Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper): On New Year’s Eve 2025, emergency services received 588 calls in Brussels. Firefighters handled 158 incidents, and ambulances responded 430 times. Walter Derieuw called it a “turbulent” night. Many car fires, damaging 60-70 cars, and responders faced attacks. The police arrested 64 people, showing serious safety issues.
New Year’s Eve 2025 in Brussels was filled with problems, as emergency services received 588 calls. The fire brigade handled 158 incidents, and ambulances were sent out 430 times. Walter Derieuw from the fire brigade called the night “turbulent” and said that any fire or violence is too much. About 30 calls were for car fires, which destroyed around 60 to 70 cars, making it a tough night for emergency teams.
What challenges did Brussels face on New Year’s Eve 2024?
Besides the car fires, the fire brigade dealt with around 60 other fires involving things like street furniture, garbage bins, bushes, and mattresses. It has been said that these acts were a serious danger to public safety and put a lot of pressure on emergency services. Even with more staff and safety measures in place, the night revealed ongoing issues like aggression towards responders and vandalism.
Firefighters were attacked by people throwing stones, fireworks, and even Molotov cocktails, but no one was injured. One firefighter mentioned that they had just helped an elderly woman who had a stroke, and later her grandson threw a rock at them. The Brussels police, working together for the first time that night, arrested 64 people during 352 emergency calls between 6 p.m. and midnight. They will share a full report on what happened later.
