In Ghent, Jo runs Belgica, a warm, artistic pub where people from all walks of life are welcome. His brother, Frank, is a shareholder in a second-hand car company, and the two brothers are estranged because of their abusive, alcoholic father.
One evening, [Frank] visits the pub and is drawn to its energy, deciding to come by more often. When the adjacent warehouse goes on sale, [Frank] convinces [Jo] to buy it and transform the space into a dance hall, giving Belgica a fresh, bolder look. They agree to become partners with 50% stakes each. To fund the purchase, [Frank] sells his company’s shares, but a cash-flow issue means the buyer can only pay part of the price, leaving an oral agreement that the rest will be paid in a few months.
The new dance room is inspected, and the permit allows a maximum of 80 people because there is only one legal emergency exit that ends up in a narrow alley. Inspector Van Beveren accepts a bribe from [Frank], handing over a large sum of dark money to effectively overlook potential issues.
The restyled Belgica becomes a success, and many employees are hired, most of them friends of the owners. Then one evening, a riot erupts and [Frank] and his security team overpower the rioter and lock him in a room until the police arrive. The police warn that confining someone illegally is not allowed and propose a deal: if [Jo] and [Frank] do not press charges, they will turn a blind eye to what’s happening—including the flow of black money and the implicit drug use.
Time passes, and the riots recur. Manu Dewaey – responsible for security – does not approve of Frank’s actions and resigns in protest. [Frank] shifts to hiring a professional security outfit instead of relying on friends, signaling a move toward a more exclusive atmosphere and a tightening grip on access, which risks alienating many regular customers.
Profits dip as drinks become more expensive. [Frank] opens a VIP bar on the second floor to boost revenue, but the added costs erode the margins. For [Jo], Belgica no longer aligns with the vision he had, and he contemplates selling his shares to [Frank] based on the bookkeeping value. [Frank] grows frustrated because his investment tied to black money hasn’t paid off, and a call to his former partner reveals that the partner has absconded with the remaining funds.
Ultimately, [Frank] quits the venture, while [Jo] continues with the pub under the management of two investors. Frank and his wife use the money from selling his shares to buy a house, and [Jo] returns to Belgica, only to find that the place has lost its name, its glamour, and its loyal customers.
