Passing in front of the Stock Exchange, impossible not to mark the stop. On the esplanade in front of the emblematic Brussels building, a vast expanse of sand. A beach, right in the heart of the capital. A few steps away, Place de la Monnaie, same coastal landscape.
But unlike Louvain-la-Neuve and its famous “Louvain-la-Plage”, there is no large space for idleness. These beaches have above all a sporting dimension. They were installed as part of the Belgian volleyball championship, the Geberit Beach Tour, which will be held from Friday to Sunday in the historic center of Brussels.
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“Last year, we were already at the Place de la Monnaie. This year, we are also expanding in front of the Stock Exchange”explains Jesse De Dobbeleer, one of the organizers.
A total of 780 tonnes of sand were delivered for the two pitches. “All the sand is then recovered”, says Geert De Dobbeleer, another organizer. For about three years, the sand can be reused. “Afterwards, it can be used for example for work. Nothing is lost.”
Games to watch for free
This Thursday, the space will be open to young people with recreational tournaments. The official competition will start on Friday. The final will take place on Sunday: 4 p.m. for women, 6 p.m. for men. A show to see for free.
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With this event, the organizers want to put Brussels on the beach volleyball map, despite the absence of a beach in the capital. Sport is also on the rise in our country. “In Belgium, more and more people practice beach volleyball. As a reminder, it is an Olympic discipline”, notes Geert De Dobbeleer. In total, around 70,000 people are members of a volleyball or beach volleyball club, with a higher proportion in Flanders.
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