Holiday in your own country? Number of overnight stays in the Flemish Ardennes rises sharply

The popularity of the Flemish Ardennes is rising, with 487,070 overnight stays recorded in 2025, a 5.5% increase from 2023. Oosterzele and Brakel saw significant growth, with Oosterzele's stays up by 72.6% and Brakel's by 56.2%. Geraardsbergen had the highest number of stays, followed by Oudenaarde and Brakel. However, not all municipalities experienced growth; Ronse saw a decline of nearly 12%. The region's tourism sector supports nearly 6,000 jobs and generates significant revenue. The introduction of a tourist tax in 2027 aims to enhance promotional efforts for the area.