16th edition of Belgian Pride on 13 and 14 May in Brussels
On 13 and 14 May, Brussels, the capital of Europe will be in a rainbow mood, on the occasion of the 16th Belgian Pride. This year, The Belgian Pride comes out of the closet. Traditionally confined to the gay quarter in the heart of Brussels (St Jacques district), it will take over nothing less than the biggest street of the city, and one of its most famous buildings: the Bourse.
The Pride weekend is traditionally a good weekend for tourism. Though this cannot be solely explained by the Belgian Pride taking place, in 2010 a occupancy of 80% was noted on Saturday night. A 15% increase compared to 2009. It is in this regard that VisitBrussels, the Brussels Tourist Office, has decided to be more present than ever during the Belgian Pride. With this implication, the office underlines the importance of the event’s public for Brussels.
Brussels wants to celebrate the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex) tourists visiting the capital at the time of the Belgian Pride by making them discover our art of living ‘à la Bruxelloise’. VisitBrussels will therefore be participating in different ways. In collaboration with 10 cultural partners (the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the Royal Museums of Art and History, the Natural Science Museum, the Public Aquarium of Brussels, Mini Europa, the Brussels Museum for Mill and Nutrition, the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Auto World, the ‘Musée d’Art Fantastique’ , Villa Empain and the Children’s Museum), VisitBrussels will be handing out a voucher specially made for all Pride participants. The voucher will be distributed at the VisitBrussels’ stand in the Pride Village as well as a ‘VisitBrussels sized for LOVE’ tattoo-sticker! Throughout the pride the new gay map published by VisitBrussels in collaboration with the Rainbowhouse will be spread out.
The Pride is open for everyone and every likings. So if you feel proud of who you are, if you want to show it, and of course if you are open-minded, Brussels will be waiting for you this Saturday!
More information: www.visitbrussels.be/gay
