Grand-Place Christmas tree makes journey to Brussels

The Christmas tree that will adorn Brussels' Grand-Place this winter was chopped down in Wallonia on Wednesday and transported under police escort to the capital.

From early Thursday morning, work gets under way to set up and decorate the 22-metre-tall tree, which is 67 years old and weighs almost five tonnes.

The tree is a gift from Wallonia. The region's agriculture minister René Collin attended the ceremonial chopping down on Wednesday morning in Hertogen Forest in Membach, Liège province.

The Grand-Place Christmas tree is chosen according to strict criteria. It must be at least 20 metres tall and look good from all sides.

Photo: François Peiffer/Belga