Travellers headed to the Belgian capital for the country’s National Day festivities on 21 July will face an extensive set of road closures and diversions that start as early as 19 July. The Brussels-Capital Region published the final traffic plan on 14 July, warning that key arteries around the Royal Palace, Parc de Bruxelles and the EU quarter will be entirely closed to private vehicles for much of the long weekend. Even several motorway tunnels (including the Saint-Lazarus and Reyers tunnels) will be sealed off during the afternoon military parade. Public-transport operator STIB/MIVB will run an extended night-time metro, tram and bus timetable, with contactless bank-card payment promoted as the quickest way to board. Free guarded bicycle parking will be available on Place du Trône and dedicated park-and-ride capacity has been set up at Kraainem, Delta, Heizel and Roodebeek metro stations. Visitors are “strongly advised” to arrive by train or metro rather than by car. The region’s mobility ministry stressed that the traditional parade will be rerouted this year because of works at the Schuman roundabout: spectators hoping to see the King review the troops should head to Boulevard du Jardin Botanique or Rue Royale instead of the usual Rue de la Loi vantage point. Metro station Parc will be closed from 09:00, and several surface streets around Rogier and Albert II will lock down from midday until after the evening fireworks in Parc du Cinquantenaire. For corporate mobility managers, the message is clear: instruct assignees, commuters and visiting executives to avoid driving into the inner ring from 19–22 July; build extra time into airport transfers; and consider remote work on the afternoon of the 21st. Employees using company cars should also note that underground car-parks along the perimeter (e.g. at Place Poelaert) will not be accessible once the closures begin. The region has published a live map in French and Dutch and will push real-time updates through the Brussels Mobility Twitter feed. Businesses expecting deliveries should coordinate alternative drop-off points outside the restricted zone or reschedule shipments until after the holiday.
