For Belgium's 200th anniversary in 2030, the Parc du Cinquantenaire – one of Brussels' crown jewels – will be transformed to become an improved meeting place and a "beacon of Belgian science and art."
The park was already redesigned once, for the country's 50th anniversary in 1880, and will now be renovated for its 200th anniversary to celebrate properly, with works carried out under the 'Cinquantenaire 2030' project.
The park is "a symbolic gateway to our city" and "a space where people can play sports and relax," said Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort, who also called attention to current issues: "It is a place with a lot of transit, visible from afar, but little used. Our ambition is to bring it back to its full potential."
The 34-hectare park in the European Quarter is a place to play sports, hang out, or even sunbathe. The aim is to transform it into a Belgian version of New York's Central Park: a place everyone can meet, not only for fun but also for cultural and scientific learning.
The major renovations of the three museums' roofs and their façades are also scheduled. The park's museums continue to attract many tourists every year, but they also reflect how Belgium has historically handled its heritage.
Taking examples from other nations, Belgium is looking to make its patrimony more visible and make it accessible to all, said Secretary of State for Relance and Strategic Investments Thomas Dermine. "The current site is still far too much a mirror of Belgium's approach to heritage in the last century."
"The 200th anniversary is a unique moment to come up with the future vision for the site and our country."
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