The threatened penalty for foreign parents was among a range of new measures reportedly contained in an accord between the Flemish nationalist N-VA, Christian Democrats (CD&V) and Socialists (Vooruit).

After agreeing to form a coalition on Saturday (September 28), the parties announced a strong focus on education, saying they will spend an extra 500 million euros a year, mainly aimed at improving the quality of teaching.

About 6.8 million people, or just under half of the Belgian population, live in the Dutch-speaking region.

Integration measures

As well as increasing incentives and boosting training and resources for teachers, the accord is said to include compulsory Dutch language requirements for immigrants.

Under the new rules, parents who are receiving a so-called school bonus will have to forfeit it unless they show within a year that they are trying to learn Dutch.

"In this way we are making it clear that government benefits are not without conditions and require the efforts of those who receive them," said a statement on the coalition agreement by the N-VA.

The sum at stake is not large – it ranges from around 22 to 66 euros – and it will be redirected to the school rather than the government’s keeping it, according to the Brussels Times.

As a self-described Flemish nationalist party, the N-VA (New Flemish Alliance) has long promoted the compulsory learning of the Dutch language as a means to integrate newcomers into the community.

In 2019, the party proposed a compulsory test on Flemish culture and language as part of the 'integration journey' and fines for immigrants who refused to participate in integration courses.