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Grand Place tree was hotel’s first Christmas tree 27 years ago

17:46 19/11/2020

The traditional Grand Place Christmas tree arrived early this morning, taking up its spot on the square, which also hosts the Nativity again this year. The tree will be decorated and decked out in lights over the weekend and make its debut on Tuesday.

The tree was felled yesterday from the garden of the Hotel Chaumière du Lac in Robertville, a district of Waimes in Liège province. The hotel donated the 18-metre-high Nordmann fir, which is estimated to be between 35 and 40 years old.

“It was our first Christmas tree 27 years ago,” the hotel’s owner, Birgit Condat, told VRT. “We received it as a gift because it was the first Christmas in our new hotel. It’s really a beautiful tree. We’re so happy that it can now stand on the Grand Place during this corona year. It will bring light and joy to so many people.”

While the Winter Wonders Christmas market – with its hundreds of stalls, activities, parades, skating rink and fun fair – had to be cancelled this year, Brussels-City is doing its best to make up for it with a dazzling show of lights. Light displays will be strung along the usual locations, and more are being added.

Brussels by Lights also includes a tree-shaped origami sculpture in the Grand Place’s inner courtyard and golden origami birds in the Saint-Hubert Galleries. It kicks off on the evening of 24 November.

Photo ©Eric Lalmand/BELGA

Written by Lisa Bradshaw