Around 100,000 protestors have gathered in a rowdy protest against the Belgian Government's austerity measures.

Protestors danced on top of overturned cars, threw paving stones and fireworks, set rubbish bins on fire and made makeshift barricades in the streets of the capital Brussels.

Riot police armed with clubs and shields fought back against the rowdiest groups of demonstrators.

Public transport services were restricted as a result - partially paralysing the capital of the EU on a day the finance ministers from countries using the euro were gathering.

The rally is the first in a series of measures planned by Belgian trade unions, including strikes in several provinces in coming weeks, followed by a general strike throughout the kingdom on December 15.