Politie raadt af om met de auto naar Brussel te komen, ook hevige hinder in Gent en Lummen: een overzicht van de boerenprotesten morgen

2 comments

1. “Ook op de trein van Gent naar Brussel kan het morgenochtend wel eens druk worden. Landbouwers en sympathisanten spreken rond 8.30 uur af in het station van Gent-Sint-Pieters om samen de trein te nemen naar het protest in de Europese wijk in Brussel.”

2. English version :
   Police advise against coming to Brussels by car, also heavy nuisance in Ghent and Lummen: an overview of the farmers’ protests tomorrow
   The police advise against coming to Brussels by car tomorrow due to the ongoing farmers’ protests. A lot of disruption is also expected in and around Ghent due to farmers who are once again taking action out of dissatisfaction with Belgian and European agricultural policy. A lot of nuisance is also expected in the wider area around the Lummen cloverleaf in Limburg. An overview of the expected nuisance tomorrow/Thursday.

   Nils Schillewaert
   48 mins
   This message has been compiled based on our most recent information and is updated regularly.

   Brussels
   In the capital, protests are taking place at the European Parliament on Luxembourg Square. The police already expect serious disruption throughout the Brussels territory during the morning rush hour. Farmers plan to drive into the city with tractors, mainly from the west and north, to get as close as possible to Parliament, where a European summit is currently taking place.

   The farmers will meet at Luxemburgplein from 11 a.m. and at 12 noon leaders from various Belgian and European agricultural organizations will speak. Afterwards, a meeting would also take place between them and the political leaders. The promotion is scheduled to end at 5 p.m.

   Due to the European top, the entire Schuman district, the Reyers tunnel coming from the E40 towards the center and the Cinquantenaire tunnel towards Wetstraat are completely closed from 7 am. Several large employers in and around Brussels recommend teleworking as much as possible or taking public transport.

   The police also advise against coming to Brussels by car and recommend using public transport, preferably the metro and train, or using other means of transport.

   East Flanders
   The greatest nuisance in East Flanders is mainly expected in and around Ghent . A symposium of the Ghent Farmers’ Union will take place at the Bijloke, entitled: “Future of agriculture in Europe”. Flemish Agriculture Minister Jo Brouns (CD&V), among others, would be present there and so the farmers plan to flock to Ghent en masse to make their message clear.

   The symposium starts at 8 am at the Bijloke and therefore a lot of disruption is expected on the city ring (R40) , especially at the Heuvelpoort, the Sint-Lievenspoort and the Dampoort. But nuisance is also expected in the wider area around Ghent. Farmers will drive from various East Flemish villages and towns towards the provincial capital.

   Agreements will be made at the Bierstal Bridge in Lievegem , at the Daknam Stadium in Lokeren and on the N70 in Lochristi . In addition, there are also meeting places at the intersection of the N9 and the N42 in Wetteren , on the N60 in Oudenaarde and at the carpool parking in Zevergem . Around 6 o’clock the farmers set sail for Ghent.

   It could also be busy on the train from Ghent to Brussels tomorrow morning. Farmers and sympathizers meet at the Ghent-Sint-Pieters station around 8:30 am to take the train together to the protest in the European district in Brussels.

   Limburg
   In Limburg, farmers plan to occupy the Lummen cloverleaf , the interchange between the E313 and the E314, during the morning rush hour.

   At around 6 o’clock the farmers gather in Ham , Zwartberg (Genk) and Hasselt to drive from there in a column to the cloverleaf. Once there, the farmers want to drive up the cloverleaf and gather in the middle. The police have not given permission for the action, but will accompany the various columns to ensure safety.

   According to Katrien Kiekens (AWV), the action could seriously disrupt the morning rush hour. “That could cause a lot of inconvenience if the farmers start demonstrating on the highway. But it is still difficult to estimate what exactly they will do. It is a very important traffic complex and if tractors block the road there, this will certainly major problems for traffic from both north to south and east to west.”

   The Agency advises motorists who have to drive via the cloverleaf on Thursday to check the website of the Flemish Traffic Center and follow the news before departure.

   During the night from Thursday to Friday, farmers would also block the border crossing to the Netherlands on the E314 in Maasmechelen , together with colleagues from the Netherlands. In total, about 600 tractors – 200 of which are Dutch – would like to close the border crossing.

   Flemish Brabant
   At 6.30 am farmers gather on the Diestesteenweg in Bekkevoort to drive from there in a column to the cloverleaf in Lummen (Limburg). Once there, the farmers want to drive up the cloverleaf and gather in the middle. The police have not given permission for the action, but will accompany the various columns to ensure safety.

   West Flanders
   For the time being, we do not know about any actions in West Flanders, but many West Flemish farmers and sympathizers are planning to go to the protest in Brussels. It is agreed in Ostend and Bruges to take the train from there en masse to the capital around 8 to 8.30 am .

   Antwerp
   Our editors are currently not aware of any actions in Antwerp.