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Friday, 24 April 2026
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Belgium·Health

Belgium: Drug consumption room in Molenbeek draws only seven users a day amid cost concerns

Friday, 17 April 2026, 10:16 · 1 min read

A supervised drug consumption facility in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (a municipality of the Brussels Capital Region), known as LINKup, is attracting an average of just six to seven users per day since opening near Ribaucourt metro station in December 2024. The low footfall has drawn criticism from Brussels parliamentarian Mathias Vanden Borre (N-VA), who noted the facility — staffed by 17 employees — has cost nearly €8 million, equating to roughly €850 per supervised use. Brussels Finance Minister Dirk De Smedt (Anders) has acknowledged the concerns and said he will request an evaluation, stating that inefficient use of taxpayer money would be "unacceptable," while also defending the centre's broader role in health outreach and referrals to treatment programmes.

Sources
VRT NWSSpuitruimte voor drugsverslaafden in Molenbeek lokt amper 7 gebruikers per dag: "Hier gaat te veel geld naartoe" ↗︎
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