Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Antwerp Fire Department recruited 10 new firefighters from 500 applicants, said Bert Brugghemans. 9 join the Antwerp zone, one in Rivierenland. Training occurs at Campus Vesta, confirmed Nike Neirynck.
AS GVA News reported, the Antwerp Fire Department has added 10 new firefighters to its team after a demanding selection process with nearly 500 applicants. 9 of them will serve in the Antwerp Fire Brigade Zone, and one will work in the Rivierenland Zone.
“We’re finding that, fortunately, we’re still able to recruit very strong profiles as a zone,”
says Zone Commander Bert Brugghemans,
“That’s crucial because the world around us is changing rapidly: the risks, the technology, and the public’s expectations.”
What does Antwerp’s new firefighter recruitment mean for the city?
10 new firefighters will mainly replace colleagues who recently retired. Spokesperson Nike Neirynck said,
“That’s also why we currently have a relatively young fire department.”
She mentioned that the arrival of new members ensures that the department remains fully staffed and ready to respond to emergencies across the Antwerp area.
The recruits will spend the next 6 months in an intensive training program before becoming fully operational. They will learn about the department’s structure, daily operations, and safety procedures within their assigned zones.
The training includes both theory and practice, with several hands-on sessions at Campus Vesta, the provincial training centre for emergency services. There, they will take part in drills on fire suppression, rescue techniques, and crisis response. Some recruits already have experience in firefighting, while others are starting from scratch and will receive extra support from experienced instructors.
“About half of the recruits are already volunteer firefighters. At the same time, it’s also a plus that this group includes new colleagues who will build the fire service profession from scratch. That difference in experience is undoubtedly a plus,”
says Neirynck.
In 2023, the Antwerp Fire Department added a new group of firefighters after a competitive selection round with hundreds of applicants. That campaign aimed to fill positions left by retirees and prepare for growing safety demands in the expanding city.
Another followed in 2024, with several recruits beginning basic training at Campus Vesta. These repeated recruitment drives are part of a long-term plan by the Antwerp Fire Brigade Zone to ensure an even mix of young and experienced staff who can respond quickly and effectively to the region’s changing emergency needs.
