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🇧🇪 Belgium /Crime & Justice

Antwerp Café Terrace Shut Down After Persistent Nuisance and Fights

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Zuidcafé in Antwerp's Volksstraat must temporarily close its terrace due to persistent public nuisance.
  • Police received dozens of reports of violence, intimidation, and noise complaints between April 2023 and May 2024.
  • The terrace closure will last one month, after which it can reopen only if the operator employs a recognized security guard on weekend evenings.

The Zuidcafé in Antwerp's Volksstraat faces a temporary terrace closure ordered by Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA) due to ongoing public nuisance. The decision follows numerous incidents, including significant fights, intimidation, and noise disturbances reported to the police over the past year.

Between April 2023 and May 2024, the police received dozens of complaints related to the terrace area. Despite previous interventions and warnings, the disturbances continued. The situation escalated in April and May of this year, with multiple large-scale fights involving the throwing of tables, chairs, and glasses, necessitating repeated police intervention.

Despite earlier interventions and warnings, the nuisance continued.

— City of AntwerpExplaining the rationale behind the terrace closure due to persistent issues.

To restore safety and livability in the neighborhood, the mayor has mandated the terrace's closure for one month, from July 13 to August 9. Following this period, the terrace can only resume operations if the establishment's operator demonstrates the deployment of a recognized security guard. This guard must be present on weekend evenings from 8 p.m. until closing time.

Tables, chairs, and glasses were thrown, and the police had to intervene repeatedly.

— City of AntwerpDescribing the severity of the fights that occurred on the terrace.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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