The coronavirus crisis is having a major impact on local businesses’ income. The Municipality of Knokke-Heist has launched this voucher as a tool to stimulate the local economy. You can only use this voucher locally, thereby encouraging local spending.
Here you find the rules of this voucher action.
Article 1. Purpose and scope
The coronavirus crisis is having a major impact on local businesses’ income. The Municipality of Knokke-Heist has launched this voucher as a tool to stimulate the local economy. You can only use this voucher locally, thereby encouraging local spending. The voucher can be used as a payment method at local merchants. Vouchers are issued to local residents, owners of a second home and campers. These rules govern the issue of and applicable measures related to the voucher.
Article 2. Definitions
§1. Second home
A second home is a private residence not used as a primary residence by the owner or tenant or user, but which they can use at any given time. The following does not serve as a primary residence: a private residence at which no person is registered in the population register of Knokke-Heist on 1 January 2020. The following are considered a second home: - Country houses, bungalows, villas, apartments, studios, weekend homes, retreats and all permanent residences including chalets and equivalent, such as caravans or mobile homes, which are or are not registered in the cadastral register; - A home used for living and for conducting Business Activities at the same time. The following are not considered a second home: - Tents, campers and mobile homes;
- Residences included in an inventory or register in the framework of the municipal taxes on homes and/or buildings considered uninhabitable, unsuitable, unsafe, neglected, derelict, empty or unfinished; - Residences for which a tenancy agreement was signed at the end of 2019 and for which there is a registration in the population register noted no later than 31 January 2020; - Residences of which the notary deed was established in 2019 and for which there is registration in the population register noted no later than 31 January 2020; - Rooms that are part of the commercial operations of an accommodation provider;
§2. Local resident
Residents registered in the population or foreign nationals register of Knokke-Heist on 1 January 2020.
§3. Camper
Tenants of a permanent spot at a campsite. Campsites are understood to be grounds which can accommodate at least ten people at the same time.
Article 3. Terms and conditions and amount
A maximum of one voucher will be issued per resident household, per second home and per camping spot at a campsite. Owners of a second home will only be issued the voucher once they have paid the taxes for the second residence for the 2020 tax year. Local residents will be issued a voucher amounting to 1/3 of the amount spent at the participating merchants from 4 July to 30 September 2020. The voucher amounts to a maximum of 150 euro. Owners of a second home will receive a voucher amounting to 1/4 of the amount spent at the participating merchants from 4 July to 30 September. The voucher amounts to a maximum of 200 euro. Campers will receive a voucher amounting to 1/4 of the amount spent at the participating merchants from 4 July to 30 September 2020. The voucher amounts to a maximum of 40 euro.
Article 4. Participating merchants
The voucher can only be used at local businesses whose primary commercial activities are in the retail, food & beverage, groceryshops and beauty and wellness trade. Local businesses are businesses with a physical site in Knokke-Heist. Supermarkets and pop-ups are expressly excluded. A supermarket is understood to be a self-service establishment with a wide range of food and non-food products. At pharmacies, points may not be earned or redeemed on prescription medicines. Participation is free. The municipal administration bears the expenses for the introduction of the voucher, such as IT costs, and production of the cards. Merchants who register accept these rules and the terms and conditions included herein. They also commit to accept the voucher. Businesses that deregister, change their details or cease trading are immediately reported to the Local Economy Service. The municipality can publish a list of all participating merchants on its communication channels. Any misuse of the system will be penalised by excluding the user concerned.
Article 5. Procedure
§1. User
The Municipality of Knokke-Heist provides every resident, owner of a second home and campers with a card with a QR code. The recipient of the card should register for security purposes. Points can be earned from 4 July to 30 September 2020 by spending money in the physical establishments of the participating merchants. The points are earned based on the amount spent. The card can be registered using the card itself or a fully digital alternative. The total points will be converted into shopping credits in the first week of October. After this, the shopping credits can be redeemed from 12 October to 6 December 2020 at the participating merchants.
§2. Merchants
Merchants can register via the dedicated form. Merchants must complete registration before 31 July 2020. The Local Economy Service will check whether the merchant meets the terms and conditions of these rules. Correct registration in the Crossroads Bank of Enterprises is required. From 4 July 2020 until 30 September 2020, the participating merchant commits to award the points to the customer by way of a voucher. From October and after the municipal administration has converted the shopping credits into a voucher, the voucher serves as a payment method for the purchase of goods in the physical establishments. The voucher is not exchangeable for cash, another payment method or a gift voucher from the shop, whether in whole or in part. The affiliated merchant may not give any cash change even if the value of the purchased product is lower than the value of the voucher. Use of several vouchers for one purchase is not permitted. Affiliated merchants may not redeem or accept expired vouchers. No later than two weeks after the expiry of the voucher, the redeemed points will be paid to merchant via the bank account provided.
Article 6. Liability
The municipal administration cannot be held liable for the quality of the products and services provided after payment with the voucher, or be held liable for compliance with the rights provided in articles 1649 bis-octies of the Belgian Civil Code.
Article 7. Effective date
These rules come into force from the date of the decision of approval by the municipal council.