Belgium's largest LEGO trade fair, Brick Mania, will take place at Antwerp Expo again this weekend. Eye-catcher of this 11th edition is a scale model of the medieval fortress in Antwerp's old city centre, Het Steen, reconstructed with some 22,000 LEGO bricks.
Brick Mania Antwerp is the place to be for fans of the Danish toy brand and attracts some 9,000 visitors each year. Together, more than 250 exhibitors fill two exhibition halls (roughly 6,000 m²) with numerous dioramas, mosaics, 3D models and scale models built entirely with the iconic LEGO bricks.
The highlight this year is a scale model of Het Steen. The replica of this ancient part of Antwerp's city walls consists of more than 22,000 LEGO bricks. Also on display at the fair will be a scale model of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper from Dubai, standing 3.5 metres tall.
For every generation
In addition to all the exhibits, Brick Mania Antwerp also features workshops for children on how to build a mosaic in LEGO and various play corners. Children can also participate in a search for Disney characters and superheroes hidden among the stands. Each participant in the search will receive a LEGO gift to take home.
"With Brick Mania, we not only want to highlight the work of our exhibitors, but above all we want to inspire all visitors. Our passion for LEGO is one we want to share," said Stefaan Naessens of Brick Mania Antwerp. "This is precisely why we also consciously focus on fun activities for children and their parents. That is the beauty of LEGO: every generation derives pleasure from it."
