Brexit: What will happen to Mini Europe?

The shock decision by the British people to leave the EU has even caused a minor ripple in Mini Europe, the Brussels theme park where landmark European buildings are created in miniature.

Does Big Ben still belong in Mini Europe, now that Great Britain has voted for a Brexit? asked De Standaard.

Well, it seems we don’t need to panic just yet, according to Thierry Meeus, director of Mini Europe. "If I understand correctly," he said, "Great Britain is still a member of the European Union – and will definitely remain so for two more years.

"There are decisions that still have to be made – and who knows? Maybe they’ll never leave."

But if the UK does go ahead with Brexit, it’s not just the EU that will shrink. Several British models will have to be removed from Mini Europe, Meeus said.

"We have the Houses of Parliament, which have just been renovated. We have Big Ben, of course. There’s also Stratford-upon-Avon with Shakespeare’s houses, and there’s Dover Castle."

They will all have to go, Meeus insists, along with a miniature British intercity train and – the latest attraction – a miniature Brexit demonstration in front of the Houses of Parliament.

The models are safe for the moment, though, he insisted. "For the time being we are going to keep all the models – along with the Brexit demonstration which we created during the referendum."

But what if the British really do Brexit? One possibility is to put up a sort of fence, Meeus explains. "And then we’d have to explain this was once a member but not any longer.

"Maybe we could organise an exhibition that would explain why the British voted the way they did. And pose the question was that really a good idea or not?"

That’s a very big question for a small theme park.