One drug dealer was caught by the police after trying to sell his products to a plain-clothes officer at the Ghent Festivities (Gentse Feesten),
The start of the large-scale festival in the Flemish city of Ghent has so far gone without any major incidents, but a total of 24 minor brawls were recorded on Friday and Saturday, while more than 100 revellers were given a fine for urinating in public. The police have also warned people to be wary of petty thieves and drug dealers. Seven people have been arrested for these crimes already, the city's police spokesperson Matto Langeraert said.
"One of them even offered his wares to a plain-clothes policeman at Saint-Jacobs at four in the morning," said Langeraert. "He was in possession of about 20 pills, a few packets of cocaine and some weed. He and his entire shop were therefore immediately taken away."
Meanwhile, one pickpocketer was caught carrying as many as nine phones which he had stolen.
Ban on glass bottles and medical interventions
The police also intervened several times regarding the ban on drinking from glass bottles which is in place in the entire Ghent Festivities area. To spread this message even further, extra signs will be placed in the streets. The message will also be highlighted as a priority on the illuminated signs from now on.
Across the city, anyone caught with opened bottles of liquor risks a Municipal Administrative Penalty (GAS), an administrative fine imposed on persons aged 14 and over who cause a nuisance.
Trefpunt square during the first weekend of the 'Gentse Feesten'. Credit: Belga/ Nicolas Maeterlinck
The Red Cross cared for 350 visitors at first-aid stations on Saturday, while the mobile emergency group (MUG) and ambulance together had to assist people in need of medical care 50 times. A total of 92 people turned up at the emergency services located in the area of the festivities, and four people had to be hospitalised.
The second day of the Festivities attracted 250,000 visitors to Ghent on Saturday, quite a lot more than last year when there were 180,000. The first evening of the Ghent Festivities attracted no fewer than 160,000 visitors. Many people came by bicycle, and the city noted it will be providing extra bicycle parking facilities to meet this demand.
This year, each festival square is also working with its own reusable cups. Visitors who buy a drink pay a €1 deposit and return the cup to the square where the drink was bought, where they will be refunded.
