A 20-metre-high Christmas tree and a 3D show on City Hall

This year, the 2024 Christmas tree does not come from a faraway forest. The search resulted in a 20-metre-high Nordmann from a private garden in Rixensart (Walloon Brabant). The tree, which had become a little too big, was donated to the City of Brussels by its owners, providing it with a setting worthy of its splendour. The lighting is magnificent, and the nativity scene is the main attraction of Christmas in the Grand-Place, except when the 3D video mapping is shown on the façade of the Town Hall, attracting the amazed gazes of spectators. 

An Unforgettable Experience

‘Plaisirs d’Hiver is above all an experience to be lived and shared. With its Christmas market, iconic attractions and rich cultural programme, it will continue to be the must-see event at the end of the year. Our aim is to consolidate this event to make it even more sustainable, and to involve as many people as possible from our neighbourhoods,’ says Philippe Close, Mayor of the City of Brussels.

Unmissable new features and the Var as guest of honour

This edition of Plaisirs d’Hiver also includes some exciting new features:

• The Village dedicated to the Var, the essence of Provence and the Côte d’Azur, with its 18 partners, a Provencal nativity scene with 300 santons, and themed events every weekend.
• An extension of the Christmas market: 11 additional stands on rue de la Madeleine and a Creators Factory market in the Galerie Bortier.
• Unique artistic installations:
  • Lucia, an immersive multimedia creation from Quebec in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Ville.
  • Echinodermus, a giant 11-metre luminary on the Mont des Arts, glittering as night falls.

A variety of events and performances (circus, dance, music, etc.) are organised throughout the Plaisirs d’Hiver. Through an economic, tourism and cultural partnership with the Var department, the City of Brussels is offering visitors to Plaisirs d’Hiver a unique opportunity to discover this popular destination for Europeans all year round. Expertise from the Var will be showcased in around ten Christmas market chalets, featuring a Provencal cot and a chalet dedicated to tourism promotion.

Come to the Place de la Bourse for olive oils, artisanal biscuits, black truffles, jams, beers, wines and the emblematic perfumes of the Var, all treasures that will awaken your senses and offer you an unforgettable encounter with the art of living in the Var, combining Provencal and Côte d’Azur traditions.

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From the Royal Palace in Laeken, King Philippe reminded everyone that although Christmas isn’t the same this year and we can’t celebrate with all our loved ones, “love and friendship is still stronger than separation.”

The challenges may be overwhelming at the moment, but the King expressed confidence that the situation will improve in the coming months.

The Belgian monarch recalled the lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic. First of all, he said, it proved that we are capable of coping.

The sovereign hailed the admirable efforts of the health care force. He thanked those who have kept the country afloat by continuing to provide services. And he called to mind the extraordinary acts of kindness and generosity that people extended to others.

The crisis exposed our fragility and forced us to accept our dependence on one another, the King said. But it also taught us “to listen and to understand each other better.” He added that dependence can be a strength if lived with respect and trust.

King Philippe acknowledged the impact of drastic health measures on people’s liberties, but he reminded everyone that “freedom only has full meaning when lived with and for others, for the good of the whole community.”

The King ended his speech with a special message to young people. He assured them that even if the pandemic is currently preventing them from enjoying their youth, they will one day be able to spread their wings again and make their dreams come true.

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Every holiday season, we see a different kind of Christmas tree glittering in the middle of the Grand Place in Brussels.

The chosen tree is usually taken from the forests of Belgium’s southern region of Wallonia. Every once in a while, it comes as a gift from another country.

One particular tree became controversial because it wasn’t a real tree. In 2012, Brussels decided to go for an electronic tree installation, which was taken down much sooner because it didn’t sit so well with the public.

This year, the twinkling and towering centerpiece of Grand Place is a traditional spruce tree from the Hautes Fagnes or the High Fens, a vast nature reserve in the Liège Province.

Let’s take a look at some of the most captivating Christmas trees ever to grace the Grand Place. Which one appeals to you the most? Cast your vote.

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The New Year’s Eve party organized on the Heysel square for the second time worked very well. In total 56,900 people gathered, out of which 60% were Belgians (15,000 Brussels residents) and 40% internationals.

In addition, the hospitality sector performed well with an occupancy rate of 69.1% during the month of December (2.4% more than last year) and a big spike for New Year’s Eve with a occupancy rate of 94,7%.

The next edition of Plaisirs d’Hiver will be held from November 29, 2019 to January 5, 2020 for the nineteenth time.

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Close to 2,5 million people wandered among the more than 200 hundred wooden cabins in the city center.

This year some of the nationalities present have been: Spanish, Polish, Russian, Greek, British, American, Turkish, Brazilian, Chinese, Filipino, Colombian, Congolese, Ghanaian, Kazakh, among many others.

The post Which nationalities have visited the Winter Wonders in Brussels? appeared first on Brussels Express.

At Proximus, the volume of data recorded between December 24 at 20h and 25 at 8h is up 48% compared to 2017 at 87,781 gigabytes. The number of text messages decreased by 10% to 6,498,600.

The trend is the same for Orange, which recorded more than 96,000 gigabytes in mobile data volume on its network, an increase of more than 78% compared to 2017. Orange customers have also sent 6 million text messages, or 13% less than in 2017. Orange recorded 1.4 million calls, 33% more than last year. A fifth of these calls were made via 4G.

On Christmas Eve, Telenet mobile customers sent 4,223,804 sms, 21% less than last year, and used 57,111 GB of data between 20:00 and 08:00, which equals a 21% increase (47,155 GB in 2017).

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Mr. Reynders then went to his other ministry, Foreign Affairs, rue des Petits Carmes, in the center of Brussels, where he greeted the 200 or so members of the Carabinier Prince Baudouin-Grenadiers battalion of Bourg-Léopold (Limburg) responsible for ensuring safety in the streets of the capital.

In Zaventem, 36 soldiers – out of the 465 engaged in OVG – reinforce sixty police officers. The medical component provides a permanent section (about ten men and women), explained the general physician-major Pierre Neirinckx. During the bombing that hit the airport on March 22, 2016, this medical reinforcement proved particularly useful for providing first aid to the victims. And this presence has since remained.

Mr. Reynders then went to the center of the capital where he accompanied a patrol of infantry, stopping in front of the Jewish Museum of Brussels.

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While the coming months will be marked by elections, the sovereign calls for dialogue and mutual respect. « Democracy requires listening and dialogue. Let us prepare for federal, regional and European elections by holding open and true debates, respecting ourselves. Because the moment the vote must be the result of a careful reflection. »

A few hours before Christmas and a few days before the new year, the King emphasized how these moments are conducive to « take a step back », « stop our constant race chasing time », and « to take stock », but also to « remember that life is a path that we do not do alone, but with fellow travelers, who, like us, need to be listened to.

The King reminded everyone that this festive period « is an opportunity to pay special attention to the most fragile of our society », as well as to those who surround and accompany them « with care and dedication ».

The post I trust the sense of responsibility of our leaders to act in the interest of the country and the people: The Christmas message of King Philippe appeared first on Brussels Express.

Much like this multicultural city we live in, Christmas brings together different cultures and traditions in one happy celebration. We may come from different countries and speak different languages, but we all share the joy of this occasion. It’s one of the things that makes Christmas so special.

In Brussels Express, we are proud to be a team that reflects the international character of this city we love to discover, explore, and write about. As we all get ready for the grand celebrations, we wish you all one and the same Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in our own different ways.

This is how we say it in our respective languages. How do you say it in yours?

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