The Asian hornet is an invasive wasp species that threatens our native bees. While complete eradication in East Flanders is no longer feasible, targeted, local management can limit the damage. The city of Ninove is collaborating with the province of East Flanders and RATO vzw for this purpose, making nest control free for citizens.
Nests are often located in hard-to-reach places, requiring specialized equipment and expertise. On-site control is carried out by trained staff from May 1st to mid-October 2026.
Spotted a nest? You can help by reporting it via Vespa-Watch (https://vespawatch.be/). From May 1st, 2026, the follow-up steps in East Flanders are as follows:
Report the nest via the Vespa-Watch website (https://app.vespawatch.be/?open=meldingsformulier) and follow the instructions carefully. A Vespa-Watch volunteer will check the report to verify if it is an Asian hornet. You will then receive a message from Vespa-Watch regarding your report.
If your report concerns the Asian hornet, RATO vzw will automatically receive it. They will then visit to combat the nest. In certain cases, however, control may not be possible, for example, if the nest is too high.
