New Year's Eve Chaos Across Belgium and Europe

On New Year's Eve 2025, Brussels experienced significant unrest, with emergency services receiving 588 calls while responding to numerous incidents, including car fires that damaged 60-70 vehicles. Walter Derieuw from the Brussels Fire Department described the night as 'turbulent', with police making 64 arrests amidst fireworks-related disturbances. In Antwerp, similar chaos ensued, resulting in 49 arrests, including many minors, as fireworks were directed at vehicles. Authorities had implemented safety measures, including a curfew for minors and central command for police forces, to prevent such incidents, but the celebrations were marred by violence nonetheless. This pattern of unrest is not isolated to Belgium, as cities like Berlin and Paris are bracing for potential violence, deploying thousands of police and emergency personnel to manage public safety during the festivities. In Berlin, a state of emergency was declared, highlighting ongoing concerns about New Year’s Eve violence across Europe.