Deurne (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Deurne, Antwerp, tree-felling for a new tram loop sparked protests. Police arrested 4, including PVDA councillor Manal Toumi. Groen, PVDA, and Het Juiste Spoor filed legal action; tensions rose with city authorities.
As VRT News reported, in the Deurne district of Antwerp, cutting down trees to construct a new loop for trams resulted in protests on Wednesday morning, Aug 20, 2025. Police were forced to intervene close to Boekenbergpark in order to contain protesters attempting to halt the cutting down of trees.
4 protesters who ignored police instructions were arrested. At the same time, the Het Juiste Spoor neighborhood committee has filed an emergency court case to try to stop the tree cutting. Residents are now waiting to see whether the court will intervene.
What sparks protests and arrests over the Antwerp Deurne tram loop?
The tree-removal work started on Monday, August 18, 2025, despite the fact that an appeal against the permit has yet to be resolved. The authorities assert that the appeal does not prevent them from initiating preparatory work.
There has been a neighbourhood committee, backed by Groen, PVDA, and Greens, present on the site since Monday, Aug 18, 2025. Police are stationed 24 hours a day and have established a safe perimeter.
3 protesters were arrested on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2025, for violating social distancing. A protest is scheduled on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2025, at Drakenhoflaan. Police said the street will be closed to keep the workers safe.
“The city is afraid of its citizens and is allowing the police to act unnecessarily authoritarian,”
says city council member Ben Van Duppen (PVDA), who was also present at the protest.
“An unprecedented police force has been deployed against ordinary citizens.”
Groen, which governs in coalition with N-VA and Vooruit, warned it could leave the coalition if logging continues this way. District alderman Karen Maes (Groen) said she has pressed N-VA colleagues and called the situation “truly unacceptable.” Deurne District Mayor Tjerk Sekeris (N-VA) and his party continue to support the tree-felling work while handling political tension at City Hall.
“In terms of communication, the city has fallen short,”
says Sekeris.
“It’s a real shame that this all has to happen this way. I certainly hope that we can continue our good work as a district council.”
Antwerp has seen several protests against tree cutting in recent years. In 2020 and 2021, residents and environmental groups opposed city plans that threatened green spaces. In neighbourhoods like Borgerhout and Linkeroever, people protested when streets were widened, new roads were built, or tram lines were expanded.
Local committees and parties such as Groen and PVDA frequently joined these actions, calling for more attention to environmental and community concerns. Legal appeals were sometimes filed to delay or stop construction work.
