Belgium turns off streetlights to protect nature, sparking debate over public safety

WALLONIA, Belgium — Authorities in the southern Belgian region of Wallonia are dismantling 75 streetlights deemed unnecessary as part of a growing European movement to combat light pollution and protect natural ecosystems.

The project targets streetlights located more than 50 meters from the nearest building, particularly those situated near nature reserves. Scientists warn that artificial light at night disrupts the feeding, breeding, and navigation cycles of various species, including insects, birds, and amphibians.

The initiative has sparked pushback from some local residents who fear that the lack of lighting will lead to increased crime and safety hazards. André Detournay, 77, said the streetlights provide a sense of security when he walks his dog at night. Jacques Monty, a worker tasked with removing the poles, also expressed concerns regarding public safety.

However, researchers noted that studies show no clear link between street lighting and rates of crime or traffic accidents.

The 308,000 EUR project treats the restoration of nighttime darkness as a vital conservation measure, comparable to the rehabilitation of forests or wetlands.

The initiative in Belgium represents more than mere energy austerity; it highlights a burgeoning friction between human psychological needs and ecological imperatives. At its heart lies a sharp divergence between perceived and empirical safety. While residents instinctively equate illumination with security, data-driven analysis suggests this is largely a fallacy. A landmark study from England and Wales, for instance, found no significant correlation between reduced street lighting and a spike in crime or traffic accidents, suggesting that the "fear of the dark" remains an ancestral instinct rather than a data-backed risk assessment.

Crucially, the policy framework governing this project elevates light pollution to a major environmental stressor, placing it on par with chemical runoff and habitat fragmentation. The scale of the crisis is underscored by staggering metrics: in neighboring France, public lighting is estimated to cause the deaths of two trillion insects annually. This shifts the narrative from a local Belgian administrative matter to a global ecological crisis—a delayed reckoning with 150 years of artificial light.

The project also demonstrates a highly pragmatic approach to public policy. Rather than implementing blanket blackouts that would trigger public backlash, officials have surgically targeted "superfluous" infrastructure—specifically 75 lamps located near high-value biodiversity zones. Nicolas Goethals, the project’s lead, summarized the political delicacy of the task, noting that administrators cannot simply tell a grandmother that "bats take priority" over her personal security.

This nuanced balancing act between conservation and social welfare likely signals a broader shift in European urban and rural planning. It heralds a transition toward a model where illumination is no longer treated as an unfettered default, but as a finite resource to be deployed with precision and environmental intent.

The situation in Belgium offers a striking contrast to the typical Vietnamese-American experience, which is largely defined by the brightly lit urban hubs and sprawling suburbs of the United States. For a community accustomed to the neon-lit storefronts of Little Saigon and the late-night glow of phở restaurants, the concept of "light pollution"—and the deliberate effort to return the night to its natural darkness—feels remarkably foreign. It challenges a long-held cultural mindset that views streetlights not as a nuisance, but as essential markers of safety, progress, and modern development.