Belgium ground to a halt on Thursday due to another national strike. Workers from a wide range of sectors took part.
From cancelled flights, fewer metros, full trains and closed communes to a large-scale protest in Brussels, find all the latest updates our live coverage here.
- The demonstration has ended, and all tunnels have reopened.
- Public transport in Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders is heavily disrupted.
- No flights are taking off or landing in Belgium on Thursday.
This live feed has ended.
[16:10] Workforce's concerns 'cannot be dismissed', says union chief
"The mobilisation is significant, and we felt this because the concern and anger in the labour sector are substantial," said Marie-Hélène Ska, Secretary-General of the CSC to the Belga News Agency. "This concern must be acknowledged and cannot be dismissed lightly," she emphasised.
Ska criticised the government deal as "very unbalanced". "Impoverishing a segment of the population will not improve the wellbeing of society or the economy," Ska argued.
CSC General-Secretary Marie Hélène Ska during the national demonstration in the streets of Brussels, Thursday 13 February 2025. Credit: Belga / Fetu
She noted a positive signal from Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who invited social partners for discussions on Wednesday. "It was a cordial meeting, but the core issues remain the measures that are entirely unbalanced for the labour sector," Ska stated.
[15:50] - All tunnels reopened to traffic
The demonstration taking place in Brussels today has ended, traffic update service Mobiris Brussels reported. "All tunnels that were closed during the day have now been reopened to traffic."
[15:15] - Demonstration draws to a close
The police are escorting protesters towards Brussels-Midi railway station, where the march ends. Police informed VRT NWS that the situation is now calm and the demonstration is coming to an end.
The local Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone commented on the clashes with protesters on social media. "Officers near Place Louise had to deal with demonstrators in possession of objects including fire extinguishers, manhole covers, stone and more, which were used as projectiles against us."
Protesters were also caught with bolts, firecrackers and dangerous Bengal fire projectiles in their possession. "All objects which have nothing to do with a peaceful demonstration. We made several arrests."
[14:40] - 'Will try to convey people's concerns to government', says Vooruit minister
Rob Beenders (Vooruit), Federal Minister for Consumer Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said in response to the demonstration that he understands people's concerns. "We will try to convey them at the government table. But if we want our children and grandchildren to be able to enjoy social security too, we need to make an effort now," he told VRT's Villa Politica.
[14:21] - Several arrested on fringes of protest
The police arrested several people near the headquarters of right-wing Mouvement Réformateur (MR) on Avenue de la Toison d'Or on the sidelines of the national trade union demonstration, Belga News Agency reported. A hammer was found on the ground not far from where one man was arrested.
The police arrested a person carrying a hammer at the MR headquarters on Thursday 13 February 2025. Credit: Belga/ Hendrik Devriendt
Several demonstrators, mainly younger people from anti-fascist groups, were still present near the MR headquarters around 14:00. The police are in the process of dispersing the protest here.
[14:10] - More than 100,000 demonstrators, unions say
According to Ann Vermorgen of the Christian union ACV, at least 100,000 protesters took part in the mobilisation in Brussels, VRT NWS reported. That is considerably higher than the official police figure of 60,000 participants, announced earlier in the afternoon.
[13:54] - Some tunnels reopened
Several tunnels have reopened. These include the tunnels of the Small Ring Road between the Arts-Loi and Rogier tunnels in the direction of the Basilique; the Tervuren, Cinquantenaire and Loi tunnels towards the centre and the Stéphanie tunnel towards Bois de la Cambre and the centre, traffic update service Mobiris Brussels reported.
Large parts of the Small Ring Road (R20) were still closed to traffic at around 13:40. However, roads will gradually be opened as the demonstration comes to an end.
Brussels public transport operator STIB also confirmed that the Parc and Arts-Lois stations are once again open to travellers. As a reminder, only metro lines 1 and 5 are running, lines 2 and 6 are not.
[13:45] - Prisons understaffed due to national protest
Nationwide demonstrations against the new Federal Government means that there is a legally insufficient number of prison staff at 11 of Belgium's 37 prisons on Thursday. Police have been called in to assist at several facilities across the country, the Prison Service announced.
Staff at all of Belgium's prisons are currently on strike. In Brussels, hundreds of prison staff are demonstrating alongside other trade unions. The prison guards, like other public service employees, are displeased with the De Wever government's plans to change civil service pensions.
[13:10] - Police deploy water cannon on protesters at MR HQ
Police have deployed a water cannon and tear gas to disperse protestors outside of the headquarters of right-wing Mouvement Réformateur (MR) on Avenue de la Toison d'Or.
Credit: Belga/ JQ
[13:05] - Protesters arrive at Brussels-Midi station
Protestors have started to arrive at Brussels-Midi, the official endpoint of the demonstration route, Belga News Agency reported. No speeches are planned at the station, but a concert is currently being held in front of the nearby South Tower (Tour du Midi). There is currently a heavy police presence within the station.
[12:33] - 60,000 demonstrators in Brussels
Police confirmed that a total of 60,000 people are taking part in the demonstration in Brussels.
[12:30] - Tensions rise, police attacked
The atmosphere at the demonstration has become tense. A group of demonstrators broke away, and headed for the headquarters of Les Engagés – one of the parties in the government – on Rue du Commerce near Arts-Loi.
Some people tried to reach the building to express their dissatisfaction. They were stopped by a large police presence. The police and the building were pelted with paint, apples, lemons, cobblestones and glass bottles. Videos shared by Bruzz showed the skirmish.
Some 60 police officers stood guard around the headquarters of French-speaking liberal party MR on Thursday 13 February. Credit: Belga/ Gauthier Descamps
Later, a group of demonstrators stopped at a police blockade in front of MR's headquarters on Toison d'Or, where some shouting ensued, Belga News Agency reported. A few objects including lemons, water bottles and eggs, were thrown in the direction of the riot police.
[12:23] - Stéphanie tunnel also closed
Traffic update service Mobiris Brussels has confirmed that the Stéphanie tunnel is also closed in both directions due to the demonstration. The Annie Cordy, Rogier, Botanique, Reyers-Centre, Tervueren, Cinquantenaire and Loi tunnels are also closed.
[12:19] - Brussels recycling centres closed
Several waste and recycling centres in Brussels – Recypark Humanité, Auderghem and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre – remained closed on Thursday due to the strike.
Bruxelles-Propreté has asked people not to put their bags out on the street on Thursday, but to do so for the next collection to avoid the bags remaining on the street for too long.
[11:12] - Unannounced actions possible
The protest in Brussels is proceeding peacefully, the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone told VRT NWS around 11:00. The demonstrators are expected to arrive at Brussels-Midi between 13:00 and 14:00. The police do not yet have an overview of the number of participants; unions are hoping for 100,000 demonstrators.
Ahead of the march departing, ACV chair Ann Vermorgen said unions would be organising both announced and unannounced mobilisations in the future. "Because the unexpected makes people nervous," she said.
[11:00] - Large part of Inner Ring Road closed
Above-ground traffic on the Small Ring Road (R20) between Place Rogier and Place Bará is currently blocked due to a demonstration, police confirmed.
The march set off at around 10:30 to the cheers of the crowd and the sound of whistles and firecrackers. Shortly before 11:00, the procession had already spread to the top of the Boulevard du Jardin Botanique, while some speeches were still in progress at the start of the route, Belga News Agency reported.
[10:27] - Tens of thousands of people at Brussels-North
Tens of thousands of people flocked to the vicinity of Brussels-North railway station, the starting point for the national demonstration, at around 10:00 on Thursday. Numerous professions will be represented in the march, from the military, railway workers, police officers, teachers, prison guards, firefighters, and civil servants, among others.
Union members gather at the Brussels-North railway station. Credit: Belga/ Gauthier Descamps
Belga News Agency reported that the crowd is so dense that it takes almost 15 minutes to cross from one side to the other. According to the unions, at least 50,000 people are expected, which is much more than the 30,000 people who gathered for the demonstration on 13 January.
[10:15] - Many key tunnels closed
Due to the protest, Boulevard Roi Albert II is currently closed. Mobiris Brussels has confirmed that all tunnels on the inner Ring Road (R20) are closed in both directions. These include:
- The Annie Cordy, Rogier and Botanique tunnels
- The Reyers-Centre tunnel
- The Tervueren, Cinquantenaire and Loi tunnels
[10:02] Why are people striking today?
While the mobilisation on 13 January was aimed at the Arizona coalition's planned pensions reforms, today’s strike is an action against all of the planned public spending cuts of De Wever’s government. The Brussels Times spoke to a union boss to understand why they oppose this tactic being used to solve Belgium’s budget situation. Read more here.
[09:53] - Where will protesters march?
Participants are meeting at Brussels-North railway station, the starting point of the march at 10:30. Many people arrived early.
Translation: "Today, 13/2: demonstration in Brussels, between Gare du Nord and Gare du Midi, via the inner Ring Road (R20). Major traffic hold-ups are to be expected from 10:00. Avoid these areas by car."
The protesters will walk from the north of the city centre to Brussels-Midi railway station, following the Ring Road clockwise. A large part of this key Brussels road was closed off before 10:00. "Traffic delays are expected along the route" until at least 14:00, police said. Around Rogier, traffic jams are forming.
Barbed wire placed by police on the Small Ring Road. Credit: The Brussels Times
[09:50] - Postal delivery disruption
Bpost workers are also on strike. The disruption to postal delivery in Flanders is limited, as only 5% of workers are on strike, Belga reported. The impact is greatest in Wallonia, where half have put down their work. In Brussels, the figure is 10%.
In addition, protest actions are still ongoing in the Bpost sorting centres in Liège (Awans), Charleroi (Fleurus) and Brussels. Staff are protesting against a planned reorganisation of the local postal rounds.
[09:35] - Brussels Airport departure hall empty
The departure hall of Brussels Airport in Zaventem is normally frequented by tens of thousands of people every day. On Thursday, it was largely empty, apart from some employees and cleaning staff. "This means the communication around cancelled flights has been effective," Jeffrey Franssens, the airport's spokesperson, told The Brussels Times. A total of 430 flights have been cancelled, an extraordinarily high amount.
Empty waiting lines at Brussels Airport on Thursday 13 February 2025. Credit: Belga/ Ine Gillis
Most passengers stayed home as was requested by the airport. "Some have come to the airport, but that is because some airlines like TUI Fly are organising buses to other airports where their flights have been diverted to."
[09:01] - Criticism towards action
The Federation of Belgian Companies (VBO) condemned Thursday's action and the call for a general strike on 31 March. It said the monthly actions are disrupting the Belgian economy, which is "already under severe pressure", adding that the economic damage they cause "will only fuel the waves of restructuring and bankruptcies".
VBO CEO Pieter Timmermans added that the unions' plea for the status quo means "they are passing the bill on to their children and the next generation." This was mirrored by Parliamentary Chair for N-VA, Axel Ronse, who said the protest is "a middle finger to the future of teenagers and twenty-somethings".
Ronse said the announced cuts mean the government is standing up for today's young people. "They too should have a decent pension, affordable healthcare and a good education," he told VRT NWS. "If we do nothing now, the entire social security system will collapse."
Voka, the Flemish network of businesses, is also critical of the unions. "The economy is slowed down and obstructed for a whole day. These actions cause tens of millions of euros in damage to our economy," Hans Maertens, managing director of Voka, said. He noted this is also bad for the reputation of Belgium internationally, as all flights are cancelled.
[08:43] - Around half of all buses and trams are running in Flanders
Around 51% of all De Lijn buses and trams in Flanders are running today. Limburg is least affected: 61% of buses and running here. In the province of Antwerp, 44% of lines are running, 47% in East Flanders, 55% in Flemish Brabant and 52% in West Flanders.
In Antwerp city, 40% of the trips (trams, pre-metro and buses) are running and in Ghent city 32%. Around 50% of the scheduled coastal trams are running.
Check whether your bus or tram is running on De Lijn's website using the route planner, page for all the stops or page for the individual lines. You can also find this information in the app.
Translation: "Due to trade union action, there will be disruptions to our services today, 13 February. Check whether your bus or tram is running in our route planner https://delijn.be or consult the real-time information via the stop page."
"Trips that are not running will not appear in the route planner," De Lijn noted. On the pages for the stops and lines, the trips that are not being operated are indicated with ‘does not run'.
[08:00] - Minimal traffic disruption
The strike and disrupted public transport have not resulted in heavy traffic so far. There are currently fewer traffic jams on the motorways to Brussels and on the Brussels ring road than on a normal Thursday, VRT NWS reported.
There are delays on the E40 from Ghent, but this is due to an accident in Ternat. Many people have likely decided to work from home as a precautionary measure.
[07:47] - Walloon public transport heavily disrupted
Walloon public transport company TEC said its services are severely disrupted on Thursday. All five zones of the network were affected. In the Liège-Verviers region, 30 lines have been cancelled, 101 lines are experiencing problems and 73 lines are functioning normally, Belga News Agency reported.
The TEC advises travellers to check its website and app for the latest information and consider alternative means of transport. Services should return to normal on Friday.
[07:35] - No flights to or from Belgium today
Unions at Belgium's air traffic controller Skeyes have confirmed they will strike between 06:45 and 22:15, meaning no flights to or from Belgium are going ahead, except humanitarian flights.
The info board shows cancelled flights on Thursday 13 February 2025. Credit: Belga/Ine Gillis
This also affects people with connecting flights in Belgium. Some flights are being redirected, others have been moved to Friday.
[07:21] - National trains running as normal
National railway operator SNCB's services will continue as usual today, as a strike request was not submitted to ensure as many protesters as possible can travel into Brussels.
SNCB warned commuters that it expects many passengers on the trains to and from Brussels, and is deploying extra trains to the capital for this reason.
[07:13] - Which transport lines are running in Brussels?
Brussels public transport operator STIB had previously warned of serious disruptions on Thursday, as many of its staff are striking.
STIB confirmed early on Thursday morning that just two metro lines were running (metro lines 1 and 5). Metro lines 2 and 6 are not running. Tram lines 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 51 and 92 are running, as are bus lines 12, 36, 46, 50, 53, 58, 59, 65, 71, 73, 87 (extended to Étangs Noirs) and 95.
All other lines are not served today, and there will also be fewer metros, buses and trams running than on a normal day. Park metro remains completely closed until 14:00, and certain entrances at Arts-Loi metro stat station will reign will be closed.
STIB warned passengers attending the Europa League football match between Union Saint-Gilloise and Ajax that Roi Baudouin Stadium will be very difficult to reach by public transport. "Make sure you have an alternative."
The multi-mobility app, Floya, will suggest modified routes based on the lines that run and offer the chance to find an alternative route using bicycles, scooters, taxis and shared cars.
[07:00] - Don't take out your rubbish
In a wide range of communes, from Brussels and Antwerp to Kraainem and Londerzeel, scheduled rubbish collections will not go ahead as planned.
Bruxelles-Propreté has asked people not to put their bags out on the street. Check your local commune's website to check whether collections are disrupted. Some waste and recycling centres will also be closed.
