Belgian celebration, a bit of everything

EVENT OF THE DAY National Day | The programme SUNDAY 20 JULY FROM 11:00 AM UNTIL MIDNIGHT 3 Palais d'Egmont • Aperitif Concert from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm 4 Caserne Prince Albert • Roller Street Park-Hip Hop from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm ROLLER PARADE Gathering from 11:30 am and departure at 12:30 pm in the Parc du Cinquantenaire (Schuman side) 7 Rue Haute - Place Brueghel • Le Cirque du Trottoir between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm MOTORCYCLE PARADE (20km) Gathering at 12:00 pm and departure at 2:00 pm at the Atomium 8 Place du Jeu de Balle • Popular Ball from 6:30 pm to 1:00 am BICYCLE PARADE (20km) Gathering at 12:30 pm and departure at 2:00 pm on Rue Ducale [...]the royal family will participate in numerous activities [...]day and Monday. [...]tands, concerts, [...]ports events, visits, entertainment... [...]will present the various [...]acets of Belgium. [...]STIB and SNCB [...]will adapt their services. [...]the King at the motorcycle parade, Prince Philippe at the bicycle parade, Laurent and Claire at the roller parade, Astrid and her family at the circus and the popular ball in Malle, Astrid and her family at the circus, the whole royal family except Princess Mathilde, due to a happy event approaching — who are expected at the various activities organized in Brussels, Sunday and Monday, on the occasion of the National Day celebrating the 10th anniversary of the reign of Albert II. Highlights We must add, of course, the traditional Te Deum, Monday at 10:00 am (the Sovereigns and Queen Fabiola at the Cathédrale des Saints-Michel-et-Gudule in Brussels, Prince Philippe at the Cathédrale Saint-Aubin in Namur, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz at the Cathédrale Saint-Salvator in Bruges, Prince Laurent and Princess Claire at the Église Saint-Nicolas in Hupen) as well as the military and civil parade in the afternoon. From the festive programme, published in full in our Friday edition (1), several highlights stand out (see attached map and table above). On Sunday, there will be the classical aperitif concert (conducted by Dirk Brossé), the roller parade (departure at 12:30 pm from Place Schuman), the bicycle parade (2:00 pm, Rue Ducale), the motorcycle parade (same time, Heysel), the Garden Party in Laeken (by invitation distributed by provincial governors) and the popular ball at Place du Jeu de Balle. On Monday, the must-sees will be the special edition of the flea market (Place du Jeu de Balle), entertainment, demonstrations, music, stands, exhibitions, tastings,... (at the Parc, Places Royale and du Musée, Coudenberg and Sablon, Rues Blaes and Haute, Place Brueghel, Rue de la Régence, Place Poelaert), the children's concert at Palais d'Egmont and the evening concert (broadcast by RTBF) at Place Poelaert featuring twenty of the most prominent Belgian artists and groups. The King will come to give a short speech around 10:30 pm. Traditional fireworks will mark the closing at Place des Palais (11:30 pm). Note also that on both days, the courtyard of Caserne Prince Albert will be transformed into a large Roller Park, also accessible to BMX (rental available on site). On both days as well, Le Cirque du trottoir will perform on Square Brueghel in the afternoon. Regarding mobility, STIB has adjusted service on certain metro and bus lines and arranged transport options back at 1:00 am after Monday night's events (2). SNCB is offering discounts and operating seven night trains to Liège, Namur, Charleroi, Tournai, Ghent, Kortrijk, Ostend, Hasselt, and Antwerp (departing from Bruxelles-Central at 1:30 am; stopping before or after at Bruxelles-Midi, but not Bruxelles-Nord) (3). Needless to say, large sections of the city center will be inaccessible by car. Drivers are advised to use park-and-ride facilities and then take the metro. (1) It can also be found on the website http://www.albert2.be (2) Info: tel.: 02.515.20.00 or Web http://www.stib.be (3) Info: tel.: 02.528.28.28 or Web http://www.sncb.be