The authorities in Brussels are preparing for a stormy New Year's Eve, local media reported. A crisis center will operate in the Belgian capital tonight to coordinate the necessary actions of the police, fire department and emergency services in case of riots.
On the eve of the holiday, the police discovered and seized thousands of illegally imported pirate hats. The possession, transportation and use of such items in Brussels are prohibited, and for the good mood on New Year's Eve, the authorities have been providing a light show for several years.
In the capital's district "Anderlecht" A curfew has been introduced for minors - a measure that was challenged in court, but remained in force due to the bad experience of recent years, when cars were set on fire on New Year's Eve and police patrols were pelted with Molotov cocktails. Youth from the neighborhood under the age of 16 will be allowed to go outside after 7:00 p.m. today only with an adult companion.
The police note that violence in this part of the city has been increasing in recent years, and on New Year's Eve, not only police officers have been attacked several times, but also rescue teams of doctors and firefighters who arrived on the scene to help the injured. Similar measures have been taken in the second largest city of Antwerp, where at least 50 juvenile repeat offenders have been ordered not to leave their homes tonight.
The good news on the eve of the holiday is that in the last hour of December 31, electricity in Belgium will be "free" due to the expected overproduction from wind turbines in the North Sea. Due to the forecasts of strong westerly winds and the halt in production over the weekend, the electricity produced in this way is expected to exceed consumption and be offered at a negative price. It is specified that this is not the first time this has happened and may only affect the bills of households that have electricity meters that record consumption by the minute.