Brussels turns black, yellow and red for the national holiday
The tens of thousands of spectators who came to the capital for Belgian National Day can witness to this: the national procession was once again an utter success. The Belgian Presidency of the European Union Council of Ministers was clearly in the forefront during the festivities in Brussels. International participation gave the procession a little extra touch that was much appreciated. After the air show, the land-based parade was opened with a detachment of the flags of the 27 Member States of the European Union.
In the motorised column of civil rescue services, some vehicles from European countries had hardly any trouble holding the public’s attention. This was the case especially for an astounding sports car of the Italian Polizia and impressive fire engines.
The procession was closed by the Choir of the European Union conducted by Dirk De Moor. The choir sang “La Brabançonne”, accompanied by the Royal Music Chapel of the Guides. "Singing 'Le Roi, la loi, la liberté' (The King, law, liberty) before His Majesty the King is a great honour, which will not happen to me again in my life", the choir director confessed. The national festivities finished with the traditional evening concert on the place des Palais, before the city was wreathed in the glittering lights of a grandiose fireworks show.
