Operations at the Port of Antwerp have come to a complete halt as unions in Belgium continue a nationwide strike protesting proposed government reforms. As of Tuesday afternoon, no vessels—either ocean-going or inland—are moving in or out of the port, which recently became the busiest in Europe. Port officials warn that even after the strike ends on Wednesday morning, it could take up to two days to clear the mounting backlog.
The government and port authorities began preparations to stop port traffic on Monday, April 28, anticipating the disruption. By Monday evening, 25 ships were waiting to depart while 31 were waiting to enter. All vessel movements were suspended as the strike officially began at 7:30 PM on Monday and is scheduled to continue until 7:30 AM on Wednesday.
As of Tuesday, a total of 74 ships are waiting. In Antwerp, 38 vessels are stuck at the docks, while 36 more are anchored in the North Sea, awaiting entry. The strike has blocked movement through the critical Scheldt lock. However, unlike the previous strike in March, operations at the nearby port of Zeebrugge remain unaffected. 
Union leaders, including FGTB and AVC, say the strike is a continuation of their protest against the coalition government’s proposed pension changes, cuts to unemployment benefits, and reductions in public services. FGTB stated, “The March 31 general strike was a success, but the government’s proposals are still unacceptable. We must continue the pressure.”
The latest strike has also disrupted air travel, with all departures and more than half of arrivals at Brussels Airport suspended. Demonstrations and strikes are also occurring in major cities, including Brussels and Ghent.
The AVC union has issued a list of demands, including fair wage negotiations, mandatory union consultation for overnight, weekend, and overtime work, better work-life balance, and a minimum of five weeks of legal holiday for all workers.
Approximately 100 ships per day rely on Antwerp for inland waterway access. During the previous strike in late March, the port reported a backlog of over 50 vessels. Since then, Antwerp has overtaken Rotterdam to become Europe’s busiest container port.
While unions plan to resume work on Wednesday, May 1 is a national holiday in Belgium. Additional protests and rallies are expected on that day as unions maintain pressure on the government to abandon the proposed reforms.
