Van Besien was politically active in Antwerp for more than 20 years, first in the Borgerhout district and later in the city’s municipal council. From 2010 to 2012 he was district mayor in Borgerhout. In 2018, Van Besien drew the Green list for the city of Antwerp and competed as candidate mayor against Bart De Wever. Groen was one of the big winners of the elections, but De Wever’s N-VA entered into a coalition with sp.a (now Vooruit) and Open Vld.
Van Besien had quit national politics several years ago. He experienced his peak there as Groen chairman, from 2009 to 2014. Van Besien participated in the community government negotiations that led to an agreement on Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde in 2010 and 2011, but Groen was subsequently left out of the federal government.
From 2014 to 2019, Van Besien was also a Flemish Member of Parliament. He mainly profiled himself in mobility dossiers such as the Oosterweel connection.
“It was very interesting and educational,” Van Besien looks back on his (Antwerp) political career. “During that entire period I experienced every emotion you can imagine. I feel that everything has been beautiful, but also enough. I want to make room for other commitments. I confidently leave the Antwerp green political action to my fellow group members and to Antwerp chairman Bogdan Vanden Berghe.”