70% air quality improvement on Car-Free Sunday

Air quality in Brussels was 70% better because of Car-Free Sunday - but soon returned to normal when traffic resumed on Sunday evening.

Motor vehicles were banned in the capital on Sunday. Buses and taxis were limited to 30kph.

Frans Fierens, executive director of regional air quality monitoring unit Celine, said: "We are seeing a 70% drop in pollutants compared to other Sundays in Brussels."

But he added: "When the traffic resumes on Sunday night, the measurements quickly return to normal."

The Arts-Loi junction - which has the worst air pollution in Brussels - recorded its lowest nitrogen dioxide measurements of the year.

A long picnic table was set up on the Rue de la Loi on Sunday morning, offering coffee and croissants to 800 participants.

Photo: Belga/Hatim Kaghat