Illegal rave on Belgian military airbase sees organisers ordered to pay €78k in damages

The organisers of an illegal rave on a Belgian military airbase have been ordered to pay €78,635 in damages. 

Three of the organisers were given jail terms, one for a year, and two for four months. Seven individuals also received community service orders, and two walked away with suspended sentences to a maximum of 10 months.

Held on 7th July 2023 at Groot Schietveld military base and nature reserve, close to Antwerp, around 200 people are believed to have entered a restricted area for the party. This triggered a “provincial disaster plan” because authorities believed there was the likelihood of attendees encountering unexploded munitions.

The area is used by the Belgian Armed Forces for artillery practice. Prior to 2021 it has been partially accessible to the public, but a number of incidents involving what The Brussels Times labelled as “careless visitors” led to a complete ban on unauthorised entry. 

Around 12 individuals were arrested at the rave when Belgian law enforcement officers arrived with support from Dutch police called across the border to assist with dispersing the crowd. In addition to the core team, a further eight people have also received criminal convictions for providing sound equipment, with up to 52 hours of community service owed.

Last year, DJ Mag published a long read on the UK’s “thriving free party scene“. 2024 also marked the 30th anniversary of the Criminal Justice Bill, the piece of legislation that first proscribed music “wholly or predominantly categorised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats” in law.

Photo via Johan N.