Belgium Student Protests Erupt in Liège as More Than 100 Detained Over Rising Education Costs

More than 100 people were detained in the Belgian city of Liège this week after student demonstrations against the rising cost of education descended into violence, mirroring a wave of similar protests across the border in France.

According to the Belga news agency, which cited local police, 80 people were taken into custody during the unrest, and 27 of those were formally arrested. The demonstrations, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, drew students angry about overcrowded classrooms, tuition fee increases and difficulty accessing resources within Belgium's French-language education system. Police reported that some participants damaged property and set fires during the protests.

The unrest in Liège is the latest flashpoint in a growing movement of student discontent that has been building over recent months. Earlier in the summer, sporadic violent demonstrations broke out in Brussels in opposition to a hike in tuition fees for students in French-speaking areas, where costs rose from 835 euros (approximately $930) to 1,194 euros (approximately $1,340). The increase has placed additional strain on students already grappling with a broader cost-of-living crisis that has affected households across Europe.

Students who took part in the Liège demonstrations said they felt they had no alternative but to take to the streets. Amelia Di Salve, a 19-year-old training to become a teacher, explained that patience with the system had run out. "When we saw nothing was changing without protests, we decided we would start," she said, acknowledging that the protest movement in neighbouring France had partly inspired Belgian students. Another 19-year-old student, identified only as Alfred, told Reuters that students in both countries share common grievances. "We support each other because we're facing pretty much the same issues," he said.

The protests have not been confined to students alone. They follow a year of largely peaceful union demonstrations by teachers who have also voiced concerns about education reforms, budget constraints and the direction of policy in the French-speaking education system. The combination of teacher strikes and student protests signals a deepening crisis of confidence in how education is being funded and managed in Wallonia and Brussels.

Local authorities have sought to calm tensions and prevent further escalation. Willy Demeyer, the mayor of Liège, urged dialogue and called for restraint. "Dialogue can be established," Demeyer told Belgian broadcaster RTBF, expressing hope that "young people can express their grievances in a peaceful way and if possible have those concerns heard." His appeal reflects a delicate balancing act for officials who must acknowledge legitimate student concerns while maintaining public order and preventing further damage to property and businesses in the city.

Belgium's education system is uniquely decentralised, a factor that complicates any nationwide response to the crisis. Education is managed independently by the country's linguistic communities, and there is no single national curriculum. The Flemish population regulates education in the Dutch-speaking Flanders region, while French-speaking Wallonia oversees its own curriculum. In the bilingual capital of Brussels, parents can choose where to enrol their children, creating a complex patchwork of educational governance. This structure means that funding pressures and policy decisions affecting French-speaking students may not be felt in the same way in Flanders, making coordinated reform efforts particularly challenging.

The financial pressures on Belgium's education budget have been compounded by a cost-of-living crisis and spiralling energy costs, issues that are also fuelling student protests in France. As inflation has eroded household budgets and governments have faced difficult choices about public spending, education has become a focal point for broader public frustration. Students argue that cutting corners on education risks undermining the quality of teaching, worsening classroom overcrowding and limiting access to essential learning resources.

The timing of the protests is significant. They come amid heightened social tension across Europe, where rising prices for energy, food and housing have sparked demonstrations and strikes in multiple countries. In France, student protests over similar issues have provided a rallying point for activists who see education as both a right and a public good that should be protected from budget cuts. The cross-border solidarity expressed by Belgian students underscores how shared economic pressures are creating common cause among young people in different nations.

The images emerging from Liège — demonstrators clashing with riot police, shop windows shattered and fires set — have raised concerns about the potential for further unrest. While the majority of participants appear to have been peaceful, the actions of some individuals have drawn condemnation and complicated the students' message. Authorities have not yet indicated whether additional security measures will be implemented, but the mayor's call for peaceful expression suggests a preference for de-escalation over confrontation.

Looking ahead, the challenge for Belgian policymakers will be to address the underlying grievances without exacerbating tensions. The demands articulated by students — accessible education, adequate resources and relief from rising costs — are unlikely to disappear. If dialogue does not produce tangible results, further protests could follow, particularly if the cost-of-living crisis continues to squeeze family budgets and if tuition fees remain a source of resentment.

For now, the events in Liège serve as a reminder that education funding is not merely a technical budget matter but a deeply political issue that can mobilise thousands of young people. The coming weeks will test whether Belgian authorities can find a peaceful path forward and whether students believe their voices are being heard. As Alfred's comment about mutual support suggests, the movement's momentum may also depend on developments beyond Belgium's borders, particularly in France, where the same grievances continue to drive young people into the streets.