Gent –
The students are back in Ghent and that was immediately clear on Monday evening in the Overpoort. The new corona terraces that the cafes were allowed to put in the street were already full from noon. Too full. And so the police intervened around 11 pm: the street was closed and no one was allowed in anymore.
–
Trays of beer and lots of laughter. The students visibly enjoyed the reopening of the Ghent Overpoortstraat. Now that the city council allowed them to place terraces, eight cafes reopened on Monday afternoon. The police were emphatically present, even with plainclothes officers. Those who did not wear a mouth mask were pointed out by the police.
“It’s not like the previous years, but we’re happy to finally be back together here. That way we have that student experience, ”says Michelle (20) commercial sciences student, with some friends on the terrace of café Pallieter.
Kotfeestjes
After 20 hours the atmosphere changed: it became grimmer and drunken in the Overpoort. At the beginning of the street pushing and pulling started between a few young people, but the police intervened. A group of boys from a student association are also visibly happy to be back in the Overpoort, but fear the closing time. “Then everyone comes out on the street and they move to the dorms. Then things get out of hand. ”
It doesn’t take until closing time, 1am, before things get out of hand. The police intervened around 11 pm: the Overpoort was closed after consultation between the mayor and the police chief. Only those who have already been in the street can stay. Whoever leaves cannot go back. The police also ask the cafes that are open to stop serving drinks after half past twelve at night.
According to the police, the exodus went smoothly afterwards, reports the VRT.
–
––
