Fireworks Event in Brussels Leaves Soot Marks on Museum

On June 28, an exclusive party to celebrate 250 years of American independence took place at Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels, Belgium. The event, organized by the U.S. ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, featured American staples like lobster rolls and country music, alongside a fireworks display.

The fireworks left black marks on a structure within the park, specifically affecting a building housing the Royal Museums of Art and History, confirmed Mr. White. He stated the fireworks company hired would manage the repairs. A storm occurring the night before might have contributed to the damage by washing away the protective coating from the building.

“There are some black soot marks on the top of the monument where the fireworks went off,” Mr. White noted. He communicated with Brussels Mayor Philippe Close regarding the situation. Mr. Close did not immediately comment on the issue.

Belgian news outlets, De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad, initially reported the potential damage. Following the report, Mr. White shared on social media that he was in contact with the Belgian company coordinating event logistics. He asserted, “Cinquantenaire has never looked any cleaner than it was the day after we cleaned up after our event.”

Vanessa Matz, overseeing the Belgian Buildings Agency, issued a statement affirming that the agency was analyzing the damage to the roofs and cornices. The analysis would determine whether the damages were also linked to the storms.