Rising tourist taxes for holiday homes in Bruges

Bruges is introducing a revised tourist tax system for licensed holiday homes, leading to notable price increases for overnight stays in the years ahead. Although the city presents this reform as a financial measure, it places additional pressure on guests and property owners and raises concerns about the future balance of tourism in the historic city.

• From January 1, 2026, adult guests (+18) staying in a licensed holiday rental will be charged a tourist tax of €3.75 excluding VAT per night. In practice, this is €4.00 including VAT per adult per night.
• Following the scheduled VAT increase on accommodation in Belgium, this rises further to €4.20 including VAT from March 1, 2026.
• Looking ahead, the tax will increase substantially again on January 1, 2028, reaching €5.60 per adult per night.

This new per-night levy is not replacing existing obligations. Holiday home operators have for years been subject to an annual fixed (forfaitary) tourist tax. That system will remain in force and will also be increased, resulting in a higher overall tax load for accommodation providers.

We are disappointed by this approach. Bruges should be prioritising overnight visitors—guests who stay longer, explore beyond the main attractions, and actively support local shops, restaurants, and services. Making overnight accommodation more expensive risks discouraging exactly this type of tourism, while the impact of large volumes of day visitors remains insufficiently addressed.

In response to these rising costs, direct booking will play an increasingly important role. Booking directly ensures the most competitive price and avoids additional fees charged by third-party platforms. Direct reservations are always more affordable. Even travellers with loyalty benefits, such as Genius discounts, will pay more when booking through external platforms for the same stay.

Guests planning a visit in 2026 can still take advantage of a price benefit by paying in full before March 1, 2026. Payments completed before that date remain subject to the current 6% VAT rate, resulting in a lower total cost.