Partygoers in Flanders don't have to worry about transportation on New Year's Eve this year.
De Lijn is once again offering an extensive and affordable range of transport, so that everyone can celebrate New Year's Eve safely and carefree. From 31:18.00 p.m. on 1 December until 23.59:XNUMX p.m. on XNUMX January, party buses and trams will be running throughout the country. The range can be consulted via the De Lijn website and app.
Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder emphasizes the importance of accessible and safe public transport during the holidays. “Thanks to the special offer, partygoers can enjoy the festivities without worrying about transport. Some lines remain unchanged, while others are specially adapted to the festivities,” she says.
Ann Schoubs, CEO of De Lijn, praises the efforts of the hundreds of employees who make this possible. “Our drivers, dispatchers, technicians and line inspectors put their own festivities on the back burner to give passengers a carefree New Year's Eve. That shows their dedication and passion,” says Schoubs.
free rides
For an amount of only €2,50, De Lijn offers it newyearsticket24 on. This ticket gives unlimited access to all buses and trams, including Flexvervoer, during the period mentioned. The ticket is easy to obtain via the usual sales channels, including apps and sms.
In some provinces, such as Limburg and Antwerp, travellers don't even have to pay anything. There, the provincial authorities and various cities and municipalities cover the costs of end-of-year transport. For example, Limburg partygoers can use 19 party buses for free thanks to financial support from the province. A similar arrangement applies in Antwerp, where travellers do have to apply for a free ticket via the participating municipalities.
“During the holidays, countless colleagues are once again committed to ensuring that no one has to stay home during the holidays. There are hundreds of them, our drivers but also dispatchers, technicians, line inspectors and intervention teams who put their festivities in their own circle on the back burner to make all this possible for the traveler. That shows pure passion”.
A striking difference from previous years is the absence of the nostalgic Christmas trams in Ghent, Antwerp and on the coast. This is because De Lijn, together with heritage associations, is working on new safety frameworks for these trams. Since the tram anniversaries in Ghent (2024) and Antwerp (2023), safety has been a top priority, for both passengers and employees.
In Antwerp, the extensive range of festivities is supplemented by five tram lines and 24 bus lines that cross the province. The large fireworks in the city cause extra crowds, which has led to a temporary closure of the Groenplaats metro station between 23.00:02.00 and XNUMX:XNUMX. Travelers are advised to divert to the Meir metro station, where the same tram lines stop.
regional coverage
In East Flanders, 27 party lines are active, including 12 lines in and around Ghent. The regions of Waasland and Dender are also served, with Sint-Niklaas and Aalst as important transfer points. In Flemish Brabant, travellers can take numerous party buses in the Leuven-Hageland region. West Flanders offers party transport with 19 bus lines in Bruges, Ostend and along the coast. The Kusttram also runs all night, with an hourly service.
For a carefree journey, travellers are advised to consult the full range via the De Lijn website or app. There you can also find details about the free tickets and adjusted routes. Thanks to the efforts of De Lijn and its employees, thousands of Flemish people can ring in the new year carefree this year.
