The closure brings to an end a long struggle to save the jobs of the 1,300 people employed at Opel Antwerp, after parent company General Motors announced last January that it would close the plant, following a year of speculation and rumour. Attempts were made by the Flemish government to change the company's mind and to bring the closure to the attention of European authorities, after it appeared that the German government had offered GM incentives to save factories in Germany from the axe.

In the end, efforts failed to save the company whose origins in Antwerp date back to 1924 and which produced more than 13 million cars. But there was some consolation for the workers when it was revealed that one in three of those who laid off as of 1 January have already found new jobs through the Flemish government's employment and training agency VDAB.

Last week Flanders' minister-president Kris Peeters also said that government-related employers like bpost (formerly De Post), Belgacom and the railway authority NMBS would find jobs wherever possible for former Opel workers.