation in Belgium.
• The tax burden will continue to rise sharply: as of January 1, 2028, the tourist tax will be increased to €5.60 per adult per night.

It is important to note that this is not the first form of tourist tax applicable to holiday rentals. Previously, operators were already required to pay a tourist tax in the form of an annual fixed (forfaitary) amount. This existing tax will be maintained and will also be increased under the new regulation, resulting in a double financial burden for operators.

We are extremely dissatisfied with this decision. Bruges should be actively promoting overnight tourism—visitors who stay longer, spend locally, and contribute to a more sustainable urban economy. Instead, this measure risks making overnight stays more expensive and less attractive, while the issue of excessive day tourism remains largely unaddressed.

In this context, direct booking will become increasingly important in the coming years. Booking directly helps guests avoid excessive additional costs and ensures greater price transparency. Direct booking is always cheaper. Even with discounts or a Genius account on third-party platforms, guests will inevitably pay more for the exact same accommodation.

Finally, guests who wish to book a stay for 2026 can still benefit from a discount if payment is made before March 1, 2026. Payments completed before this date remain subject to the current 6% VAT rate, resulting in a lower overall price.