If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Belgian Chocolate T-pots at play
http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flande...2_national_day
130,000 in Brussels for National Day Sun 22/07/07 - Around 130,000 people joined in Belgium's National Day celebrations on Saturday. A whole host of events took place with the military parade in front of the Royal Palace and the traditional firework display proving especially popular. The theme of this year's military parade was Europe. Soldiers from other European countries took part in the parade, while Norwegian, Danish and Portuguese pilots took part in the air display. There was also a detachment of soldiers that carried both the EU flag and the emblems of Eurocorps. Officers from the armies of all 27 EU-member states carried the flags of all the nations that make up the European Union in a part of the parade that paid tribute to "fifty years of European union". Around 1,700 soldiers and pilots took part in the parade and fly past. Prince Laurent of the Belgians caused something of a storm by wearing civilian clothes to the parade. Protocol dictates that the King's children, all of whom have served in the armed services, should where their uniforms to the parade. Te Deum (Belga) Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent The celebrations officially got underway on Saturday morning with the traditional Te Deum in Brussels Cathedral. Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (Flemish liberal) and the new Flemish Prime Minister Kris Peeters (Christian democrat) were among the dignitaries joining King Albert and Queen Paola of the Belgians at the cathedral. It was King Albert's first official engagement outside his home since his recent hip operation. Elswhere, Crown Prince Filip and Princess Mathilde attended a service in the Sint-Baafs Cathedral in the East Flemish city of Ghent. After the Te Deum, King Albert II met the speakers of the Chamber of Representatives, the Senate and the regional and language community parliaments in the Egmont Palace. Party time in Brussels A whole host of other events are took place in Brussels to mark Belgium's National day. The Warande Park, between the Federal Parliament and the Royal Palace, played host to the "Olympicnic". (Belga) The Belgian Olympic Association staged demonstrations of a whole range of sports. Visitors young and old had the chance to try out the various sports for themselves. The companies that hold the royal warrant set up a market next to the Royal Palace. They also made the biggest Belgian flag in history to mark this year's National Day. The square in front of Brussels' main court building was transformed into a police village, where members of the general public got to know the various aspects of police work. The fire brigade, the civil defence service and the Red Cross also set up information stands and staged demonstrations of their work. The federal museums such as Brussels' Museum of Fine Arts celebrated the National Day by cutting their entrance fee to just 1 euro and the Federal Parliament also held an open day. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Chocolate t-pot convention | Turbo Charged Grass Seed | Europe | 0 | July 12th, 2007 08:57 PM |
Take heart, chocolate lovers | [email protected] | Europe | 0 | November 15th, 2006 07:22 AM |
Take heart, chocolate lovers | [email protected] | Cruises | 0 | November 15th, 2006 07:21 AM |
New Zealand - 'Poo Pots' for Climbers | [email protected] | Australia & New Zealand | 2 | August 12th, 2004 12:32 AM |