A phenomenal, COVID-19 proof Belgian National Day 2020, honouring heroes, showcasing cultural gems, attended by the Royal Family, and watched live by more than 640,000 TV viewers across the country.
We created a unique and innovative format: a live event for 200 people on-site in Brussels plus 20 people in each of the 4 other locations (total 280 pp) that also worked for the general public watching on television while taking into account COVID-19 safety protocols. This is the first time National Day celebrations have changed format since the constitution of Belgium in 1830. We linked the official ceremony to music and artistic interventions. We searched for themes, locations and artists to showcase the best of Belgium and to shine a spotlight on Belgian cultural gems. We worked with live satellite connections to jump between locations interspersed with video coverage about COVID-19 times. It was the first time a Belgian monarch has given a live speech to his nation from a stage in front of the Royal Palace, and that the Royal Family applauded the participants of the parade (COVID-19 Heroes) rather than the other way around.
