55,000 protest against pension reforms

The march has had an impact on public services such as the post and public transport. While the railways have been largely unaffected, there is considerable disruption to services provided by the Flemish public transport service De Lijn and the Brussels public transport service MIVB.

There is also disruption at Port of Antwerp and on the country's inland waterways as lockkeepers apear to have joined the demonstration in numbers.    

Two out of three De Lijn drivers have turned up for work. Meanwhile, around half of the MIVB’s bus tram and metro services are running. Both public transport companies have deployed those drivers that have turned up for work on the busiest lines.

MIVB’s An Van hamme warns that once the march gets under way there will be further disruption on bus routes that cross its path.

Click here for the lastest news on MIVB services.

Click here for the latest information on services operated by De Lijn.

Meanwhile, the Belgian post offices Bpost that many postal service workers are at the demonstration and that many of us won’t receive any post today.

The police say that 55,000 people are taking part. The organisers say that there are 70,000 demonstrators. This is double the number that took part in the last demonstration against the pension reforms.