In December 2025, a report (in Dutch) on light pollution was published (https://publicaties.vlaanderen.be/view-file/80205), prepared by a consultancy firm commissioned by the Department of Environment of the Flemish Region.
The title of the report is “Vlaanderen verledt, maar wat doen we met het donker? Een blik op de uitdagingen, keuzes en kansen van nachtelijke buitenverlichting” (in English: “Flanders Goes LED, but What Do We Do with the Darkness? A Look at the Challenges, Choices, and Opportunities of Nighttime Outdoor Lighting”). With this title, attention is drawn to the increasing use of LED lighting.
This market research maps the challenges and opportunities surrounding nighttime public lighting for Flemish local authorities. It demonstrates that the subject matter is complex and that implementers often balance technical restrictions and standards, political choices, and citizen expectations.
Seven out of ten local authorities contact Fluvius with questions regarding public lighting, confirming its crucial role in developing master plans. Fluvius is the Flemish grid operator responsible for managing the electricity and natural gas distribution networks. The company also manages street lighting in Flemish municipalities.
The report contains a lot of information on the experiences in practice in the Flemish Region, showing that dimming and switching off currently form the essential pillars of lighting policy.
Local governments call for a more integrated approach that considers all relevant dimensions: perceived safety, traffic safety, a healthy living environment and biodiversity, social experience, and cost efficiency.
The report concludes that an effective policy on nocturnal public lighting can only be achieved when all stakeholders align around the same guiding principle: light tailored to context. This requires close cooperation between implementers, Fluvius, policymakers, and citizens, supported by the Flemish Government (the Department of Environment) in a clear guiding role. The report highlights the need to raise more awareness, the need for technical guidelines and thresholds, and the need for best practices.