The first night of Carnival Halle 2025 saw around 20,000 revellers taking to the streets.
According to the city council’s report on Sunday morning, the mild and dry weather provided ideal conditions for the festivities.
The party continued at Grote Markt until 6:00, but this year, the carnival-goers had one hour less to celebrate due to the clock jumping from 2:00 to 3:00.
Major incidents were avoided, and emergency services had less work compared to last year. Red Cross Halle volunteers assisted 64 people at the safety village’s aid station near Heilig Hartcollege, primarily dealing with alcohol or drug intoxications, minor injuries, and accidents caused by excessive drinking.
13 revellers were referred to the emergency department at AZ Sint-Maria, mostly for medical check-ups or imaging for suspected fractures.
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The police conducted targeted checks at Halle station on Saturday evening. However, due to the train strike, fewer carnival-goers travelled by train, resulting in minimal findings from the operation.
In the city centre, officers intervened multiple times during the night for minor altercations, public drunkenness, and other disturbances. The camera network facilitated quick and precise actions.
Four individuals were caught with drugs, nineteen received fines for public urination, and several people were administratively detained. This is a slight decrease from last year, which saw thirteen arrests. Police also reported two thefts, including one snatching incident.
Sunday is traditionally the busiest day of the carnival, featuring the Grote Lichtstoet parade with performances from the Halse carnival groups.
