At the invitation of Their Majesties the King and the Queen, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg are paying a state visit to Belgium. Belgium and Luxembourg are closely linked thanks to royal family ties, but also historically, economically, culturally and socially. This state visit shows that both countries want to continue investing and working together in areas such as sustainable economic development, e-health, space, defense and education.
The program includes a ceremonial reception on the Place des Palais in Brussels on Tuesday, April 16, a visit to the Brussels City Hall, and a State Banquet in the Castle of Laeken.
On Wednesday morning, April 17, the King and the Grand Duke will open the Economic Forum in the Egmont Palace in Brussels. They meet a number of Belgian and Luxembourgish CEOs who present their successful collaboration and current projects. At the same time, the Queen and the Grand Duchess will visit the exhibition 'Histoire de ne pas rire. Surrealism in Belgium' at the Center for Fine Arts in Brussels. The official delegation will then travel to Ghent for a visit to
North Sea Port(This hyperlink opens a new window)and the Belgian engine builder
Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC)(This hyperlink opens a new window). The company, founded in 1912, has transformed itself into a successful modern international company in the production of high-performance hydrogen and multi-fuel marine engines, with an emphasis on renewable energy, circularity and sustainable entrepreneurship. After a lunch on labor market dynamics in the new Provincial House, the Queen, together with the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, will visit St. Bavo's Cathedral and the Mystic Lamb, the final restoration phase of which is currently underway. The day ends with a concert by the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra in Flagey in Brussels, presented by the Luxembourg duke couple.
Thursday, April 18, takes off for the King and the Grand Duke at the air base of the 15th Wing in Melsbroek, where the Belgium-Luxembourg bi-national Air Transport Unit A400M is stationed. Belgium and Luxembourg have been working closely together in the field of defense for decades. At the end of 2023, both countries signed a cooperation agreement for the creation of a binational reconnaissance battalion and welcomed the arrival of the last A400M in the binational fleet. They will then go to the University of Liège for a seminar on cyber defense and space travel. The Queen and the Grand Duchess are now visiting
Child Focus(This hyperlink opens a new window)in Brussels. The King, the Queen, the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess will participate in a thematic lunch about Belgian-Luxembourg cross-border partnerships at the Prince-Bishop's Palace in Liège at noon. They will then conclude the state visit with a meeting with the population on Sint-Lambertusplein in Liège.