Drug Dealer Files Compensation Claim After Park Closure Kills Business

A bizarre incident unfolded in Boudewijnpark in Ronse, Belgium, during the setup of the afterwork event L'heure de l'apero. A drug dealer demanded "compensation" from the organizers, claiming the park being fenced off for the party prevented him from selling his product that evening.

Organizer and municipal council member Aaron Demeulemeester was stunned. The dealer shamelessly claimed the park belonged to him and that he was losing income due to the event. Demeulemeester sent the man away immediately but was shocked by the audacity.

The incident is not isolated. Demeulemeester raised the issue in the city council, speaking of a growing sense of impunity. Local dealers increasingly operate in broad daylight, selling their goods even in the presence of young children and babies. Crime has become highly professionalized, with dealers using Snapchat to share their opening hours and current offerings in both Dutch and French. Buyers stop briefly by car or arrive on scooters to pick up their orders.

Mayor Ignace Michaux has acknowledged the severity of the situation and announced additional police deployment in and around Boudewijnpark.