Celebrations for the 2008 National Holiday in Brussels

On 21 July, current events will be standing aside for the celebrations organised to coincide with Belgium’s National Holiday. Do you want to know what this year’s event holds in store for you? One thing you can count on is the streets of Brussels being black, yellow and red with people!

20 July 2008

7.30 am  - National ball – place du Jeu de Balle

On 20 July, on the eve of the National Holiday, you will have the opportunity to limber up a bit at 7.30 pm during  the traditional National Ball. After kicking off with the Modern Ball (a dance lesson for all-comers), you will be set to indulge in hours of crazy fun with various performers guaranteed to keep the party going, such as the Marolles Bras Brolles et les Mignonnettes, Eddy Wally, François Vincent, DJ Ket Boudin and, as the high point, The Soul City Band.

balnational.be

21 July 2007

10h – Te Deum – St. Michel and St. Gudule cathedral

11h – Partying in the Park – the  party will be in full swing from the Parc de Bruxelles to place Poelaert, on the place Royale, the place du Musée and the Mont des Arts, from the rue de la Régence to the Grand Sablon.

Here are some of the highlights :

• The Belgian army will be in attendance with aircraft and tanks (Sablon)
• In what has now become a tradition, the Belgian Olympic Committee is organising its Olympicnic (Parc de Bruxelles)
• The European Village (place des Palais)
• The Civil Services and the Police Village (place Poelaert)
• Various public institutions will be open to visitors for the  symbolic admission fee of one Euro: the Federal Parliament, the Coudenberg archaeological site, the Musical Instrument Museum, the Court of Auditors, Our Lady of the Sablon church, St. Jacques church, the Royal Fine Arts Museums, the Protestant Church, the Synagogue, the Belvue museum, the  Law Courts and the Brussels Information Place.
• Bands, folk groups, craftspeople, clowns and other artists and performers will be celebrating with us.

The full programme (nl – fr) is available  for consultation online at the website sibp.be (Syndicat d'Initiative-Bruxelles Promotion 1886 asbl.

16h – Military and civilian parade – Place des Palais

23h – Fireworks – Palais des Académies

The fireworks display will take place in the gardens of the Palais des Académies, accessible solely via the rue Royale.