Leuven, Molenbeek and Namur nominated for European Capital of Culture 2030
Leuven, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and Namur were officially nominated for the European Capital of Culture shortlist in 2030 on Thursday. Ghent, Kortrijk and Bruges did not make the cut. The Belgian winner will be announced by the end of 2025.
Belgium will share the title of European Capital of Culture in 2030 with Cyprus and a third country.
An independent panel of experts selected the three bids, which will now compete over the next year to become Belgium's representative. Projects have until the end of 2025 to complete their applications and refine their dossiers based on feedback from the expert jury.
According to the European Commission, which oversees the initiative, a nomination as the European Capital of Culture is already a significant achievement. "It can yield considerable cultural, economic, and social benefits for the cities involved," they say.
The mayor of Molenbeek, Catherine Moureaux, and Brussels minister-president Rudi Vervoort are both pleased with the nomination. "I am very happy," Moureaux said. "We have worked very hard and thousands of people have participated in our events. I am confident we will win the final nomination. We will continue to work hard."
Vervoort said the Molenbeek candidacy aims to restore the area's image following the 2016 Brussels attacks.
"The intention was to show that Molenbeek and Brussels are not a 'hellhole,' as former president Donald Trump once described," he said. All other municipalities in Brussels and the Brussels-Capital region as a whole are supporting Molenbeek’s candidacy.
Leuven's councillor for culture, tourism and events, Bert Cornillie pledged to "do everything he can to win the title". The Leuven project aims to include the wider region in its efforts. "The competition will be fierce, but we are really up for it," Cornillie said.
Laura Latour, commissioner for the Namur candidacy, also expressed her determination to continue the effort. "I am very emotional and touched for the whole team and all the partners. This is a bit magical," she said.
© BELGA VIDEO TIMON RAMBOER
This is the fifth time Belgium has been chosen to present a European Capital of Culture. Antwerp held the title in 1993, Brussels in 2000, Bruges in 2002 and Mons in 2015.
Chemnitz in Germany and Nova Gorica in Slovenia will hold the title in 2025, followed by Oulu in Finland and Trenčín in Slovakia in 2026.
Founded in 1985, the Capital of Culture initiative has grown into one of Europe's largest and most significant cultural projects to promote cultural diversity across the continent.
The town hall of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean © BELGA PHOTO THIERRY ROGE
Related news
