Brussels goes green to celebrate spring’s arrival

The historic centre of Brussels has been decorated in celebration of the impending arrival of spring, with flowers and greenery replacing some of the city's winter illuminations and festive decorations.

Flower pots and windbreaks will be used to enclose cafe terraces so that customers can be safe and sheltered from the wind without the need for heaters. The flowers and ivy will be on display until 30 September.

Thz initiative is part of an overall plan to highlight the heritage of the centre of Brussels, according to alderman Fabian Maingain, who said the city is responding to a request from shops to modernise the space to meet current standards in terms of visitor comfort and conviviality.

The idea was put forth by the shopkeepers’ association 'Renouveau du quartier Grand-Place', which covers the area from the Mont des Arts and the Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral down to the Place Saint-Jean and the Bourse.

Its threefold objective is to strengthen the identity and commercial expression of the area, increase footfall and strike a balance between the mineral and the plant.

“In the same spirit, with the support of the City of Brussels, we have developed pilot projects to strengthen the image of the city centre by harmonising the terraces on Place Agora, the signs on Rue des Eperonniers and strengthening the identity of Rue Marché au Fromage,” said Andon Akkayan, president of the traders' association.