Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Police in Beringen-Ham-Tessenderlo, Heusden-Zolder, and Limburg seized 442 fireworks and nitrous oxide; Club 9 incidents led to arrests; Hasselt’s 10,000-person New Year display was organised by Joeri Vangelabbeek.
As VRT News reported, police in Beringen-Ham-Tessenderlo and Heusden-Zolder had a busy night as they responded to multiple incidents of illegal fireworks and small explosive devices. Reports came from Kerkplein, Sportlaan, Stadionlaan, and Boomgaardlaan in Koersel, Eikelplein in Tessenderlo-Ham, and Koolmijnlaan in Heusden-Zolder. In Beringen-Min, on Alfred Habetslaan, officers discovered real incendiary bombs had been set off, and flares were fired toward the Regina Mundi buildings.
These incidents caused serious safety risks for nearby residents. Authorities reminded the public that in Beringen, Tessenderlo-Ham, and Heusden-Zolder, both using and possessing fireworks is strictly forbidden.
What happened during New Year’s fireworks and police actions in Limburg
During the night, police seized 86 fireworks, 356 small explosive devices, and one bottle of nitrous oxide. At a traffic checkpoint on Koolmijnlaan in Heusden-Zolder, officers checked over 200 vehicles and confiscated even more fireworks. Around midnight, about 100 people gathered on the same street and set off fireworks, prompting immediate police action and further seizures.
Police in Koersel were called to the youth centre Club 9 several times last night, Dec 31, 2025, after groups of young people caused disturbances. The situations escalated into scuffles, leading to one judicial arrest and three administrative detentions.
2 police inspectors were injured during the incidents and were unable to work for 2 days. Similar problems involving youths were reported at the Turbien party venue on be-MINE, adding to the challenges faced by law enforcement.
The Limburg Capital Region police also seized fireworks yesterday, Dec 31, 2025, after discovering that the quantities exceeded legal limits and posed a danger to bystanders. Several reports were filed in connection with the seizures.
Fireworks are prohibited in most Limburg municipalities. In Genk and Hasselt, fireworks are allowed without a permit but only between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Hasselt hosted its traditional New Year’s fireworks display yesterday, featuring the city and Winterland. About 10,000 spectators attended the show.
“After the Hasselt Fair, we were now also asked to design the New Year’s fireworks in Hasselt,”
he says.
“As a Limburg company, this makes us particularly proud. We opted for a traditional fireworks display, executed using the latest technology.”
For the first time, Joeri Vangelabbeek of VGL Events organised the display. The fireworks were choreographed to music selected by Winterland organisers, including “Vuurwerk” by Camille and “Firework” by Katy Perry, guiding the crowd into the start of 2026.
Belgium has seen similar instances of illegal fireworks use and public disorder in past years. On New Year’s Day 2024, police arrested over 140 people in Brussels and more than 60 people in Antwerp as they fired off fireworks against the law. Fireworks were also thrown at vehicles and buildings, prompting police to intervene to control the situation.
