On October 24, Leuven, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, and Namur were officially shortlisted as contenders for the European Capital of Culture 2030. Belgium’s winning city will be announced by the end of 2025.
In 2030, Belgium will share this cultural honor with Cyprus and another European country yet to be defined. The three cities will now work on refining their proposals, using feedback from an independent expert panel, as they strive to represent Belgium.
The European Commission views the European Capital of Culture title as a major achievement that offers cultural, economic, and social benefits to the chosen cities.
This is Belgium’s fifth time being considered for the title, with previous selections including Antwerp (1993), Brussels (2000), Bruges (2002), and Mons (2015). The initiative, established in 1985, has grown to become one of Europe’s largest cultural projects, aimed at fostering cultural diversity across the continent.
鲁汶 ©KU Leuven/Rob Stevens
圣扬斯-莫伦贝克 Molenbeek © Sally V - Eigen werk, CC BY 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82967827
