Ghent received over €1.45 million less from the Flemish municipal fund than budgeted in 2024, as revealed in a recent city council meeting.
This adjustment resulted from a higher population growth rate in Antwerp, which led to a relative decrease in Ghent’s share of the fund.
On 1 January 2024, Ghent, the second-largest city in Flanders, recorded a population of 270,473—a rise of 1,556 people or 0.58% from the previous year.
In contrast, Antwerp’s population increased from 538,910 to 544,759, an uptick of approximately 5,849 people or 1%.
"There was growth, but it was larger in Antwerp, and this had a negative impact on the funding allocation we receive," explained city officials during the discussion, noting Antwerp’s figure was the highest among major Belgian cities.
As a result, Ghent missed out on €1,454,144 in total.
The Flemish municipal fund is an annual grant from the Flemish Government to local authorities, distributed according to factors such as population size, population density, socio-economic conditions, and urbanisation levels.
When a city like Antwerp experiences faster growth, the relative share for other cities shrinks, even if they grow in absolute numbers.
