Tourism tax
The City of Bruges charges a tourism tax of EUR 2.83 (excl. VAT) per person per night.
This tax relates to all tourist accommodation (hotels, guest houses, hostels,...) with the exception of holiday homes that are subject to a flat-rate tax. Children under 18 are exempt from the tax. If the accommodation is subject to VAT and opts to pass on the tourism tax to the customer as a separate expense, which is internationally customary, the tax will be increased with VAT (currently 6%).
We wish to point out that this new tax in Bruges is no higher than that in nearby cities and is, in some cases, even lower.
For tax regulation purposes, the following definitions apply:
- Tourist: any person who visits or stays in an environment other than their everyday environment for the purpose of leisure activities, relaxation, personal development, professional practice or business contact.
- Tourist accommodation: any building, facility, space or area which, in any form, provides one or more tourists with an accommodation option for one or more nights for a payment and is offered on the tourist market.
