Students protest fee hikes and education budget cuts in Brussels
Brussels, Brussels Capital, Belgium · since Oct 1, 2026
Is it still on?
YESDay 44 and counting, since Oct 1.
Last report · checked
The Tea in three lines
- Why they are protesting
- Students are protesting against annual tuition fee increases, education reforms, and budget cuts in French-speaking higher education.
- What they want
- Protesters demand quality free education, proper staffing, equal opportunities, and relief from rising student living costs.
- What changed
- Nov 13: Flemish student association VVS announced it will join the upcoming Nov 17 demonstration in Brussels.
Both sides
What protesters want
- Stop annual tuition fee increases
- Reverse education budget cuts
- Ensure affordable student housing
- Guarantee equal opportunities and quality education
Organised by: VVS, FGTB, CSC
What authorities say
No official response reported in the sources.
The full story
University students in Brussels staged protests against significant annual tuition fee increases and cuts to education funding. Organised actions featured symbolic campus gates highlighting budget allocations and military spending. French-speaking and Flemish student groups, alongside trade unions such as FGTB and CSC, mobilized against financial pressures on students, including cuts to family allowances and study grants. Authorities have not reported any official countermeasures in response to the ongoing demonstrations.
Timeline
Flemish student association VVS announced it will join the Nov 17 demonstration in Brussels against education cuts.2
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