Brussels

Stadhuis (Town Hall)

Selected as one of the nine European cultural cities of the year 2000, the capital of Belgium would like to shine for the occasion. The numerous projects include refurbishing of the city, accompanied by a host of cultural and festive events.

Not only the capital of Belgium, but also the capital of Europe, Brussels has not engaged in town renovations similar to Paris or London during the past ten or even twenty years. But for the year 2000, the city will get refurbished, starting with the Grand Place, Brussels Park and Place Royale, all situated in the heart of the city. Meanwhile, new cultural facilities will be installed: Instrumental Museum at Mont des Arts and an underground museum including the last remains of the Charles Quint Palace at Place Royale. On the east side of town, Esplanade du Cinquantenaire will once again open its monumental door giving access to the Art and History Museum. At Laeken, nearby the Royal Castle, the building of a Japanese art museum will complete a complex that already includes the Chinese Pavilion and the Japanese Tower.

Once all decked out, Brussels will host numerous festivities organized by Brussels 2000. The major themes revolve around culture and the arts, in all shapes and forms, keeping a close proximity with the public. For example, for a festival of sciences, the different displays will be set up in various public places as well as in open-air laboratories.

The arts will further enter the everyday life, more specifically, “wasserettes” or Laundromats, as this unusual project intends to put cultural activities - exhibits, mini concerts and the likes - in such public places. Another project following the same line of thought is “operation storefront,” which will transform closed-down stores into local information centers with friendly-sized shows, exhibits and film projections.

Images will also invade the city in the form of two projects: numerous films about Brussels - from the invention of cinema to the present - will be shown all over the city, many of which have never been seen before. The second project, presenting giant photographs based on the theme of “happiness,” will adorn buildings, bus stops and other general public locations.

The entire year will be loaded with various celebrations and festivals in the Belgium capital including the Zinneke Parade that will kick off the festivities on Feb 26 - 27, 2000. To follow: the Grand Salon Carrousel, an ambitious equestrian show mixing dance and music from June 3 - 9, hundreds of concerts - some of which are to be performed in small vehicles to an intimate audience - as well as circus and dance festivals, a play writers’ marathon...

So as to avoid congestion, the residents are expected to travel by bicycle, which the city will provide free of charge. Brussels is also expected to organize a considerably large exhibition entitled “Europe and the World: 2000 Years” at Centenaire Park, and on June 10, 2000, the city will kick off the European Soccer Championships.

Europe Celebrates 2000 Years of History

Is it because the past 2000 years correspond more or less to its own history? All the same, the Old World is miles ahead of everyone else in preparing to change millenniums. For Europe in its entirety, the festivities planned for the year 2000 should be an occasion to show to what point its history and culture have fashioned the world of the 21st century.  The creation of a common currency for the year 2000 will be a decisive step in the voluntary coming together of most countries on the continent, something never before seen in the history of this planet, which will certainly become a symbol of the third millennium!

The introduction of one single European currency is not hindering the affirmation of each country within the union. What better moment than the changing millennium for its arrival? And thus, each country is seeking to be the central momentum of the festivities. 

The European Community is setting up a wide-scale operation. Instead of designating one “European cultural city” for the year 2000 as it has done every year since 1985, it has selected nine from within and outside the community: Avignon (France), Santiago de Compostela (Spain), Bologna (Italy), Brussels (Belgium), Helsinki (Finland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Bergen (Norway), Krakow (Poland) et Prague (Czech Republic). We begin our coverage with Brussels.

For more information on Brussels, visit the Tourist Information site at http://www.trabel.com/brussels.htm

For General Information contact: tbj@lehman.cuny.edu || Last modified: March 27, 2002
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