Holidaymaker shocked after car allegedly driven 1,000 km while parked at Brussels Airport

A holiday trip turned into a bizarre ordeal for 28-year-old baker Ebert Boudry from Dikkebus, near Ypres in Belgium, after his car was allegedly used without permission while parked through a valet parking service at Brussels Airport. According to Belgian broadcaster VRT NWS, Boudry had chosen a service allowing him to leave his car at the airport’s kiss-and-ride zone, where an undisclosed parking company would collect and store the vehicle during his trip.

“When we returned, the parking staff could not even start the car,” Boudry said. “I managed to get the engine running, but it made a knocking sound. Driving was impossible, so we had to call a tow truck.”

Further inspection revealed scratches, dents, mud traces, rubbish inside the vehicle and one nearly flat rear tyre. But the biggest surprise came when the mileage was checked: the car had apparently travelled around 1,000 kilometres while the owners were abroad.

A week later, the family also received a speeding ticket for an offence committed while they were still on holiday. Their car had reportedly been caught driving at 45 km/h in a 30 km/h zone in Schaerbeek, a Brussels district they say they have never visited.

Initial repair costs have been estimated at around €15,000, though Boudry fears the vehicle may ultimately be declared a total loss due to severe engine damage. He claims the engine was likely destroyed by reckless driving at high speeds.

Police are now investigating the incident and analysing camera footage to determine where the car had been and who may have used it.