Dance, Sing & Eat Mussels: Your Guide to the Bal National

'''## The Brussels event of the week

On Monday, 20 July, from 7pm, the Place du Jeu de Balle will transform into Belgium’s largest dance floor. The Bal National is celebrating its 23rd edition, and this year, it’s getting a major makeover with new artistic direction, a fresh stage design, and a headliner set to get everyone singing in three languages: Belle Perez.

The news was confirmed by the City of Brussels and reported in detail by BX1. Brussels Alderwoman Anaïs Maes promises an edition that evokes “childhood wonder”: candy apples, watching the parade on television, and jets flying over the garden.

What’s on at the Bal National on July 20th?

From 7pm, the Place du Jeu de Balle will switch into full party mode. The event’s fresh look features four major new elements:

• 🕺 Let’s Dance Ketjes with Upside Down — An intergenerational DJ set from the Upside Down collective, designed to get both kids (ketjes) and their grandparents dancing together on the cobblestones.
• 🎤 Belle Perez in concert — The adoptive Bruxelloise will get the crowd dancing in French, Dutch and Spanish.
• 💃 Majorettes — A nod to folklore, bringing back the charm of a traditional popular festival.
• 🎺 Gilles de Strépy — For the first time at the Bal, the Gilles de Strépy will make their way through the square to the sound of the viole and drum.

The party will wind down around 1am. No fuss, no tickets, no reservations. Just show up, dance, and head home on foot or by tram.

Taste Belgian mussels and Walloon wine at Resto National

The next day, it’s the same place but a different vibe, as the Resto National celebrates its 15th anniversary with a historic first.

• 🦪 Belgian Mussels — For the first time, the mussels served will be sourced from a Belgian farm in the North Sea. It’s an agricultural and gastronomic venture that ends the reliance on mussels from Zeeland.
• 🍷 Walloon Wine — Walloon wine officially joins the menu, a symbol of a country that now produces acclaimed sparkling and red wines.
• 🍟 Belgian fries, of course.

An affordable menu will be available, with continuous service from noon to 9pm.

More July 21st Brussels events: parade and fireworks

Beyond the Bal and the Resto, the National Day unfolds with its traditional schedule:

• Military and civil parade on Rue Royale, with the traditional procession past the Place des Palais.
• Party in the Parc de Bruxelles — free activities all day long.
• 21 July Concert in the Cinquantenaire park in the evening, followed by a laser show and fireworks display.

How to get to Place du Jeu de Balle for the party

• Metro: Louise (lines 2/6), Porte de Hal (2/6), Anneessens (pedestrian access).
• STIB Tram: Service will be increased in the city centre on the 20th and free travel is announced for the 21st (to be confirmed two days prior on the STIB website).
• Bikes: Additional bike parking will be available on Rue Blaes.
• Car: Best to avoid. The Marolles district will be closed to traffic from 3pm on the 20th.

Why this is a free and authentic national day party

Three reasons why this event deserves the headlines:

1. It’s free. No entry fee, no VIP area, no wristbands. It’s a proper public celebration, the real deal.

2. It’s trilingual. You’ll hear French, Dutch, English, Arabic, and Spanish – sometimes all in the same song.

3. It’s authentic. The Marolles district isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a key player. Residents open their windows, old cafés (like Skieven Architek and La Brocante) spill out onto the cobblestones, and the square radiates a simple, unpretentious pride.

See you there on Monday at 7pm. Wear comfortable shoes. It’s going to be a long night.

🔗 Verifiable Sources & Links

• City of Brussels — Bal National 2026
• BX1 — Belle Perez and Belgian mussels on the bill for the 21 July festivities
• Bal National / Resto National — official website
• #be2107 — official website for the 21 July festivities
• STIB-MIVB — transport information '''