Renting out your parking space during events: how to earn the most

Why events multiply your income

On an ordinary Tuesday, the demand for parking space in most neighbourhoods is predictable and limited. But on an evening with a sold-out concert at the Sportpaleis, a home match for Club Brugge or the opening of the Gentse Feesten, demand explodes. Thousands of visitors search for a spot for their car at the same time, and the public car parks fill up within the hour.

That is the moment when your parking space is worth its weight in gold. Where you normally charge 5 to 8 euros per day, you can charge 15 to 25 euros per evening during a major event. Visitors gladly pay that, because the alternative is driving around looking for a spot, risking a fine or taking a taxi.

The numbers confirm it. Our hosts who make their parking space available around the Sportpaleis in Antwerp report that event evenings earn on average three times as much as a regular rental day. In Bruges we see the same pattern around concerts at the Concertgebouw and the annual Christmas market.

Which events earn the most?

Not every event generates the same amount of parking pressure. The income depends on the number of visitors, accessibility by public transport and the availability of free parking spots in the surrounding area.

Concerts and large shows score the highest. A sold-out concert at the Sportpaleis attracts more than 20,000 visitors. Many of them come by car, especially when the concert falls on a weekday evening when public transport runs less frequently. The same applies to events at Flanders Expo in Ghent, where trade fairs and concerts regularly attract tens of thousands of visitors.

Sports matches are a reliable and recurring source of demand throughout the entire season. Club Brugge plays multiple home matches per month at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Each match attracts thousands of supporters who come by car. The same goes for Antwerp FC and KAA Gent. If you live within a 500-metre radius of a stadium, you have a structural advantage.

Festivals are the absolute peak. Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel attracts more than 50,000 visitors per day over four days. Pukkelpop in Hasselt and Rock Werchter draw comparable numbers. Hosts in the vicinity of these festivals rent out their driveway, garden or field for amounts that would be unthinkable on a normal weekend.

City events should not be underestimated. The Gentse Feesten last ten days and attract more than one million visitors. The Bruges Christmas market runs for several weeks. The Sinksenfoor in Antwerp, the Meifoor in Bruges and the Ghent Winter Festival all generate substantially more parking demand than an average week.

Preparing your listing for events

The difference between a host who earns 20 euros per evening and a host who has empty spots comes down to preparation. Event visitors book differently from regular renters. They decide quickly, search by location and compare prices.

Start by keeping an event calendar. Check the programming of the major venues and stadiums in your area. The Sportpaleis, the Concertgebouw in Bruges, Flanders Expo, the football stadiums. As soon as a major event is announced, open those dates in your listing for flexible rental.

Adjust your description. Explicitly mention the distance to the event venue. Do not simply write "parking space in Antwerp" but "parking space 300 metres from the Sportpaleis". Event visitors search by proximity. The closer to the venue, the more you can charge.

Set your price dynamically. On a regular day you charge your standard rate. On an event evening you increase the price. That is not price gouging but logical supply and demand dynamics. Public car parks do exactly the same. Check what the nearest parking garage charges during events and position your price just below that.

Make sure your accessibility is clear. Visitors coming to an event for the first time do not know your neighbourhood. Add a short route description to your listing. Mention landmarks, the nearest intersection and whether there is one-way traffic in your street.

The best locations for event rental in Flanders

Some locations in Flanders are worth their weight in gold for hosts who capitalise on events. Here are the top locations.

Antwerp around the Sportpaleis and Lotto Arena is by far the most lucrative location for event rental in Flanders. With more than 150 major events per year and limited parking in the immediate area, demand is structurally high. Hosts within 500 metres earn on average 15 to 25 euros per evening.

Bruges around the Jan Breydel Stadium and the Concertgebouw offers a dual income stream. Football matches and cultural events alternate, which ensures a constant flow of bookings throughout the season.

Ghent around Flanders Expo and the Ghelamco Arena is interesting due to the combination of trade fairs, concerts and sporting events. Parking pressure around these locations is high and public transport does not fully cover the evening hours.

Dessel, Hasselt and Werchter are seasonal goldmines. During festival weekends, parking rates quadruple. Hosts who make their land available earn in four days what they normally earn in two months.

Coastal towns during the summer season combine beach tourism with summer events. Theater aan Zee in Ostend, the fireworks festivals in Blankenberge and the summer concerts in Knokke all generate extra parking demand on top of the regular summer crowds. Hosts at the coast who make their parking space available during these peak moments report that their occupancy rate in summer sits above 90%. The difference compared to the winter months is enormous: what stands empty in January is rented out every day in July.

Practical tips for event rental

Tip one: open your listing at least two weeks before the event. Many visitors plan their parking well in advance. The earlier your listing is online, the greater the chance of a booking.

Tip two: offer check-in and check-out times that match the event. A concert at the Sportpaleis typically starts at 8 PM and ends around 11 PM. Make your parking space available from 6 PM to midnight. That gives visitors room to arrive calmly and leave without stress afterwards.

Tip three: communicate proactively with your renter. Send a short message the day before the event with the route description and any specifics. That prevents last-minute questions and ensures a smooth experience.

Tip four: mention whether there is street lighting at your parking space. Events often finish late. Renters want to know they can reach their car safely in the dark.

Tip five: ask for a review after each event. Positive ratings from event visitors attract new bookings at the next event. One well-reviewed evening brings you a series of future bookings.

Common mistakes with event rental

The most common mistake is reacting too late. Many hosts only realise on the day of the event that they could have rented out their parking space. By that point most visitors have already booked. Start at least two weeks in advance.

A second mistake is an unclear description. Event visitors are in a hurry and have little patience to search. If your listing does not contain a clear route description or the distance to the venue is not mentioned, they scroll past to the next offer.

The third mistake is not adjusting your price to the type of event. A sold-out concert with 20,000 visitors justifies a higher price than a local trade fair with 2,000 visitors. Match your price to the expected parking pressure.

A fourth mistake is not updating your calendar after the event. If the evening has passed and you do not release the date for future bookings, you miss out on income. Check your calendar the day after each event and make your spot available again.

Finally, many hosts underestimate the value of repeat visitors. Someone who was satisfied with your parking space during a concert will come back for the next concert, provided that your listing is visible and available. A positive first experience is the best marketing you can have as a host.

Combining event rental with fixed rental

The most powerful strategy is to see event rental not as a standalone model, but as a supplement to fixed rental. Suppose you have a fixed renter who parks during the week from Monday to Friday. At weekends and on free evenings your spot is available for event visitors.

A concrete example: your fixed renter pays 70 euros per month for weekday use. On two event evenings per month you earn an extra 40 euros on top. On a monthly basis that is 110 euros instead of 70 euros. On an annual basis you earn 480 euros extra, purely by combining smartly.

The most important thing is to make clear agreements with your fixed renter about availability. Communicate which evenings the spot is not available and give notice well in advance. Transparency prevents conflicts and keeps both parties happy. Many fixed renters understand this model perfectly and even appreciate it, because they know their weekday spot remains guaranteed.

How much can you earn with event rental?

Let us calculate concretely. A host near the Sportpaleis with a garage box rents on average eight event evenings per month at 20 euros per evening. That is 160 euros per month from events alone. Add fixed weekday rental of 60 euros per month and the total comes to 220 euros per month or 2,640 euros per year.

A host near the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges combines Club Brugge home matches (an average of two per month, 15 euros per match) with tourist rental during the week (80 euros per month). Total: 110 euros per month or 1,320 euros per year.

At the coast, a host in Ostend combines summer rental (three months at 250 euros per month) with event rental during Theater aan Zee and other summer events (an extra 150 euros). On an annual basis that earns 900 euros, concentrated in three months.

The key insight: event rental works best as a supplement to your regular rental strategy. It does not replace your fixed income, but can increase it by 30 to 50% if you consistently and proactively manage your listing.

In summary

Renting out parking spaces during events is the fastest way to increase your income as a host. The demand is there, the willingness to pay is there and the effort is minimal. Keep an event calendar, adjust your price dynamically and make sure your listing is visible to visitors looking for parking space. Publish your spot via SparkSpot and start earning on the next event evening in your area. The difference between an empty driveway and an extra income source is a matter of fifteen minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be home when I rent out my parking space during an event?

No, that is not necessary. Most event rentals run entirely without physical contact. You make your parking space available, the renter books online and parks independently. Do make sure the access is clearly described and that there are no obstacles.

Can I rent out my driveway if there is no garage door?

Yes. Many event visitors are simply looking for a safe place to park their car. A driveway without a door is fine, as long as the vehicle is not on the public road. State this clearly in your listing so renters know what to expect.

What if the event is cancelled?

With a cancellation via a booking system, the payment is typically refunded automatically. You miss the income for that evening, but you have no extra costs. Keep your calendar up to date so you can potentially still offer the spot as a regular daily rental.

How do I determine the right price for an event evening?

Check what the nearest public car park charges on event evenings. Position your price 10 to 20% below that. That makes your offer attractive to visitors looking for a better deal than the standard parking garage. Adjust your price according to the size of the event: a sold-out Sportpaleis justifies a higher price than a smaller show. Also look at what other hosts in your area charge and make sure you stay competitive without going below the market price.