Ypres (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On New Year’s Eve, police in Ghent, Aalst, and Sint-Niklaas arrested 62 people, including minors, seized heavy fireworks, managed vandalism, fights, and conducted drunk driving checks.
As VRT News reported, police in the East Flemish cities of Ghent, Aalst, and Sint-Niklaas were kept busy on New Year’s Eve. Officers responded to vandalism, fights, scuffles, and people carrying fireworks illegally. In Ghent, the night was calm until around 10 p.m. Then trouble started.
“An hour later, there was some very irresponsible behaviour, especially on Tolhuislaan, Van Beverenplein, and Wasstraat. There were two large-scale interventions on Tolhuislaan, as well as on Van Beverenplein. Several firework projectiles were also thrown at the police, but no one was injured. Unfortunately, we also observed irresponsible and dangerous behaviour with fireworks in other neighbourhoods,”
the police said.
What happened in Ghent, Aalst and Sint Niklaas as 62 people were arrested on New Year’s Eve?
2 bus shelters at Van Beverenplein were damaged. Police identified the suspects and arrested one person. Another bus shelter on Tolhuislaan was also vandalised, requiring police action.
“On New Year’s Eve, there was no violence against firefighters or medical services. However, fireworks projectiles were fired and thrown at police officers on the scene. Fortunately, no one was injured,”
the police added.
By the end of the night, 28 people were arrested in Ghent. Among them, 18 were minors. Most arrests were administrative. Last year, authorities made 11 administrative arrests. That night also saw 3 police officers and 1 civilian injured.
Officials mentioned that incidents in Aalst and Sint-Niklaas were less serious but still needed police intervention. Officers dealt with fights and disturbances across the cities. Police stressed that their actions aimed to protect people and prevent property damage. 17 partygoers, predominantly minors, were arrested and escorted to the police station, where their parents later retrieved them.
“New Year’s Eve in Aalst was quite busy, we could even say intense,”
Aalst police said.
“It was a tough New Year’s Eve.”
Aalst Police
“In addition, two people were administratively arrested for public intoxication. Police also had to intervene in fights, a considerable amount of fireworks was confiscated, and reports were drawn up,”
the police said.
Traffic police in Aalst carried out large-scale drunk driving checks on New Year’s Eve. Officers stopped 500 drivers, and 5 were found to be over the legal alcohol limit. Police said the operation was part of safety measures to prevent accidents and protect residents during the holiday.
In Sint-Niklaas, officers received 51 reports of fireworks-related disturbances. 17 people were arrested, including 2 minors. In the Nieuwe Clementwijk neighbourhood, police surrounded a group of young people and arrested several of them.
Some were carrying heavy fireworks and a bottle of gasoline. A young person was also arrested at the playground of Leefschool Heyerdahl. There, police confiscated a Cobra bomb. Large numbers of fireworks were also set off in the parking lot of De Ster, prompting further police intervention.
In 1 incident, a driver tried to flee when police arrived. Officers later discovered a large quantity of heavy fireworks in the vehicle. Both the fireworks and the car were confiscated. Over the course of the night, police filed 15 reports for possession or use of fireworks, 14 reports for disturbing the peace, one for public intoxication, one for mutual assault and battery, and one for violation of conditions. Authorities said all actions were taken to maintain public order and protect residents.
“A large quantity of fireworks, including heavy firecrackers, were seized throughout the city,”
the police added.
Each year, New Year’s Eve in Belgium increases the incidence of fireworks and alcohol-related events. Police all over the country are increasing patrols and performing checks to ensure the safety of all individuals.
There are regular reports of vandalism, fights, and disturbances to public order in cities throughout East Flanders, such as Aalst, Sint Niklaas, and Ghent. On December 31, 2025, Ghent’s police arrested 28 people, including 18 minors, during an incident of vandalism where bus shelters were damaged, and public fights broke out.
In the same area (East Flanders), authorities had multiple administrative arrests and received numerous fireworks complaints for 2024. Police have issued warnings that large crowds, alcohol, and fireworks combined pose significant risks to the general public and to emergency personnel.
