The FPS Justice is looking for three operators for transition houses in Haren

The FPS Justice published a call for applications in the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge) on November 9, 2026, for the operation of one to three transition houses located in the open section, next to the Haren prison (reference C − 2026/008200, p. 59804). The buildings in question had been designed to house an open penitentiary section, but have “not yet been able to be put into service to date for various reasons (notably a lack of staff).” Nevertheless, the FPS Justice intends to make this capacity available in a different form.

A temporary three-year project to address the prison crisis

Faced with the overcrowding crisis, the federal administration is therefore transforming this unused capacity into transition houses, “at most,” and for a limited duration of three years. The text acknowledges that the situation is “not ideal” with regard to the vision of small-scale detention, but considers that it is “not justified not to exploit this capacity.”

The stated objective is to put the premises into service as soon as possible. Direct consequence: the call is reserved for candidates who already have experience in operating transition houses, whereas existing houses are located in private market buildings.

Two lots, 65 beds, and one house reserved for women

Two buildings located outside the prison’s security wall total 65 beds and are presented as a set of three transition houses of 21 or 22 beds. The contract is split into two lots, with a separate file per lot; a candidate may bid for one or both.

• Lot 1: a transition house for women, with 22 beds. The building, whose entrance is the closest to that of the prison, has three levels; the ground floor serves only as access, with the first and second floors forming the house. Each floor includes eleven rooms of approximately 12 m² with individual sanitary facilities, a living area of approximately 80 m² with an open kitchen, two flexible rooms of approximately 10 m² each, a refuse room, a laundry room, and a terrace of 51 to 55 m².
• Lot 2: two transition houses for men, with 21 and 22 beds, accessible via the door located on rue du Witloof. The first occupies the ground floor and the first floor and has 21 beds, including two rooms intended for residents with disabilities; the second occupies the second and third floors with 22 beds. The fourth and fifth floors house only technical rooms.
• The two buildings will be made inaccessible to one another by the division of the outdoor green space; all doors are lockable and the surveillance cameras transmit their images to the prison control room.
• Basic furniture (bed, mattress, wardrobe, desk, equipped kitchen, professional washing machine and dryer) is already present; the remaining equipment must be provided, described, and priced by the candidate operator.

A legal and financial framework already established

The legal basis is the Law of May 17, 2006, relating to the external legal status of convicted persons, which allows part of the sentence to be served outside of prison starting 18 months before the date of eligibility for parole. The operating conditions are set by the Royal Decree of July 22, 2019, amended by the Royal Decree of July 22, 2026; the selection and placement procedure is detailed in collective letter No. 150.

Funding is provided through a subsidy set each year by a separate royal decree, paid in two installments (upon the entry into force of the funding decree, i.e., at opening, and then after approval of the financial justification). Each house is approved by royal decree. Haren prison remains ultimately responsible for the detention file; the complex’s DBFM contract further involves a third party present on-site for the maintenance of green spaces, catering, and waste treatment, with the operator assuming responsibility for laundry, cleaning, and repairs after vandalism. Residents are selected by the Minister.

Experienced applications, closing end of 2026

Any organization with legal personality and experience in managing transition houses may apply, via a file presenting the bidder, any potential partners, their motivation, their vision, and a detailed breakdown of costs. The evaluation is based on two criteria: price (60%) and quality (40%).

Candidates may request a site visit and the documentary file by email at dir.gen.sec@just.fgov.be, for the attention of the Director General of Penitentiary Establishments. The submission deadline is set at four weeks after publication. A committee of experts from the FPS Justice will analyze the applications, followed by discussions, and then the opinion of the Inspection of Finance and the Minister of Budget; the Council of Ministers will decide by a reasoned decision before transmission to the King for approval and funding. The opening is planned for early 2027 and the call will close at the end of 2026. The public authorities reserve the right not to award the contract, in whole or in part.

For sector stakeholders, the challenge is twofold: securing a capacity of 65 beds in a new complex, without having to acquire a building, but with a contractual horizon limited to three years and a series of logistical obligations inherited from the DBFM. The schedule is tight: moving in can only take place after the signing of the royal decrees, with access to the building remaining possible, in the meantime, only when accompanied.

Source: Belgian Official Gazette of November 9, 2026, No. 255, p. 59804, reference C − 2026/008200, call for applications from the FPS Justice.