BRUSSELS: Thousands of demonstrators marched through Brussels on Sunday (Jan 23) to protest anti-coronavirus rules as the Omicron wave causes infections to reach record highs.

AFP reporters said the sprawling crowd appeared far larger than previous demonstrations that have paraded through the Belgian capital to the seat of the European Union and seen clashes with the police.

Protesters carried signs slamming Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the Covid Safe pass proving you are vaccinated or have tested negative that is required for entry into numerous venues.

Organisers including the World Wide Demonstration for Freedom and Europeans United for Freedom had called for people to come from other EU states.

Flags from Poland, the Netherland and Romania could be seen in the crowd.

“What has been happening since 2020 has allowed people to wake up to corruption,” said Francesca Fanara, who had travelled from Lile in northern France,

“I have come to march together.”

“It’s a health dictatorship,” said Adolfo Barbosa from Portugal.

“It warms the heart to see these people here.”

The protest comes as some governments seek to ease restrictions despite the fast-spreading Omicron variant causing a surge in infections.