Halle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On New Year’s Eve, Zennevallei police issued 22 fireworks fines and made 3 arrests for intoxication in Halle. Mayor Eva Demesmaeker joined patrols; one drunk driver caused minor damage.
As VRT News reported, on New Year’s Eve, police in the Zenne Valley caught 22 people with fireworks. The Zennevallei police zone, which includes Halle, Beersel, and Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, had warned that both using and possessing fireworks were prohibited. Authorities said even holding fireworks, such as rockets, could lead to administrative fines.
Extra police patrols were deployed across the region to maintain safety.
“It resulted in 22 administrative fines,”
says Anneleen Adang of the Zennevallei police zone.
“There were 11 fines in Beersel, 6 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, and 5 in Halle.”
What measures did Halle authorities take to keep New Year’s Eve safe?
Mayor of Halle, Eva Demesmaeker (N-VA), briefly joined one patrol.
“It’s important to listen to the police’s concerns, and it was very educational for me. We mainly tried to prevent the fireworks from actually going up, for example, by monitoring the known hotspots that residents reported last year. We sent a warning letter to residents who received a fine last year.”
“It’s obviously difficult to be everywhere at once once the clock strikes midnight. Then it’s all hands on deck. But thanks to the efforts of the police, we certainly prevented worse.”
New Year’s Eve in Halle was busy, especially in the city centre’s cafes and at the scouts’ annual New Year’s party in ’t Vondel. The Zennevallei police zone and Mayor Eva Demesmaeker (N-VA) described the night as largely peaceful. Authorities said no major incidents disrupted the evening.
During the night, police arrested 3 people in Halle for public intoxication. In another incident, a drunk driver crashed into the facade of a house on Bergensesteenweg, causing only material damage. Emergency services responded quickly, and authorities noted that overall, the festivities passed safely.
In recent years, the Zennevallei police zone has increased their efforts in enforcing laws on New Year’s Eve. During the overnight period of December 31, 2024, into January 1, 2025, police conducted supervised increased patrols throughout Halle, Beersel, and Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. They also issued a total of 21 notices of violation for the possession/enjoyment of fireworks.
