Festivalgoers attending the Gentse Feesten in Ghent, Belgium, are facing an organized surge in petty crime as groups known locally as “bekerbendes” or cup gangs target reusable drinkware. According to reports from regional media outlets, these gangs have become increasingly aggressive, approaching patrons to snatch, empty, or steal deposit cups right out of their hands before fleeing into the crowds.
The rise of deposit-cup thefts highlights ongoing security and crowd-management challenges during large-scale European urban festivals. With municipal authorities and event organizers relying heavily on sustainable, reusable cup systems to reduce plastic waste, the financial deposits tied to each cup have inadvertently created a lucrative underground market for opportunistic thieves.
Festival organizers and local police have received numerous complaints from visitors describing aggressive confrontations. Witnesses note that suspects frequently target unsuspecting crowds, abruptly tipping cups or tearing them away to collect the cash refunds at return stations.
The Mechanics of Cup Theft at the Gentse Feesten
The Gentse Feesten ranks as one of Europe’s largest cultural festivals, drawing millions of visitors to the historic center of Ghent over a ten-day period. Under current environmental regulations implemented across many European public events, consumers pay a small financial deposit—usually between one and two euros—when purchasing a drink in a reusable plastic cup. Returning the empty cup to a collection point retrieves the deposit.
According to local reporting, the “bekerbendes” exploit this system by swarming busy squares and concert zones. Victims report that thieves often use intimidation or sudden distraction tactics. “Ze gieten je bekertje leeg en zijn ermee weg,” multiple festivalgoers recounted to local media, describing how suspects empty unfinished drinks onto the pavement and sprint toward collection booths to cash in the deposits.
Security teams and local law enforcement have stepped up patrols around major stages and gathering spots, but apprehending suspects in dense festival crowds remains difficult. Police advise visitors to hold tightly to their drinks, stay aware of surrounding crowds, and report aggressive behavior immediately to nearby security personnel or event staff.
Impact on Festival Sustainability and Public Safety
The systematic targeting of reusable cups threatens both the visitor experience and the operational success of eco-friendly festival initiatives. Ghent city officials introduced strict waste-reduction mandates requiring organizers to eliminate single-use plastics, making deposit systems mandatory across all concession stands.
While the sustainability goals have successfully slashed street litter, the unintended consequence of organized cup theft has strained security resources. Concession operators and event coordinators are evaluating alternative collection methods, such as faster-return drop boxes and increased plainclothes security monitoring, to deter organized groups from exploiting the deposit structure.
Authorities continue to urge festival attendees to remain vigilant and utilize designated help points located throughout the festival perimeter if they encounter aggressive behavior or theft. Official updates regarding security measures and lost-and-found protocols are published regularly through the official Gentse Feesten communication channels.
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