OVERVIEW. University in Lier, Aartselaarse aarsjes and other April jokes that you may have fallen for

Antwerp police transport suspects by bicycle

The Antwerp police believe it is time to make vehicles more ecological and are proposing a special alternative on April 1. To transport suspects or prisoners, the police will from now on use a special cargo bicycle. If you still have doubts about the authenticity of the bicycle, it is best to take a look at the license plate.

Municipality of Lier gets university

The mayor of Lier, Rik Verwaest, announces that the Flemish government is signing the ‘April agreement’ for the establishment of a new university in Lier. The ‘KU Lier’, suitable for a thousand students and eleven master’s courses, should be a reality by 2027. “People know Lier as the sheep’s heads because we once chose a cattle market over a university. But after seven centuries we are now putting this right,” writes mayor Rik Verwaest.

Aartselaar’s asses

Aartselaar presents a new regional product: Aartslaarse aarsjes. A delicious praline with a creamy praline filling in the shape of a buttocks. “An excellent addition to our culinary heritage,” says Alderman Eddy Vermoesen. Yet it is more of an addition to our list of the best April fish. By the way, buttocks really do exist.

Sausage drive thru

The Dutch marketing team of the retail chain Hema also pulled out all the stops to pull off an April Fool’s joke. They say they are opening five drive-thrus in the Netherlands where you can pick up their iconic sausages by car. Under the announcement on Facebook, Hema tries to maintain that it is not an April Fool’s joke, but the public knows better.

New fire boat for Rivierenland Fire Department

The municipality of Lier will not only receive a new university, but also a brand new fire boat for the Rivierenland fire zone post Lier. After years of saving and countless spaghetti evenings, the Friends of Lier Fire Department VZW has finally collected enough money to purchase its own fire boat.

Police zone Minoes

The Minos police zone says it is introducing a curfew for cats so that the animals can no longer prey at night. To ensure that the cats on the outskirts of Antwerp stay indoors at night, the police zone is introducing a brand new cat brigade: Minoes.

Kempen residents put out their own fire

From April 1, Kempen residents can extinguish their own fires using the fire brigade’s self-extinguishing package. The package consists of all kinds of fire brigade equipment such as a hand axe, a quick start guide and a 20 meter long fire hose. “Ideal for very small fires or, for example, during work, a campfire or barbecue,” the zone writes.

The fire brigade was not really reassured and later wrote an update above the message in which they made it clear that it was a joke. “It is best to call the fire brigade via 112 in every fire, small or large.”

Den Dam back at Merksem

Bavo De Mol, Merksem’s district councilor and former co-chairman of Open Vld Antwerp, wants Den Dam to become Merksem’s territory again. He wrote this on Instagram. “After we advocated the addition of the Deuzeld to Merksem last year, we are submitting a proposal to the district council this year to merge Den Dam back into Merksem.”

“Dambrugge was a hamlet that had been a leasehold of Merksem since around 1,200, from which it was split off in 1871 to become part of Antwerp. Dambrugge was located near the current Dam district.”