Mini Europe has a mini Brexit

Mini Europe has a mini Brexit
The popular tourist spot features models of buildings across Europe, including several from the United Kingdom, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and more. Credit: © Belga

The implications of Brexit are even being felt in the smallest part of Brussels as Mini Europe begins to adapt to accommodate for the UK leaving the EU.

Mini Europe - a miniature replica of Europe near the Atomium - is set to reopen for its new season on 14 March, but owner Thierry Meeùs is facing the mammoth task making sure the reality of Brexit is reflected.

The popular tourist spot features models of buildings across Europe, including several from the United Kingdom, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and more. Despite the final confirmation this year that the UK will leave the EU, Meeùs has decided the English models shall remain.

"The buildings are beautiful and there are many," he told Bruzz. "If we were to remove them, there'd be a big hole that's hard to fill. Seen from above, the park corresponds to the map of Europe. So you can't just reserve the place for Serbia or any other candidate country."

While the models will remain, concessions will be made to reflect the new reality. Visitors will, therefore, have to pass through a small customs post if they want to move from Mini-Europe to the Mini-United Kingdom, the CEO continued. Access between the UK and France or Ireland will also be adapted to better reflect reality, DPD reports.

Related News

Mini-Europa has even more adjustment work. "On all info panels, we are talking about the 28 member states. That needs to be changed to 27. All new panels. In addition, the pedagogical files for the schools will have to be rewritten and we will also have to update the visitors' guides."

British flags will also disappear from the site and brochures will no longer show the country's statistics. A miniature crowd will be added at the foot of the Big Ben, representing anti-Brexit protesters.

The Brexit adjustments will cost around €10,000, Meeùs expects.

Jules Johnston

The Brussels Times


Copyright © 2024 The Brussels Times. All Rights Reserved.