The Belgians welcomed 2008 in style 03/01/2008 00:00

Tens of thousands watched the firework displays in Bruges, Mechelen and Antwerp.

3 January 2008 - Belgium welcomed the new year with lights, colours, festivities and celebrations. Tens of thousands watched the firework displays in Bruges, Mechelen and Antwerp. No major incidents were reported.

New Year celebrations were pulled off in most places in Belgium without major incidence. The larger cities had firework displays which attracted tens of thousands of spectators. The firework display in Brussels was cancelled due to a terrorist threat and a heightened state of security.

Though no major incidents were reported in the capital the emergency services receivedsome 1000 calls- considerably more than last year.

The Flemish transportation company De Lijn had an extra 400 employees working New Year's Eve to transport the partiers home safely. In Brussels and Wallonia public transportation was free of charge. Responsible Young Drivers The Responsible Young Drivers brought some 1200 people safely home New Year's Eve.

The number of people who call the organisation for a ride home New Year's Eve has dropped each year consecutively.

The RYD think this is a good evolution: "It shows that more people look for solutions ahead of time to get home safely after a night of partying. More and more people take public transport or have a designated driver who does not drink that night."

More than 250 volunteers and 100 cars were on standby New Year's Eve to drive people home.

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