New Year’s Eve Brussels: ‘Extra staff in clubs against unacceptable behavior’
Police, restaurants, hospitals are all getting ready for a ‘normal’ New Year’s Eve without corona measures. The dance clubs also want to make the transition a great party. “More employees are deployed in the clubs to prevent violence after alcohol or sexual misconduct.”
After a number of corona editions, the transition from old to new will take place in a normal way this year. Without restrictions. And with lots of going to party. What can Brussels residents expect?
Firework
After two years of absence, the City of Brussels is once again organizing a large fireworks show above Place des Palais.
Well it is It is forbidden to set off fireworks yourself of available on the Brussels territory. Prime Minister Rudi Vervoort (PS) announced this earlier.
A good decision, agrees Eric Vander Oost of UZ Brussel. “Fireworks can cause enormous damage, which often puts a lot of people in emergency on New Year’s Eve.”
The police therefore announces strength to check. “Especially in busy places, such as the Grand Place,” says Ilse Van de Keere of the Brussels-Capital-Ixelles police zone. “Patrols will monitor the ban.”
© WoodyFunDiver via Twitter
Dine all night long
Only offering takeaway meals, an earlier closing time, sufficient distance between the tables: these are just a few of the measures that restaurants have had to adhere to in recent years.
“It has caused many restaurants to go bankrupt”, Hubert De Bellefroid, vice president of the Brussels catering federation, looks back. “It has actually been one crisis after another: the corona crisis, the energy crisis…”
Yet many restaurant owners are impatiently looking forward to New Year’s Eve. Last year they closed their doors until 11 p.m., a measure that has disappeared and with which the catering sector is very satisfied. “We therefore expect a lot of people,” says De Bellefroid. “Many restaurants actually appear to be completely full.”
Dancing into the new year
New Year’s Eve in Brussels also seems to be a catch-up maneuver for the clubs, given the large number of events that happened.
Fuse, Mirano, C12, Bloody Louis: just a few nightclubs who organize an event especially for New Year’s Eve. “But the biggest event in Brussels will probably be FCK NYE in Hall 12, where we expect 23,000 people,” says Lorenza Serra of the Brussels By Night Federation.
“Finally we can celebrate New Year’s Eve again without corona measures,” it sounds.
The nightclubs are also preparing in a specific way. “More employees are being deployed in the clubs, for example to combat violence after alcohol or sexually transgressive behaviour,” says Serra.
That the situation can degenerate in different places, that is also the police. “New Year’s Eve is always a night with many incidents,” says Ilse Van de Keere of the Brussels-Capital-Ixelles police zone.
Come home now
Buses, trams and metros run in Brussels STIB free on the night of December 31 to January 1. They run until about 1am and then take over the Noctis buses, until about 4am.
The Responsible Young Drivers are those who are quietly out again for two years when they are resurrected. On New Year’s Eve they are organizing their New Year’s promotion for the thirtieth time. Anyone who has looked too deeply into the glass can count on a free ride from the organization.
“For the sake of clarity, it is an emergency solution,” says Johan Chiers, deputy director. “We do notice that there is much more demand for our offer in a major city such as Brussels,” it sounds.