Ghent cancels year-end events, Winter in Antwerp goes…
Due to the number of corona infections, the city of Ghent is canceling a whole series of year-end events. It concerns the arrival of Saint Nicholas, the Ghent Winter Festivities, the New Year’s Eve fireworks and the New Year’s drink. In Antwerp, the winter events will continue for the time being. The urban crisis meeting will meet again next week for an evaluation because the situation is changing so quickly.
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The decision has nevertheless been made in Ghent. All events that the city itself organizes, and where it believes that safety cannot be guaranteed, will not take place. That starts the Christmas market, the construction of which would start on Wednesday, is no longer going on.
Saturday there was a consultation between the city and the medical experts. “The situation is very substantial,” said Mayor Mathias De Clercq (Open VLD). “The numbers are clear. Our medical experts emphasize the importance of avoiding as many contacts as possible. We absolutely must take our precautions. If we can’t do it safely, then better not.”
The arrival of St. Sunday, the fireworks on New Year’s Eve and the New Year’s reception are also cancelled. Instead of the full Winterfeesten, there will be an ice rink with a winter bar. They can be closed, to check for the corona pass.
Antwerp situation
In Antwerp, the festivities of the Winter in Antwerp with the Christmas market and the end-of-year fireworks will continue for the time being. The urban crisis meeting will meet again next week for an evaluation because the situation is changing so quickly.
“According to the new schedule of the Christmas market and the other winter activities in Antwerp, the situation can change very quickly. That is why we have decided to meet again next week to make an evaluation, when there is more clarity about how the curve is evolving and how to expect the supra-local measures,” says Johan Vermant, the statements of Mayor Bart Wever. .
“Obviously, we especially want to ensure that our commercial partners, such as the exhibitors, do not become the victims of future changes.”
Earlier, the mayor said that a cancellation would be disastrous. He fears that many festivities will take place behind the facades.
The municipal crisis meeting consists of the mayor, his safety advisers, the local police, the fire brigade, the disaster coordinator, the director of social safety and the event coordinator.
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