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While I was passing by the Grand Place today I noticed a large crowd gathered and some sort of police demonstration that was going on and decide to take some photos of the event that was already well underway. It was in fact the annual “fastes de la police de Bruxelles Capitale” event that celebrates the Police of Brussels.

The Belgian Police had just received a new motorcycle to gradually replace their old BMW’s that were proudly on display during the show.

View from the back

The motorcycle Police started doing some stunts with their bikes

Impressive display rolling by of 10 police officers on 3 bikes

Back view as they go by

Both feet on the seat

one foot on the seat and another in the air

Seen from the side

Now few stunts with feet On the side

La brigade canine de Bruxelles or in English the Brussels K9 Brigade had their own little display of force.

Dog going for the jump

Powerful K9 Jaws in action

This time the Intervention is on a car with at first one dog

Then another on the suspect destabilizing its victim

The show Ended with a Parade

Tags: bruxelles, fastes de la police de Bruxelles, grand place, k9 brigade, motorcycle police

Belgium is most likely the only country in the world to possess a statute to honor the “pigeon soldat” or soldier pigeon and his contribution during both Great World wars.

Whether released at 500 m or 100 km from home, even in certain cases over 1,500 km, the messenger pigeon has that fantastic ability to always know its way back.This trait was detected a long time ago, notably by Julius Caesar who, during the invasion of Gaul, used homing pigeons to send messages back to Rome to inform headquarters of his campaign’s progress.

On the other hand the Myth of the pigeon that you sometimes see in movies which is released and asked to take a message somewhere and then return, doesn’t exist. The pigeon is only able of returning home. This is why, in order to send a message to several places, pigeons raised at each destination have to be taken out.

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Statue honoring the War Pigeons

Another perspective

The Monument au Pigeon Soldat in it’s entirety

Tags: brussels, bruxelles, messenger pigeons, monument, statue, War Pigeons

The theme park of Mini-Europe is one of outstanding quality where all the countries in the European Union are represented here in 1:25 scale models of buildings of socio-cultural, historic and symbolic interest.
The 6 acre wide park includes the Acropolis of Athens, Danish houses from the days of the Vikings, Leuven town hall, the austere monastery of El Escorial commissioned by Philip II to the northwest of Madrid, houses lining Amsterdam’s canals (17C), the English city of Bath which is a masterpiece of 18C town planning, the Pompidou Center in Paris etc.

There is here definitely something for everybody’s taste: Lovers of history, enthusiasts of the European Union, people remembering their latest journey, people preparing their next tour or simply people having a nice stroll.

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Here are the photos of just about all the 1:25 scale models featured in Mini-Europe by Country and alphabetic order:

Austria

Melk Abbey

Belgium

Alden Biesen

Antwerp Town Hall

Belfrey and Halles of Bruges

Berlaymont

Celles Veves Castle

Dinant Collegiate

Gent

Grand Place City Hall (Model took 19 000 hours of work valued at 350 000 €)

Tapis de Fleurs Grand Place

Flower Carpet of La Grand Place viewed from another angle

Curtis House of Liège

Leuven Town Hall

Bulgaria

Monastery of Rila

Cyprus

Limassol

Czech Republic

Prague old Town Hall

Denmark

Copenhagen new harbour

Stock exchange of Copenhagen

Finland

Olavinlinna Castle

France

Arc de Triomphe

Arc et Senans

Chenonceaux

Clos Vougeot

Eiffel Tower

Sacre-Coeur at Montmartre

Centre Georges Pompidou

Notre-Dame-du-Haut at Ronchamps

Germany

Berlin

Brandenburger

Bonn

Eltz

Lubeck

Spire Cathedral

Wies Church

Trier Porta Nigra

Greece

Athens Parthenon

Acropolis

Hungary

Budapest

Szechenyi Baths

Ireland

Cashel St.Patrick Rock

Glendalough Ballydavid

Italy

Alberobello

Campanile of Pise

Great Romanesque Cathedral of Pise

Siena’s Palazzo Publico

Venice

Lithuania

University of Vilnius

Luxembourg

Pont Adolphe bridge

Malta

Temple of Mnajdra

The Nederlands

Alkmaar

Amsterdam

Hoensbroek Castle

Kinderdijk Mills

Maastricht Town Hall

Orvelte

Veere

Poland

Gdansk

Portugal

Algarve

Guimaraes

Lisbon’s Torre de Belem

Porto

Romania

Mogosoaia

Slovakia

Bratislava Blue Church

Spain

El Escorial

La Mancha

Santiago de Compostela

Seville

Plaza De Toros

Sweden

Stockholm City Hall

United Kingdom

Bath

Dover

Jumbo Ferry

London Houses of Parliament

Longleat

Other Various Miniature Models

Ferris Wheel

Boat

Oil rig

On the way out going through the Spirit of Europe interactive exhibition

Tags: Bruparck, brussels, bruxelles, mini europe

A few places in the center of Brussels still have remnants it’s colonial times and display Art inspired by the vegetation and animal life of the once Belgian Congo, The most recurrent theme is the banana.

As seen here on top of a building at 75 rue Antoine Dansaert

The building was erected in 1927 for Gerard Koninckx Frères an exotic fruit wholesalers by Eugene Dhuicque.

Multiple banana motifs can be seen and for a good reason, this is the fruit that made the fortune of many merchants in the beginning of the 20th century.

An attractive display of glazed stoneware

Next Building at 7 rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains displays an African woman with a full basket of various local fruits of the Congo.

Similar decoration found also on the right side

Last example of the fruitful trade in bananas is located at 34 boulevard d’Ypres. Again built for Gerard Koninckx Frères, this pretty Art Deco building was decorated with golden fruits & bananas on top of the columns of it’s facade.

Tags: brussels, bruxelles, colonial architecture, colonial art

In the trendy Halles St.Géry area the Mappa Mundo café is a popular hang with a cosmopolitan crowd set inside a cozy and warm extravagant decor. The terrace is always packed with people in the summertime. Though it features a good selection of beers the Cocktails menu is quite limited but the excellent Caipirinhas, Strawberry Margaritas and Mojitos which are sold by the glass or liter make up for it.

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The Mappa Mundo café from the outside

The entrance door seen from inside

On one side of the café you can find a more laid back and cosy section

From the back

The main bar section made of marble

Sitting at the other end of the café with its exterior totally opened

Another view from the stairs leading to the 1st floor

Upstairs section of the Mappa Mundo bar

Even more intimate section in the back

Looking at place Saint Géry from outside the window

Back downstairs

Last glimpse from outside of Mappa Mundo bar leaving

Tags: bars, brussels, bruxelles, cafe, Mappa Mundo, Saint Géry, St Gery