Thousands Protest Education Spending Cuts in Brussels as Police Deploy Crowd-Control Measures After Days of Clashes

Large crowds gathered in Brussels on 8 June 2026 to protest what demonstrators described as excessive police force during recent demonstrations. Euronews reported that thousands took part in the mobilisation. Protesters marched through the city carrying banners reading "My teachers, my heroes" and "Violence is not democracy".

Some areas showed signs of earlier unrest, including burned bicycles and graffiti. The demonstration followed several days of tension between activists and police. Officers used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds during that period.

Organisers accused authorities of responding disproportionately to largely peaceful protests against planned budget reductions. The unrest stems from proposed spending cuts backed by French-speaking Belgian lawmakers. Critics say the measures would affect schools and education services across Belgium's French-speaking regions.

The dispute is rooted in those planned spending cuts affecting French-speaking education. The protest movement, led in part by the group Mars Attacks, announced plans to continue daily demonstrations over the next two weeks in several cities across Wallonia. Images from Brussels showed riot police deployed in large numbers as authorities sought to prevent further disturbances.

The article was updated on 09/06/2026 at 10:11 GMT+2.