The "roller parade" will set up its summer quarters in Mons, Namur and Liège

Last year, the "roller parade" quickly established itself as one of the successful events of the Brussels summer: 30,000 people took part in the five roller-skating outings organized in the capital. "For us, it is already a tradition," Mayor Freddy Thielemans emphasized at the dawn of a new experience. The phenomenon is taking on surprising dimensions: today, "roller cops"—actual police patrols on skates—can be seen in Brussels. The success of the parade in 2002 was such that the concept will be exported this summer to six other cities in the country: Ghent, Hasselt, and Koksijde on the Flemish side, but also Mons, Namur, and Liège for the French-speaking part of the country. In order to accommodate all asphalt-sliding enthusiasts and—who knows?—allow them to enjoy a happy "roller parade" tour of Belgium, each participating city will organize its routes according to a well-established schedule this coming July and August. So meet up in Namur on Tuesdays, then in Liège on Thursdays, and finally in Mons on Saturdays. All precise information can soon be obtained on the website www.belgiumrollers.com: schedules, gathering points, and itineraries. In the meantime, the time has come to warm up the skates.