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    Le Soir · July 5, 2002 · Jean-Louis Wertz (photo)

    2,500 "pedestrians" skated in Brussels

    Le Soir, 2002-07-05. Photograph by Jean-Louis Wertz showing skaters and a ramp on Place Poelaert in front of a crowd of participants.

    Brief report on the unexpected success of the first roller parade in Brussels, which brought together 2,500 participants.

    Article text · translation

    2,500 "pedestrians" skated in Brussels The organizers expected a thousand participants Friday night: according to the Brussels police, there were more than 2,500 roaming the asphalt of Brussels equipped with rollers, those "inline" roller skates, to cover 18 kilometers between Place Poelaert (our photo) and the Halles Saint-Géry, in the heart of the city center. The only skate rental shop was emptied in minutes! In complete safety: in front of the group, the Brussels police blocked the streets to cars and reopened them immediately after their passage. Young, old, children, die-hard enthusiasts or occasional participants made this first initiative based on New York and Parisian examples a success. Officers from the "Roller Unit" of the City of Light even made the trip: back home, this kind of outing happens twice a... week. Photo Jean-Louis Wertz.

    Context note

    This article marks the launch of what would become the Brussels Roller Parade in 2002. Carl De Moncharline initiated this gathering, inspired by the Paris and New York models. The immediate success with 2,500 participants far exceeded initial expectations.

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