Flanders’ public transport authority De Lijn is moving its stops from the tunnel at North Station to areas outside the station until the situation with the homeless migrants is solved

De Lijn has made good on its threat to pull out of the underground transport hub at North Station. The Flemish transport authority, which runs some 30 lines through the tunnel, said a month ago that it would move its stops to another location if something wasn’t done about the migrant situation there.

There are entrances to the lower floor of North Station from the bus hub. For more than a year now the lower floor has been inhabited with homeless migrants and transmigrants. It offers shelter and some warmth.

It doesn’t, however, offer facilities, and De Lijn drivers have been complaining for months that the situation has become untenable. Aside from being awash in garbage, the human waste is causing a stench, as well as hygiene concerns.

“It is always grimy and dirty,” Flemish mobility minister Ben Weyts told Radio 1. “We simply cannot deal with this situation anymore in terms of safety and hygiene.”