A series of austerity measures sparked a nationwide strike in Belgium on Monday, bringing transportation services to a halt and forcing the closures of some businesses.

Hundreds of flights, trains, trams and buses were canceled, ports were blockaded and hundreds of factories were closed in the action called for by the country’s three main unions.

“There’s never been a strike this strong,” said Marie-Helene Ska, the head of the Christian CSC union.

Monday’s action, described as the largest in years, is the culmination of a series of actions against austerity plans by the two-month old federal government of center-right Prime Minister Charles Michel.

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT