BRUSSELS — Ahead of their upcoming face-off in Seattle, Belgium and the United States find themselves in a dispute over the recent American Independence Day celebrations.
Bill White, the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, emphasized that the historic Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels was left in pristine condition following the grand event celebrating 250 years of American independence. This statement comes as Belgian authorities investigate potential damage caused by fireworks to a historic building in the capital.
“We are in immediate contact with the Belgian company that was hired to coordinate all event logistics, including the fireworks company,” White stated on X on Friday. He assured that the contractor would address any necessary cleanup and maintained that “Cinquantenaire has never looked any cleaner than it was the day after we cleaned up after our event,” sharing photos of the immaculate park.
The June 28 celebration, organized by White, was one of the largest diplomatic receptions ever held in Brussels, attracting over 8,800 guests. It featured a spectacular fireworks display under the triumphal arch and a gala at the Royal Museum of Art and History in Cinquantenaire.
The ambassador’s comments followed reports from Flemish newspapers De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad that Belgium’s Buildings Agency had initiated an investigation into potential damage to the museum.
The Building Authority confirmed to POLITICO that “fireworks debris was found on the roof, and certain limited areas of the roof appear blackened,” noting that “analyses are still ongoing” to assess the extent of any necessary repairs.
Belgian Buildings Minister Vanessa Matz has advised caution, highlighting the need to determine whether the damage was caused by the fireworks or a severe thunderstorm that hit Brussels the night before. The event reportedly cost around €5 million, with funding raised by White from approximately 220 Belgian and American companies.
