With Belgians being able to participate in their National Day parade for the first time in two years, many of Brussels' busiest areas will be closed off to traffic.
The festivities will be spread between three different events: celebrations and a fireworks display at Cinquantenaire Park, as well as a military parade that begins in the Royal Park area.
Here is a rundown on the planned traffic disruptions in the capital on 21 July.
The parade's permutations
Here are the planned closures for the parade, which will take place from 16:00 to 18:00.
From 12:00 and 12:30 onwards: the Cinquantenaire, Loi and Reyers tunnels (towards the centre) will be closed to traffic, and cars will not be able drive on Avenue d'Auderghem.
From 12.30 until 18:00, cars will not be allowed to drive on Avenue de Cortenbergh, Rue Archimède, the Schuman roundabout, Rue de la Loi and on Rue Lambermont.
Finally, from 14:00 until 18:00, Place du Trône, Avenue des Arts and Boulevard du Régent, Rue du Luxembourg, Rue Montoyer and Rue Belliard will be closed to traffic.
Party pooper
The following locations will be blocked to traffic as a result of National Day celebrations held at the Cinquantenaire Park.
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From 05:00 till the end of the festivities, these roads will be closed to automobiles, trams, and buses:
- Mont des Arts
- Rue Royale
- Place Royale
- Place Poelaert
- Place du Petit Sablon
- Place du Grand Sablon
- Rue Ravenstein
- Rue Ducale
- Rue Ernest Allard
- Rue des Quatre-Bras
- Rue de la Régence
- Rue Joseph Dupont
- Rue Coppens
- Rue Bodenbroeck
- Rue de Ruysbroeck
- The Coudenberg Palace
Additionally, the Saint-Lazare tunnel will be closed 06:00 onwards and traffic near the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula will be closed from 7:30 till 10:00.
Firework in progress
With fireworks planned to take place in the Cinquantenaire Park from 23:00 until 23:30, here are the nearby streets that will remain closed during the display:
- Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée
- Avenue de la Renaissance
- Avenue des Nerviens
- Avenue de l'Yser
- Avenue des Gaulois
- Avenue de Tervuren (up to Montgomery)
- The Schuman roundabout
- Rue de la Loi
The Cinquantenaire tunnels will also remain closed in both directions until the end of the fireworks show.
