Belgium’s first International Mud Day a great success

International Mud Day began in 2009 when two friends from Australia and Nepal got together to talk about ways to encourage feelings of community and appreciation for the world around us. The collaboration that followed led to the creation of International Mud Day, celebrated worldwide each year on 29 June. This year Belgium joined in the celebrations for the first time, with Sunday’s muddy event in Houthalen-Helchteren, Limburg province.

The children who came to the visitors’ centre Hengelhoef on Sunday were treated to several mud-slinging activities, such as throwing mud at a target, hurling mud pies at one another and face painting with mud. Boys and girls who were still too clean could finish off with a dip in the mud bath before getting hosed off.

"Children today spend too much time indoors," explains Patricia Willems of nature organisation Limburgs Landschap in Het Belang van Limburg. "That's why we want to bring them closer to nature. It has been scientifically shown that playing outside has an enormous positive impact on the development of children. That’s why Nepal, Australia, Denmark, the United States, the UK and now Belgium take part in International Mud Day."