The Flemish government has tasked Fluvius with preparing the gradual phase-out of the natural gas network. 2.4 million families and small businesses will have to find another source of heating over the next 24 years. In one commune, up to 86% of homes are heated with gas, while in others the figure is only a quarter. Here are the communes most dependent on gas and what this means for their residents.

(Staff: Belgium / Energy & Climate)

The Flemish government has taken a decisive step towards a Flanders without natural gas. This summer, the government approved a draft decree tasking network operator Fluvius with preparing the gradual dismantling of the natural gas network in Flanders. Although there is no explicit date for the final closure of the gas supply, the horizon is clear: 2050, the year in which the region aims to be climate neutral. Natural gas is a fossil fuel, and burning it releases CO₂, making it incompatible with the stated climate objective.

What does this mean in practice?

Fluvius will have to draw up network exit plans every four years, with a ten-year perspective. These will contain concrete lists of locations where gas connections will be taken out of service. “There will be a concrete list of locations where the gas network will be shut down,” Fluvius explained. The first areas targeted will be those where sustainable alternatives already exist – district heating networks or neighbourhoods where most residents have already switched to electric heat pumps.

Later, the remaining gas users will also receive notifications about when their connection will be closed. In some cases, the last families on a street or in a neighbourhood may be required to disconnect from the network if they refuse to make the transition. Flemish Minister for Housing and Climate Melissa Depraetere (Vooruit), however, promises a “social” approach so that no one is left behind.

65% of homes are heated with natural gas

Today, 65% of homes in Flanders are heated with natural gas. But behind this average lies huge variation from one commune to another. An analysis by the Flemish press shows that while in some communes only a quarter of homes use gas for heating, in others the figure rises to 86%.

The communes most dependent on natural gas

According to the analysis published by Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Laatste Nieuws, the communes most dependent on natural gas are:

• Stabroek (Antwerp province) – the most dependent commune, with more than 86% of homes heated with gas
• Wijnegem (Antwerp)
• Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant)
• Niel (Antwerp)
• Hemiksem (Antwerp)
• Drogenbos (Flemish Brabant)

These localities are mainly located in the Antwerp metropolitan area and the Brussels belt, where the gas network was massively expanded in the second half of the 20th century and homes are almost entirely connected to this energy source.

Communes that have already started the transition

At the other end of the spectrum, eight Flemish cities and communes have already committed, since 2021, to making their entire territory free of natural gas or heating oil by 2050. They are: Beersel, Brugge, Gent, Kortrijk, Leuven, Mechelen, Oostende and Turnhout. They aim to achieve this through heat pumps and district heating networks powered by renewable sources, and have repeatedly called for a clearer legislative framework and financial support from the Flemish authorities.

What does this mean for residents?

The transition will be neither cheap nor simple. Many homes in highly dependent communes were built in the post-war period around the gas network and are not prepared for heat pumps or advanced insulation. Renovation costs can be significant, and for low-income families, switching to another heating source can be a heavy burden.

Moreover, the fewer users remain connected to the network, the more fixed maintenance costs are divided among a smaller number of people, leading to higher bills for those who have not yet made the transition. This is a vicious circle that the authorities want to manage carefully, to prevent the most vulnerable from being caught between rising bills and unaffordable renovation costs.

A legal framework taking shape

Connecting new buildings to the natural gas network is already prohibited in Flanders as of 1 January 2025 for new residential and non-residential buildings. In addition, from 1 January 2026, new buildings must implement heating alternatives such as heat pumps or connections to district heating networks. In practice, new buildings in Flanders can no longer receive a natural gas connection.

Conclusion

The phase-out of natural gas in Flanders is not only a political decision, but a profound transformation that will change the lives of millions of people. From highly gas-dependent communes such as Stabroek to cities that have already begun the transition, each locality will have to find its own path. For residents, the challenge is not only technical or financial, but also one of adapting to a new energy reality. The remaining question is whether the pace of the transition will be fast enough to meet the 2050 target, while also being fair enough that no one is left behind.