As Belgium prepares to usher in 2026, authorities in Brussels and across the country are rolling out an extensive security and prevention strategy aimed at avoiding a repeat of the violence that has increasingly defined New Year’s Eve celebrations in recent years.
Past Saint-Sylvestre nights have been marked by arson, vandalism, assaults on emergency services and hundreds of arrests. In Brussels alone, the transition into 2025 saw 159 arrests, more than 1,700 reported incidents and at least 60 vehicles set on fire. Firefighters and ambulance crews were repeatedly targeted with stones and Molotov cocktails, at times forcing them to withdraw.
Against that backdrop, officials say preparations for the upcoming celebrations began earlier than ever, reflecting a clear policy shift away from reactive policing and towards pre-emptive containment and risk management.
Earlier planning, tighter controls
Belgian authorities describe the approach for this year as unprecedented in terms of coordination, spanning federal, regional and municipal levels. Measures range from weeks-long street clean-up operations to stricter bans on mobility devices and continued restrictions on fireworks.
One of the most visible measures is the continuation of a blanket ban on e-scooters across the Brussels-Capital Region on New Year’s Eve. The ban, which applies to both private and shared scooters, will be in force from midday on 31 December until 9 a.m. on 1 January. Violations can lead to prison sentences of between eight and 14 days and fines ranging from €234 to €1,800.
The decision follows repeated incidents in which scooters were used to block emergency vehicles or were thrown at police officers. Despite last year’s region-wide fireworks ban, a unified police command and hundreds of additional officers on the streets, large areas of the capital still experienced serious disorder.
Beyond public safety, authorities are also mindful of the financial cost. Brussels’ public transport operator estimates that vandalism costs around €4 million annually, with New Year’s Eve consistently one of the most damaging nights for buses, trams, stations and street infrastructure.
Strategic crowd management
In a further effort to reduce pressure points, Brussels has again opted to hold its official New Year celebration at the foot of the Atomium rather than in the historic city centre. Mayor Philippe Close confirmed that the Heysel site is intended to provide a family-oriented setting, while nightlife districts in the centre are left to late-night revellers attending bars and clubs.
The underlying logic is crowd separation rather than concentration, a lesson authorities say has been learned the hard way.
The ban on the sale, transport and use of unofficial fireworks remains in force across the region, with officials signalling that last year’s restrictions will largely be maintained.
Prevention over curfews in sensitive areas
In Anderlecht, a municipality long associated with New Year’s Eve unrest, local authorities have opted for a lower-profile but resource-intensive approach. Instead of imposing curfews on minors, the focus has shifted to environmental prevention.
Mayor Fabrice Cumps said preparations began on 1 December with a large-scale municipal operation aimed at removing illegal dumping, damaged street furniture and construction materials from public spaces. The objective is straightforward: fewer loose objects mean fewer improvised barricades, fires and projectiles.
In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, police patrols will be reinforced, construction sites closely monitored and large containers temporarily banned from public areas. On the night itself, police will be supported by a dedicated municipal response team tasked with clearing debris, removing burnt remains and safeguarding emergency services.
Waste bins will be removed in sensitive neighbourhoods, while awareness campaigns are emphasising the dangers of fireworks, following a recent accident involving a child in the municipality.
Federal coordination and legal backing
At the national level, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin convened a coordination meeting at the National Crisis Centre, bringing together police chiefs from major cities, provincial governors and emergency service leaders. The aim was to align risk assessments and ensure operational readiness for what has become one of the most demanding nights of the year.
Quintin has reiterated that Belgian law provides mayors with broad authority to act in the interest of public order, based on local risk evaluations. He has urged municipalities to use those powers decisively where necessary.
Controversial measures in Antwerp
In Antwerp, authorities are again preparing to use one of the country’s most controversial tools: preventive house arrests. Mayor Els van Doesburg plans to restrict the movement of individuals identified as repeat offenders, despite ongoing legal challenges to the measure.
Previous years saw dozens of young people ordered to remain at home on New Year’s Eve, a policy city officials argue contributed to calmer nights. The measure targets individuals linked throughout the year to offences such as arson, vandalism, assault and extortion.
While a recent advisory opinion from the auditor at the Council of State questioned the proportionality of at least one such decision, the city maintains that the legal framework remains intact. Further rulings are pending, but the policy itself is not currently suspended.
A recurring problem
Even with increasingly detailed security planning, officials acknowledge a more fundamental question remains unanswered: why New Year’s Eve violence persists. Sociologists point to what they describe as a ritualisation of unrest, where disorder is anticipated, prepared for and, in some circles, actively encouraged.
The symbolism of fire at the turn of the year, combined with group dynamics and a sense of alienation among some youths, has turned the night into a recurring flashpoint. Experts caution that while curfews and house arrests may reduce immediate risks, they are not a substitute for longer-term engagement by schools, communities, the justice system and social services.
For now, Belgian authorities are proceeding on the basis of pragmatism rather than idealism. The objective for the coming night is limited but clear: protect emergency services, reduce damage and ensure that welcoming the new year does not once again come at a disproportionate human and financial cost.
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