Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Hasselt’s event attracted 650,000 visitors, with Maurice Schoenmaeckers praising the weather and international appeal. Winterland ends on Sunday.
Organizer Maurice Schoenmaeckers praised the recent event in Hasselt, which saw over 650,000 visitors in just seven weeks. He credited the impressive turnout to the pleasant weather, with milder temperatures and less rain compared to previous years. This encouraged more people to take part.
What factors contributed to the success of Hasselt’s Winterland Event?
Last night, about 5,000 people came to watch the fireworks, which were delayed because of strong winds. Organizers of Winterland added safety measures, like 60 cameras, after a recent incident in Germany. Safety coordinator Rikky Brebels said weekends get very busy, leading to some areas being closed for a while. There were only a few minor injuries, and some people needed reminders to drink less. This year’s Winterland had fun activities like a mini-circus and karaoke, and a LEGO workshop raised 4,485 euros for charity. Winterland will close on Sunday, but there’s a party tonight, and it will return to Hasselt later this year.
The event attracted visitors from nearby countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and France, boosting its reputation as a cultural gathering beyond borders. Organizer Maurice Schoenmaeckers noted that this international interest made the event even more exciting. With planning, enjoyable activities, and great weather, this year’s edition was among the most successful recently.
