"Name a famous Belgian" is a tired jibe but those that do come to mind are often from the music sphere – Brel, Bertrand, Stromae, Angèle... The country's cultural contribution really puts Belgium on the map. And as well as home-grown talent hitting radio waves around the world, the world also comes to Belgium to revel in the music scene.
Across Europe the festival industry is flourishing, with weekend events providing entertainment for an increasingly international crowd. Belgium has pedigree as a venue for summer events, playing host to mega-parties like Tomorrowland or not-so-underground hits like Horst. It isn't only electronic music (though Belgium is particularly strong in this respect), the diversity of genres celebrated is impressive.
But regardless of the style, Belgian festivals are holding punters hostage with exasperating payment procedures that sour the overall experience. "Jetons", drink deposits, contactless payment wristbands... anyone who has been to a live music event in Belgium will sadly be familiar with the arcane systems of extracting currency from attendees.
Having tried many different lines of reasoning in an effort to play Devil's advocate I've come to the conclusion that there is no justification for the racket that events around the country are running, which prevents you from paying with fiat money but instead obliges each festivalgoer to buy into a separate payment system, normally one specific to that event.
To illustrate the madness, consider the following scenario, which took place last weekend. To purchase drinks or food at the event you had to buy the event payment card and load it in €10 increments. This transaction can be done at a dedicated kiosk, for which you must queue.
You buy a burger and a pint and soon decide on a second drink. The bar has a long queue but you get to the front and order a beer, which costs €5. The payment is declined. Surely I have €5? you ask. In fact you have €5.50. But there is a €1 deposit for the glass. So you hand over the plastic cup that you had clung to like a sentimental souvenir for the last hour in what should be an easy exchange. Not so fast; the cup needs to be returned at the Cup Return Station. Surely I can just swap here? I don't mind keeping the same cup! Absolutely not. Computer says no.
Indignation, postulation, remonstration – no -ation under the sun can possibly exempt you from the protocol. And yes, there's a massive queue at the cup return station to get the euro returned to the event payment card so that you will have the €6 necessary to buy the €5 beer.
Sod this. You watch the music sober and seething. To reclaim your useful euros trapped in the payment card that is redundant as soon as you leave the site, there is a processing fee (€1 in this case).
Farces such as these are now a defining feature of Belgium's music scene, tarring the events that make the country stand out. Consumer organisations are now sounding the alarm that commercial malfeasance is widespread, but enforcement is lacking. Has your day out been spoiled by incomprehensible payment systems? Share your horror stories with @Orlando_tbt.
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1. Belgian companies with politicians on board of directors are less profitable
Politically connected businesses are more likely to make decisions to advance government goals, to 'do a favour' to other politicians, or to gain political popularity. Read more.
2. Card payment only, hidden admin fees: Belgian festivals ignore consumer protection laws
Festival season is in full swing and festival tokens, campsites, and obscure "administrative fees" are common currency. "Festivals are no exception to other businesses and should be better controlled." Read more.
3. ‘Regular target’: Scammers target Belgian residents posing as Finance Ministry
Citizens are asked to pay particular attention as the letter looks official, including the government department's logo and using a similar font and colour. Read more.
4. ‘By end of summer’: Long-awaited Brussels Midi police station confirmed
"This means there will always be a visible police presence in the station, which should make it easier for people to report crimes and issues." Read more.
5. King Philippe calls for action to tackle Belgium’s ‘budgetary emergency’
The King said that recent crises have been well managed but have come at "significant cost, which is now fuelling an indisputable budgetary emergency". Read more.
6. Profit over privacy? Google backtracks on plan to phase out cookies
Cookies have been criticised for infringing on privacy. But website publishers are reliant on them for their advertising revenue. Read more.
7. Ghent festivals attract 550,000 visitors at the weekend
Some 550,000 visitors attended the opening weekend of the Ghent Festivities, 40,000 more than the previous edition, City Hall reported. Read more.
