Metejoor Headlines Hee Tervuren as Town Imposes Road Closures and Alcohol Bans

TERVUREN, Belgium — Town hall has put together a star-studded lineup with Flemish heavyweights even signing Metejoor at €32,500 for a 60-minute show on 4 July. The €115,000 music extravaganza is once again expected to draw in thousands from Tervuren, Brussels and surroundings.

Other Flemish acts on the bill include Aaron Blommaert, and De Romeo’s and Liliane Saint-Pierre. While general admission to the crowded festival grounds remains free, a special zone is accessible only with VIP tickets that are on sale for €181.50 per day or free for an undisclosed number of persons.

The festival, which offers daytime family entertainment, also draws large crowds of youth from Tervuren, Brussels, and neighboring communes into the evening. It was brought back to the central town square by Mayor Thomas Geyns following a 2024 campaign promise.

For security reasons, Geyns and his team have banned public alchohol consumption and alchohol purchase within 1km of the Markt at nightshops (but not Carrefour) on 4 and 5 July unless via Hee Tervuren’s own stands or licensed cafes and restaurants.

The Mayor has also ordered major road closures starting on 1 July and running till 7 July.

Community Impact and Cost Questions

Geyns has defended the spending as a necessary investment in local community life. To manage festival expenses, the town has actively recruited volunteers, promising participants a behind-the-scenes experience, a small stipend, and an official event T-shirt. And the municipality has once again solicited corporate sponsorships from local businesses. To attract additional subsidies, the town has billed the event as a celebration of Flanders’ national day on 11 July.

Signing contracts, alderman Jan Trappeniers appears to have pushed costs down as far as possible as artists of Metejoor’s stature may cost between €30,000 and €60,000. Established acts are listed for less substantial prices including Aaron Blommaert (from €10,500, 60 mins) and De Romeo’s (€10,950, 80 mins).

The total cost of the festival remains unclear due to variable factors including whether or not a 15% agent commission should be added to Metejoor’s base €32,500 fee. Estimates suggest the artist lineup alone requires an investment of at least €85,000 including VIP tickets.

Last year’s edition of Hee Tervuren led to a €18,500 bill (excluding VAT) for stage rental and €21,735.38 (excluding VAT) for hiring a sound system on top of €20,000 in catering for VIPs, sponsors as well as town grandees. Additional costs for cleaning, police, electricity, use of town staff and potential repairs do not appear factored in.

Despite the public nature of the event and substantial expenditure, Tervuren town hall has not published contracts awarded to artists, production companies, or suppliers to clarify whether EU and Belgian procurement rules were respected. Last year, Mayor Geyns said the festival cost €115,766 but it is unclear whether that is after deducting €59,000 in sponsoring.

Over the years, Hee Tervuren has hosted major acts such as Clouseau, Arno, K3, and Laura Tesoro. But the event is not without political dispute. Six years ago, then-opposition councillor Geyns hit the local press with calls for then finance alderman Mario Van Rossum’s resignation over alleged untruths. That was also linked to a five-year, €563,000 event contract for the music festival. Flemish Catholic Van Rossum (CD&V, Voor Tervuren) now serves as chair of the town council and the ethics committee.