Brussels taxi drivers are preparing for another demonstration during the spring break.
The drivers, united in the interest group Febet, are once again taking to the streets in dissatisfaction with the disappearance of taxi ranks and the Brussels tax on taxi services. They are also demanding the return of the drive-over bed at the Botanical Garden in the centre of the capital.
It is not the first time that the taxi industry has stirred. At the end of last year, the drivers already protested against the disappearance of stands at Brussels-South. In a remarkable protest action, they painted new parking spaces themselves at the places where their former stands had been closed down in favour of bus companies. The frustration among the taxi drivers seems to have only grown since then.
further into the corner
According to Febet, they are not being heard by the Brussels government and the sector is increasingly being financially squeezed. Since 2023, taxi companies have had to pay a tax of 614 euros per year per license holder. According to Febet, this amount was even indexed, despite earlier promises by Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort to abolish this tax. "Instead of easing the burden for taxi drivers, the government has chosen to increase it. This weighs heavily on our sector, which is already under pressure due to unfair competition and a decline in pitches," said a spokesperson for the federation.
In addition to the tax, illegal taxi competition is a thorn in the side of drivers. Febet criticizes the increase in unofficial taxi services, especially around the busy Brussels-South station. According to the interest group, these illegal drivers undermine the regular sector by stealing customers without the licensing and tax obligations that official taxi drivers do have. Febet therefore demands stricter controls and sanctions for these practices.
Another sore point is the continuing decline in taxi ranks. The city council seems to be freeing up more and more locations that were reserved for taxis for other forms of transport. This is causing frustration among drivers, who are finding it increasingly difficult to pick up their customers without being fined. “It is being made impossible for us to offer our services in a decent way. The city council is not listening to us and is taking away more and more ranks without offering alternatives,” Febet says.
special lane
Finally, the drivers want the special taxi lane at the Botanical Garden to return. This drive-over bed provided taxis and emergency services with a smooth passage in the often busy city centre for years. According to Febet, its removal will lead to longer waiting times for passengers and less efficient routes for taxi drivers.
When and where exactly the demonstration will take place will not be announced Febet only known shortly before the action. But it is clear that the taxi drivers want to make their dissatisfaction clear. The protests underline the growing gap between the Brussels taxi industry and the city government, and the dissatisfaction within a sector that feels increasingly cornered.
Febet
The Belgian taxi sector is under pressure, and the Federation of Belgian Taxis (FeBeT) plays a central role in defending the interests of drivers and taxi companies. The organisation, which represents over 300 self-employed people and almost all employers in Brussels, is committed to better working conditions, fair competition and a stronger legal framework. With a total of almost 1.100 employees within the affiliated companies, FeBeT has a strong voice in the mobility debate.
