Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Brussels as part of a national strike over government reforms and spending cuts that have brought flights to a halt and severely disrupted public transport. Belgium's three big unions are protesting over pensions and other measures by Prime Minister Bart de Wever's centre-right government aimed at cutting the budget deficit.
There were no services at Belgium's second biggest airport at Charleroi, and all departures and many of the arrivals were canceled at Brussels Airport. Although trains were running, most buses, trams, and underground trains in the capital ground to a halt.
Shipping at Europe's second biggest port Antwerp was suspended until Wednesday due to understaffing, and more than 100 ships waited in the North Sea for permission to dock at three ports, according to Belgium's MDK maritime and coastal services.
By midday, police reported that around 80,000 protesters had joined the demonstration in the Belgian capital. Public sector workers were protesting against austerity measures and a government increasingly perceived as leaning right.
Demonstrators wound through the streets of central Brussels, many wearing the red or green colors of the main unions. A key issue for the unions is the government's plan to increase the number of days Belgians work per year before they can receive their pensions, along with ending special schemes for various sectors, including military and railway workers.
De Wever's government has also announced measures including a maximum two-year limit on claiming unemployment benefits, with further cuts planned for next year's budget. Proposals like reducing child benefits or raising VAT have already been floated.
As protestors voiced their grievances, many held signs expressing their frustration with the proposed rejection of better pension schemes, signifying a growing discontent across the socio-economic ladder. The rise in pension age, initially adopted years ago, remains deeply unpopular among citizens.
The protests were largely peaceful; however, they were not without incidents, as occasional clashes occurred between police and masked individuals amid the demonstrations.
There were no services at Belgium's second biggest airport at Charleroi, and all departures and many of the arrivals were canceled at Brussels Airport. Although trains were running, most buses, trams, and underground trains in the capital ground to a halt.
Shipping at Europe's second biggest port Antwerp was suspended until Wednesday due to understaffing, and more than 100 ships waited in the North Sea for permission to dock at three ports, according to Belgium's MDK maritime and coastal services.
By midday, police reported that around 80,000 protesters had joined the demonstration in the Belgian capital. Public sector workers were protesting against austerity measures and a government increasingly perceived as leaning right.
Demonstrators wound through the streets of central Brussels, many wearing the red or green colors of the main unions. A key issue for the unions is the government's plan to increase the number of days Belgians work per year before they can receive their pensions, along with ending special schemes for various sectors, including military and railway workers.
De Wever's government has also announced measures including a maximum two-year limit on claiming unemployment benefits, with further cuts planned for next year's budget. Proposals like reducing child benefits or raising VAT have already been floated.
As protestors voiced their grievances, many held signs expressing their frustration with the proposed rejection of better pension schemes, signifying a growing discontent across the socio-economic ladder. The rise in pension age, initially adopted years ago, remains deeply unpopular among citizens.
The protests were largely peaceful; however, they were not without incidents, as occasional clashes occurred between police and masked individuals amid the demonstrations.
