Farmers black out surveillance cameras on Luxemburgplein during new demonstration in Brussels: several tunnels and metro stations closed

Several tunnels in Brussels have been closed following a new farmers’ demonstration. Maalbeek and Schuman metro stations are also not accessible and several bus lines are disrupted. This is reported by the STIB. The farmers darken the surveillance cameras on Luxemburgplein.

Femke Peeters, Babette Vanhove

Mar 26 2024

Latest update:
09:25

Source:
Belga

Angry farmers marched to the capital in protest for the third time this year on Tuesday. A ‘symbolic action’ is planned at Wetstraat, near the intersection with Willem de Zwijgerstraat, around 10:30 am.

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Farmer Pieter joins the argument in Brussels. / Pop can be interpreted in two ways: it is Europe that plants trees on the agricultural lands and the farmers who are trapped. © Marc Baert

The farmers darken the surveillance cameras on Luxemburgplein. They have started by planning a forest in the middle of the square. Farmer Pieter from West Flanders is also present. “The trees are symbolic,” says Pieter. “Europe is taking our land, so now we are coming to take their land. If things continue like this, Flemish agriculture will be over in five years.”

There is also a large straw doll set up on the square. “You can interpret the doll in two different ways. On the one hand, the doll represents Europe coming to plant trees on our agricultural lands,” says Pieter. “On the other hand, the doll symbolizes we, the farmers, who are being held up.”

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Farmers plant forests on Luxemburgplein. © Marc Baert

Annoyance

The new action may cause a lot of traffic disruption in Brussels. Several tunnels were already closed to traffic on Tuesday morning. This concerns the Tervuren, Cinquantenaire Park and Wet tunnels towards the Center (N3) and the Reyers tunnel coming from the E40, Mobiliteit Brussels reports. It is recommended to avoid the capital by car and use the train and metro.

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Anyone who takes the metro should also take into account the fact that some entrances to the Maalbeek and Schuman stations are closed on Tuesday morning, according to the STIB. But the metros are running for the time being. Bus lines 12, 21, 56, 79, 64, 60, 36, 27, 34, 80, 95 and 59, among others, will also be diverted or limited, it said.

On the road it seems to be not too bad so far. Around 7.15 am there is approximately 105 kilometers of traffic jams on Flemish roads, which is average for a Tuesday morning. There don’t seem to be any notable traffic jams in the direction of Brussels either.

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