Every year, New Year's Eve in Brussels sees flocks of people travel to the city centre to end the year with a bang at the fireworks show. The city centre will be closed off to traffic, but public transport will be free to help people move about.
Brussels Major Events confirmed last week that the iconic fireworks will once again be set off from the Academia Palace, near Place des Palais, in the city centre. The organisation of the fireworks display will result in some disruption to car traffic. Public transport operator STIB confirmed on Tuesday that it will aim to make spectators' journeys as smooth as possible.
"From midnight to 05:30 in the morning, the STIB network will be free for all passengers," spokesperson An Van hamme stated, adding that spectators can enjoy the event "without worrying about their return journey."
More buses at later times
Tram 81 and the Noctis night buses will run until 05:30, every 15 minutes on lines N04, N05, N06, N08, N09, N10, N11 and N18, and every 20 minutes on lines N12, N13 and N16.
All other tram and metro lines will run until 02:30 at an increased frequency. Several more bus lines will also run until this time, including buses 45, 49, 54, 56, 65 and 87.
"A total of some 650 drivers, dispatchers and security staff will be on hand to ensure that Brussels residents and other people celebrating New Year's Eve in the capital can move around safely and unhindered," Van hamme said.
The fireworks show will also disrupt some public transport lines. From 20:00, tram lines 92 and 93 will be interrupted between Botanique and Louise. However, passengers can use metro lines 2 and 6 between these two stops.
From the same time, bus lines 12, 34, 38, 64, 80 and 95 will be restricted to Place du Luxembourg and will not continue towards the city centre. Bus line 71 will be restricted to Porte de Namur and bus line 54 will be rerouted from Porte de Namur towards Louise. Line 46 will not run beyond Central Station from 14:00.
