At the launch of Uber in Flanders last week, CEO Laurent Slits made an expensive promise about the availability of an Uber in the Flemish cities of Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven. Yet demand now seems to be even greater than supply. The Flemish newspaper het Nieuwsblad did the test in Antwerp, Ghent and Leuven. Uber works exclusively with freelancers. Drivers who are independent and clock in and out when it suits them. They also only do the rides they want to do.

The first test was in the afternoon to order an Uber from Antwerp-North to Antwerp-South, a ride of 7,13 euros according to the app. Unfortunately there is no one around, because the ride is not accepted. The sharing bike was the only solution. Later he tries again, this time home. For a moment it seems to work, but the driver Dian has to come all the way from Boom. He will also realize that this will cost him more than what it will yield and he cancels.

"There will be enough drivers to serve the central cities." CEO Laurent Slits made that expensive promise last week at the launch of Uber in Flanders. Still more difficult than expected to fulfill that promise.

The next test is in Ghent. After ten minutes, a driver appears, but ordering the ride itself is a bit difficult. For example, it took a long time to add a credit card to the account. In Leuven, it is a matter of cultivating patience: the app always gives an error message. When it still works, it takes a long time before a driver is free. After five attempts it works. And then it is another ten minutes to wait.

Also read: At Uber, everything has to be done very quickly, including the layoffs