Brussels authorities have released the final mobility plan for Belgium’s National Day on 21 July, when tens of thousands of visitors are expected to converge on the capital for military parades, concerts and evening fireworks. According to the City of Brussels, traffic will be barred from large parts of the inner ring from early morning until after the fireworks display. Key arteries around the Parc de Bruxelles, Place Poelaert and Cinquantenaire will be pedestrian-only zones, and parking is strictly prohibited inside the security perimeter. Organisers are urging visitors to arrive by train or metro; the Parc and Trône stations will remain closed all day, while additional capacity is being added to lines 1 & 5 to shuttle crowds between Central Station and the European Quarter. Businesses in the zone—including several EU institutions and multinational headquarters—have advised staff to work remotely or adjust commuting hours. Ride-share and taxi drop-offs will only be permitted at designated hubs outside the ring road, so travellers with early flights on 22 July should build in extra transfer time from hotels. National Day falls in the middle of the summer holiday season, so corporate travel managers should warn assignees about longer door-to-door journeys and encourage the use of Brussels-South (Midi) station for Thalys/Eurostar connections instead of inner-city tram links. Deliveries to offices inside the perimeter will also be suspended, affecting relocation firms that were planning furniture or baggage moves.
Source: City of Brussels
