The municipal council of Boutersem approved a new agreement with De Lijn for night transport on September 24. Starting October 1, 2026, travelers can journey between Boutersem and Leuven for 1 euro on Friday and Saturday evenings and nights via the regular bus lines directly serving Boutersem.
The fare applies on Fridays from 8 PM to 3 AM Saturday morning and on Saturdays from 8 PM to 3 AM Sunday morning. Tickets are purchased and activated via De Lijn's website or app and are valid for 60 minutes. The municipality covers the remaining ticket cost.
Previously, travelers could use night transport for free from 10 PM. However, a digital ticket always had to be activated. Due to inconsistent activation, the number of registered users was lower than actual usage. For Boutersem, accurate registration is crucial for evaluating public transport services. Therefore, the municipality opted for a symbolic 1 euro contribution, keeping the ride affordable while ensuring better registration. "With a 1 euro ticket, we keep the threshold very low and simultaneously ensure better registration," stated Mobility Alderman Pieter Cortoos.
Since July 1, 2026, the separate Leuven night network has been integrated into the regular line network, leading to the disappearance of special night lines and the application of standard tickets and fares on late-night services. Consequently, the existing third-party payment agreement with Boutersem could no longer continue in its previous form, prompting a new arrangement with De Lijn. "It was important for us to reach a workable agreement again after the reform. With this agreement, travelers can travel between Boutersem and Leuven for 1 euro on Friday and Saturday evenings," confirmed Cortoos.
A new arrangement was also developed for New Year's Eve. A frequency of 60 minutes is planned for line 60 between Leuven, Boutersem, and Tienen, with the service extended until 5 AM. The additional costs amount to 2,000 euros, with Boutersem's contribution being 530 euros including VAT.
The new night transport regulation is part of a broader public transport initiative. Boutersem continues to advocate with De Lijn and within the transport region for the accessibility of its sub-municipalities, particularly Willebringen, and for better connections to Boutersem-centrum, the train station, Tienen, and Leuven. The future of market buses is also under discussion, emphasizing their social function for residents with limited transport alternatives. "Public transport in a rural municipality remains a difficult balancing act. We want to prevent our residents from losing accessibility step by step. Where we can adjust locally, as with night transport, we do so," concluded Mayor Glenn Van Rillaer.
Practical information from October 1st: Fridays and Saturdays from 8 PM to 3 AM, 1 euro per ticket, purchase and activation via De Lijn app or website, valid for travel between Boutersem and Leuven on regular lines directly serving Boutersem, ticket valid for 60 minutes.
