May 1st is International Workers Day and, to mark the occasion, many employees in Belgium and worldwide get to spend it away from the office — which means many shops and services will close down for the day.
To avoid surprises, here is what will be open and closed in Brussels over the holiday.
Any plans for lining up at the bank or going through paperwork will have to wait, as banks and public administration bureaus will be closed today. This also means that no mail or packages will be distributed by bpost.
Several supermarkets will close down shop today on the 1st, such as Aldi, Lidl, Match, Cora and Colruyt. In some neighbourhoods, such as Flagey and Schaerbeek, major national and international retailers Carrefour, Delhaize and Intermarché will keep some of their shops open to the public following Sunday opening hours.
While most shopping venues will be closed down as well —except Maasmechelen Village and Ikea—, shoppers may instead opt to visit one of the capital's numerous museums, as many will open, albeit some with modified hours.
Choco-Story, the city's chocolate museum, will remain open to visitors, as well as the Mini Europe theme park and the Natural Science museum. Labourers looking for a more original alternative may choose to visit the halls of the Toy, Design, Marble or Laundry. In line with the celebration, La Fonderie museum, Brussels' museum of labour and industry, will welcome visitors curious about the history of work and labour in the capital.
Fast-food chains, as well as some restaurants, pharmacies and smaller supermarket-chains such as Spar will also remain open, according to the Hours.be website.
Although most public pools will be closed, some of Brussels' many parks and green spaces are open for a stroll.
Gabriela Galindo
The Brussels Times
