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.
FACTS
ABOUT BELGIUM
Full
country name: Kingdom of Belgium
Area: 30,518
sq km
Population: 10.2 million
Capital city: Brussels (pop: 970,000)
People: 55% Flemish (of
Teutonic origin),
33% Walloons (French Latin) and
about
10% foreigners.
Language:
Flemish, French and German. Most Belgians also speak English.
Religion: More than 75% of the population is Roman Catholic.
Government: A constitutional parliamentary monarchy. |
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 |