Ghent's mayor opened the city's annual New Year's reception by humorously referring to the recent Christmas tree controversy which made international headlines.
Organised in the city centre, the annual ceremony provided visitors with a total of 28,000 drinks. Mayor Mathias De Clercq joked: "And if you’re hungry, you can get fresh Christmas tree soup."
Last week, the City of Ghent launched a campaign calling on residents to reuse their Christmas trees in different ways to avoid excessive waste after the festive period.
One suggestion consisted in making a soup out of the old needles based on a Scandinavian recipe, but Belgian food agency warned not to follow this advice, to the amusement of the international media.
Ironing board tradition
Around 13,000 people gathered in Ghent on Sunday afternoon for the city’s New Year reception, the first since the local elections in October.
Mayor Mathias De Clercq (Open VLD) addressed the crowd welcoming them to 2025. "It’s great to see you all here amongst these lovely ironing boards."
As per annual tradition, many attendees brought ironing boards to use as improvised tables. By 11:00, around 4,000 people had gathered under the sheep barn in the city centre. By noon, the crowd had swelled to between 13,000 and 14,000 people.
Looking ahead to 2025
The municipal elections in October 2024 were turbulent, with De Clercq having earned a second term as mayor. Reflecting on the past, he said, "We have endured a tumultuous period. Our city government is making a fresh start. We, as residents of Ghent, can have differing opinions. That is necessary. But it must be done with respect."
De Clercq also made promises for 2025 and looked ahead. “The Blaarmeersen will get a terrace with a view of Ghent. A new nature area, the Wonderwoud, will be developed. Larger ships will be able to navigate to our port thanks to the new sea lock in Terneuzen.” He further noted the completion of the Verapazbrug. “The bridge over the Oude Dokken and the Meulestedebrug will be fully finished in 2025.”
Six arrests
The mayor also referred to an incident on New Year’s Eve involving a 27-year-old man who was put into an artificial coma. “On the Zandberg, a young Buffalo supporter became the victim of senseless violence. This has no place in our city. Not in our Ghent. Nowhere. Therefore, I call for more tolerance, more respect, more empathy.”
Six pro-Palestine protestors were also arrested during the event. "Six people were administratively detained for disturbing public order," said the Ghent police.
Three of them had climbed an iron pillar in the Ghent City Pavilion with the message: "No happy new year in Palestine".
