Fairground operators protest in Antwerp

Angry fairground operators blockaded roads in the centre of Antwerp yesterday in protest at plans to move the annual Sinksenfoor out of its home in the centre to the outlying district of Borgerhout. Four police officers were injured in clashes, and 43 protesters were arrested, mainly for public order offences, but also for rebellion and possession of a weapon.

The protest began at about 5.30 with about 100 vehicles driving slowly up and down de Singel, one of the main arteries leading to the Antwerp Ring Road. Later the protest grew to 230 vehicles, which blocked main junctions, allowing public transport through and holding up other traffic. When fairground operators were faced with angry motorists, police intervened. The blockades remained, however, and traffic was soon at a standstill.

The annual month-long Sinksenfoor, which is scheduled to begin on 7 June, was moved to a new location by the city after a court found in favour of residents of the fair’s previous site on the docks, who complained of noise nuisance. Fair operators, who run the Sinksenfoor attractions, are angry that the fair – Belgium’s largest – has been moved to a new, possibly temporary, location.

A delegation of the operators went to city hall yesterday to try to have a meeting with members of the city council. “They have to make some concessions, and so do we,” a spokesperson said.

The operators refused to lift their blockade, howver, until Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever listened to their grievances. De Wever refused to meet the fairground representatives until they stopped the blockade.

“We are now suddenly, and without warning, confronted with a blockade that is causing Antwerp a great deal of economic damage,” De Wever said. “Children did not make it to school, caregivers were unable to get to their patients, my own doctor was unable to reach me. These are consequences we cannot ignore.” De Wever has been under medical supervision for some weeks after being hospitalised with a lung infection.

“If there is no discussion,” the fairground spokesperson said, “we will come back tomorrow.” The group also threatened to repeat their blockade today, reinforced by colleagues arriving from other areas. As of the time of this report, no such action had yet taken place.

photo by Jonas Roosens/BELGA