On Wednesday evening, the sixth day of the Ghent Festivities, three squares were temporarily closed due to large crowds.
The Sint-Baafsplein, Korenmarkt, and Vlasmarkt were made inaccessible for a short time for safety reasons, with police and stewards directing visitors to quieter areas of the city centre.
The event organisers reported that approximately 120,000 visitors were drawn to Ghent on Wednesday, thanks to performances by Belle Perez and Les Truttes. “We reached maximum capacity at several squares quite quickly,” said Festival Mayor Joris Vandenbroucke. “This shows that the atmosphere is great and people are already looking forward to the weekend.”
The situation was controlled effectively, and the squares reopened once the crowds had lessened. More peak times are expected on Thursday evening, particularly during the Night of the Rainbow at Sint-Baafsplein and the 90s Party at Korenmarkt. The safety team is closely monitoring the situation and advises visitors to follow guidance from stewards and police.
The Ghent police also faced a busy day on the sixth day of festivities. Eight fights were recorded, and 43 people received fines for public urination. Additionally, there were five road traffic offences, and 14 vehicles were towed.
Furthermore, the police reported that 48 items were reported lost and can be retrieved at the police station on Belfortstraat.
The Red Cross also noted a busy day, with 165 festival-goers receiving care at the first-aid posts. In total, there were ten ambulance trips, eight individuals reported to the emergency department spontaneously, and 21 people required hospitalisation.
