Brussels Environment has decided to close its parks as of Tuesday 9pm due to the possibility of strong storms. An update will be made this Wednesday around noon.

The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI) is also issuing a yellow warning across all of Belgium for storms that could break out on Wednesday. In Brussels, this warning period extends from 6am to midnight.

Although some thunderstorms may occur in isolation this Tuesday, it is primarily from Wednesday morning until evening that more structured and widespread thunderstorms are forecast; these may in turn be accompanied by heavy rainfall and strong gales. Hail is also possible, the RMI reports on its website.

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This is the third year in a row that Brussels Environnement has opened guingettes in parks across Brussels. Traditionally serving as restaurants or dance venues in the suburbs of French cities, the Brussels guingettes will offer food, drinks, yoga and dance classes to the capital’s residents and tourists, and will also host several rock and electro concerts over the coming summer season.

In addition, local residents and neighbourhood organisations will be invited to propose their own program of activities at their nearest guingettes. Farmers, too, will be encouraged to advance Brussels Environment’s ‘Good Food’ initiative by selling locally-served organic products to the guingettes’ kitchens.

The Mauritius guingette at Parc du Cinquanteraire will open its doors for the first time at noon on Wednesday, May 8. Following this, the Emile and Gisèle guingettes will open at Parc Duden and l’Abbaye de la Cambre respectively this Saturday, May 11th. Finally, the Henri and Fabiola guingettes will open at Parc George Henri and Parc Baudouin respectively on May 18th.

All of the guingettes will be open seven days a week, from 11 am to 10 pm.

The Parc de Forest’s guingette has already been open for several days due to the warm weather at the end of April, as has the royal guingette located in the Parc de Bruxelles. The Saint-Sebastien refreshment bar (‘buvette’) and the Laiterie at Parc Josaphat are open all year.

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Inaugurated in 1890, it is more modest in scale and less well known than its big sister Grand Sablon, from where the famous yearly Ommegang parade sets out. Still, size isn’t everything; Beyaert managed to pack 59 statues into Petit Sablon Square, 48 of which represent traditional professional guilds.

The garden’s symmetrical layout is neo-Renaissance in style but, seen in birds’ eye view, seems beautifully typical of Brussels, like an Art Nouveau keyhole perhaps, or a ladies’ dressing table. Stroll around the perimeter and gaze upon bakers, cabinet-makers, cobblers, coopers, weavers, barbers, gilders, and millers. A visit to Petit Sablon Square is like a masterclass in the vocabulary of historic crafts.

Children (and adults), will have fun guessing which trade is which, using each statue’s clothing and tools as clues. The details are surprising and delightful. How would you tell the difference between a fresh-water fishmonger and a salt-fishmonger for example? Among the statues, you’ll even find Henri Beyaert himself. Can you guess which statue was modelled on his features? *Answer below!

At the park’s southern tip, above a round pool, stand the Counts of Egmont and Hornes, who were beheaded for their resistance to the Spanish in the 1500s. Their statue was moved from its original setting in Grand Place to this new home for the park’s inauguration.

The two rebellious counts are surrounded by contemporary ‘Belgian’ luminaries, including the mathematician, geographer, and astronomer, Mercator, who coined the term ‘America.’ These ten 16th century heavyweights make the Petit Square a must-visit for anyone playing ‘Name Ten Famous Belgians’. Don’t expect to find many women among the statues though – that’s a campaign yet to come.

*Answer: Statue number 1: for slate and stoneworkers, masons and sculptors.

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The yellow alert was launched in all provinces on Monday. Already on Sunday evening, winds of up to 65 km/h are also announced.

Brussels Mobility has also announced the closure of the Bois de la Cambre as of 21h on Sunday, March 2nd.

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