Belgium's Atomium marked its ten millionth visitor on Friday since its reopening in 2006, following renovation works.
The iconic Belgian answer to the Tour Eiffel, standing 102 metres tall and known for its nine silver spheres, remains the capital's most popular tourist attraction, closely followed by the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and Mini-Europe.
Since it was reopened almost 20 years ago following major renovations to the institute, it has become particularly popular: it has welcomed exactly 10 million people since.
Around 11:00 on Friday morning, two tourists from Paris became the ten millionth visitors since the Atomium reopened, symbolising a new milestone for the monument. The two young women, Saskia and Melis, were warmly welcomed by the Director of the Atomium, Julie Almau Gonzalez and the institution’s entire team.
They were presented with a bouquet, champagne, and a giant certificate reading: "Congratulations to our 10,000,000th visitor."
Timeless appeal
The Atomium’s management and staff expressed their delight, stating that reaching ten million visitors is a testament to the enduring fascination and timeless appeal of the iconic structure. "This milestone is not just a number; it also represents the countless memories, discoveries and moments of wonder experienced by visitors from around the world."
They also extended their "deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the Atomium’s legacy – from our amazing visitors who make the Atomium a place of enchantment to our dedicated staff who bring this magic to life."
The Atomium before its official opening in March 1958. Credit: Belga Archives
In March of this year, it was exactly 65 years ago since the construction of the Atomium was completed, just weeks before the official opening of the Brussels World's Fair, more commonly known as Expo 58.
Originally facing demolition, the building survived to become one of the landmarks of modern Belgium.
In the summer of 2023, the iconic Brussels monument welcomed over 190,000 visitors, a 20% increase compared to last summer’s attendance. Belgian visitors top the list, making up 35% of the audience, followed by European citizens primarily from France, Germany, Spain and Italy.
Belgians and international visitors usually flock to Brussels for its museums, but many also visit the capital to enjoy the atmosphere, shop and go out for dinner in the top structure.
