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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

Harmony from Kortessem and 44 Music Groups Turn Hasselt into a Music Festival During Euregioparade

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The 10th Euregioparade brought 1,800 musicians from Belgian and Dutch Limburg to Hasselt, transforming the city into a music festival.
  • Forty-five different musical groups performed at 11 locations, culminating in a street parade through the city center.
  • The event aimed to foster unity and bring culture directly to citizens through accessible musical performances.

Hasselt transformed into a vibrant music festival as the 10th Euregioparade brought together 1,800 musicians from Belgian and Dutch Limburg. Forty-five distinct harmony, fanfare, and brass bands filled 11 locations across the city with sound, creating a lively atmosphere for thousands of visitors.

We have practiced marching yesterday, so it will definitely work.

— Lina RoelensA 16-year-old member of the youth harmony 'De Muziekfabriek' from Kortessem, describing the preparation for her first parade.

The event's highlight was an impressive street parade that wound through the city's shopping streets. For the young musicians of the Kortessem youth harmony, it marked their first parade experience. "We practiced marching yesterday," shared one young musician, highlighting the unique challenges of performing while moving.

Michiel Van den Oetelaar, a board member of the Sint-Catharina harmony from Kortessem, described the day as one of "cohesion," where diverse musical groups united to create music throughout Hasselt. The harmony performed both a stage concert and participated in the parade, contributing to the day's energetic buzz.

It is a day full of cohesion, where we, with 45 different musical groups, make music together throughout Hasselt.

— Michiel Van den OetelaarBoard member of the Sint-Catharina harmony from Kortessem, describing the Euregioparade.

The diverse repertoire ranged from classical marches like 'Bridge on the River Kwai' to popular Disney tunes, offering something for every attendee. Despite the "chaotic, very busy, and a lot of organizing" involved in bringing so many groups together, Van den Oetelaar found the experience "exciting, but especially very nice."

It is chaotic, very busy and a lot of organizing to bring all those music groups together. That makes it exciting, but especially very nice.

— Michiel Van den OetelaarBoard member of the Sint-Catharina harmony from Kortessem, on the challenges and rewards of organizing the event.

Hasselt's Alderman for Culture, Karolien Mondelaers, emphasized the importance of such accessible musical events. "Music associations like harmonies and fanfares are close to the people," she stated, noting that organizing performances in the city center brings culture directly to the citizens and enhances the overall urban experience.

That parade goes through the streets and is really the highlight of the day.

— Karolien MondelaersHasselt's Alderman for Culture, commenting on the Euregioparade.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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