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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

Youth Party Canceled in Wolvertem After Last Year's Fights

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A youth center in Wolvertem, Belgium, is disappointed that its annual party during the evening market was canceled due to stricter regulations imposed after last year's fights.
  • The municipality of Meise has limited music volume and duration at the youth center's stand, making a dance party impossible.
  • The youth center has started a petition hoping to reinstate the party next year, emphasizing the need for young people to have an outlet after exams.

Youth center 't Sloefke in Wolvertem is expressing deep regret over the cancellation of its traditional party during the annual evening market. The decision by the local Meise municipality follows a series of fights last year, which led to stricter regulations. These new rules, including a 10 p.m. cutoff for live music and a strict 85-decibel limit, effectively prevent the youth center from hosting its planned dance event.

The rules set by the municipal council make it impossible to organize a dance party.

— Tomas Van BeerselSecretary of youth center 't Sloefke, explaining the impact of new regulations.

"The rules set by the municipal council make it impossible to organize a dance party," said Tomas Van Beersel, secretary of 't Sloefke. He noted that even a loud kitchen mixer exceeds the permitted decibel level. Van Beersel feels the measures are an unfair punishment for incidents that did not even occur at their stand. To address this, the youth center launched a petition, which has already gathered over 280 signatures, aiming to secure permission for a dance party next year.

We hope to organize a party next year so that young people can once again have a moment to let off steam after their exams.

— Tomas Van BeerselSecretary of youth center 't Sloefke, expressing hope for the future.

"We hope to organize a party next year so that young people can once again have a moment to let off steam after their exams," Van Beersel added. While the party is off, 't Sloefke will still have a presence at the market, offering a bar with seating and background music. "They can silence our speakers, but our stand remains the warmest spot of the evening market," a statement from the center declared.

They can silence our speakers, but our stand remains the warmest spot of the evening market.

— Youth center 't SloefkeStatement from the youth center about their continued presence despite the party's cancellation.

Local councilor Wim Verbeke, responsible for youth affairs, supports the petition and plans to discuss the matter with the police and the municipal council, hoping to restore the tradition next year. He acknowledged that the unrest last year was not caused by the youth center's attendees. Mayor Gerda Van den Brande, however, maintained that safety is the top priority, describing the decision as a compromise serving the general interest rather than targeting any specific group or activity.

Safety is the top priority.

— Gerda Van den BrandeMayor of Meise, explaining the rationale behind the stricter regulations.
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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