Belgium erupts over Covid rules as thousands take to the streets in protest despite surging cases

There were wild scenes in yet another European city last weekend as thousands took to the streets to protest against strict Covid measures.

There were wild scenes in yet another European city this weekend as thousands took to the streets to protest against strict Covid measures.

Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Belgium’s capital city Brussels on Sunday, despite skyrocketing Covid case numbers as Omicron continues to wreak havoc in Europe.

Similar protests also took place in cities in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic over the weekend.

Organisers of the Brussels protest claimed around 25,000 participated, although local police put the number far lower, at around 5000.

Dramatic photos taken at the scene show demonstrators setting off smoke bombs and firecrackers, lighting fires and waving placards and even a mock noose, although it was far more peaceful than a previous protest in November which made global headlines.

There were wild scenes in Belgium again this weekend. Picture: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

At least 5000 people took to the streets. Picture: Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belga/AFP

Belgian protesters were pushing for the abolition of the nation’s health pass system, which requires a person to prove their vaccination status before entering certain premises, such as bars and restaurants.

They were also protesting against expected future restrictions, after Prime Minister Alexander De Croo decided not to impose fresh rules last week, but warning that the weeks ahead would be “difficult”.

“The numbers are on the rise and the situation will get worse before it gets better,” he said, which many Belgians saw as a sign that more restrictions were looming.

Protesters were pushing to abolish Belgium’s health pass system. Picture: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

However, the protest was more peaceful than one in November, which made global headlines. Picture: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

The weekend protest was organised by the Samen Voor Vrijheid group, which translates to “Together for Freedom” in English.

Freedom was a major theme of the unrest, with participants waving banners calling for “liberty” and “freedom” and slamming the so-called “vaccine dictatorship”.

Dozens of arrests were made by police, despite the overall peaceful nature of the action.

On the day of the protest, health minister Frank Vandenbroucke flagged during a TV interview the idea of compulsory vaccination, which has already been adopted in some neighbouring nations.

“People’s minds are changing. A year ago, I was saying, ‘compulsory vaccination is not a good idea, we need to convince people’,” he said.

“Now, knowing that we really need to vaccinate 100 percent of the population - which was not our idea a year ago, we thought that 70 was enough - we still need some sort of generalised take up.”

Most demonstrators refused to wear face masks as they marched in their thousands. Picture: Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belga/AFP

Protests against compulsory vaccines rocked Prague on January 9, with demonstrators waving placards with slogans such as “Vaccination is genocide” and “Defend your children”. Picture: Michal Cizek/AFP

Europe in chaos over Covid rules

Meanwhile, a number of Covid protests popped up in other cities across Europe on the same weekend, most notably in Prague, where protesters hit back at a plan to make Covid jabs mandatory for certain professions, including healthcare and other frontline staff, as well as the over-60s.

Thousands also marched in cities across Germany, including in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Koblenz, over similar plans to make vaccines compulsory for healthcare workers.

And Austria also faced another weekend of mass protests over that country’s radical plan to make Covid vaccinations compulsory for everyone aged 14 and above, with the exception of those with health issues.

In November, it became the first nation in the European Union to announce vaccinations would be made mandatory, with the measure set to kick in from February 1.

Austria also faced yet more mass protests over the government’s divisive vaccine mandate. Picture: Florian Wieser//APA/AFP

Those who continue to refuse will be slapped with €3600 ($A5688) fines every three months.

The unrest comes as Omicron continues to devastate the continent, with the United Kingdom becoming the first nation in Europe to surpass 150,000 deaths since the pandemic first began, joining the likes of the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Peru on Saturday.

But despite the tsunami of cases, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted England can “ride out” the latest Covid wave “without shutting down our country once again”.

France has also refused to re-enter lockdown despite soaring case numbers and a rising death toll.