Bettembourg’s new mayor, Jean-Marie Jans, was the editorial guest on Thursday and discussed the challenges facing the municipality, from mobility and parking to the financial legacy of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Jans took office nearly two weeks ago, succeeding Laurent Zeimet, who stepped down from the municipal council to focus on his role as head of the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) parliamentary group. The new mayor now finds himself at the helm of a municipality grappling with a range of pressing issues.
Jans said he was pleased to serve as mayor of the town where he has lived his entire life, though he acknowledged that the role also commands a “huge amount of respect”. He faces no shortage of work, particularly in the area of mobility, where significant developments are underway in and around Bettembourg.
The railway network is a key focus. The Luxembourg National Railway Company (CFL) plans to invest over €400 million in the renovation of Bettembourg station, while the newly built line towards Luxembourg City is scheduled to open in phases starting next year. Even now, the station’s strong connectivity draws commuters who park in the town before catching trains elsewhere – a situation Jans confirmed the municipality is actively monitoring.
To address the issue, Bettembourg introduced residential parking across the entire municipality last October. According to Jans, the measure has effectively resolved the problem of drivers who neither live nor work in the town leaving their cars parked there all day. The municipality has also increased the number of enforcement agents to six to ensure compliance with the new rules.
On the financial front, Bettembourg ranks second among Luxembourg’s 100 municipalities for its level of debt, with liabilities reaching €132 million – behind only Mamer. Opposition politicians from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) have previously criticised what they describe as excessive spending on infrastructure projects.
Jans pushed back against this characterisation, arguing that when the current coalition between the CSV, the Greens (Déi Gréng), and the Democratic Party (DP) took office in 2011, they inherited a situation that demanded action. He explained that much of the municipal infrastructure was outdated and scattered across the territory at the time.
He pointed to the construction of a cultural centre as a necessary step, noting that local cultural associations had previously been housed in the sports centre – a setup he described as “suboptimal”.
While Bettembourg’s debt is projected to drop to €128 million in 2026, Jans acknowledged that it will rise again in subsequent years due to an upcoming complete renovation of the local school.
One long-standing point of contention in Bettembourg involves the cosmetics company International Lacquers. The municipality has accused the firm of carrying out construction without the required permits and of regularly polluting the Dudelange stream. The company, for its part, has alleged that municipal authorities failed to respond to its correspondence for ten years and are now seeking to force the business out of town.
Mayor Jans suggested that recent developments point to a possible resolution. He explained that local officials had met with the Ministry of the Economy, and that both sides had agreed to cooperate in order to address the outstanding issues. According to Jans, the company is now making efforts to comply and has submitted permit requests that are “almost complete.” He expressed optimism that further progress lies ahead.
At the same time, Jans reaffirmed the municipality’s position, stressing that it would continue to take a firm stance against unauthorised construction.
