PRESS DOSSIER

The Ommegang of is now inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

A little bit of history...

The Ommegang of Brussels takes place in the centre of Brussels every year at the start of July. In old Flemish, “Ommegang” means “circumambulation”, the act of walking around. It was the name once given to the procession by the Guild of Crossbowmen in honour of Our Lady of Sablon, a legendary virgin who arrived from on a barge and was placed under the protection of the crossbowmen, defenders of the medieval city. That procession followed a route between the Chapel of the Guild of Crossbowmen in the Sablon/Zavel and the /Grote Markt.

Over time, the different sectors of society in the city joined the procession, which became so representative of Brussels that it was presented to Charles V and his son Philip on 2 June 1549. The Ommegang and the majority of its participants disappeared in the 18th century with the ending of the Ancien Régime.

In 1930, to celebrate the centenary of the Kingdom of , the procession was revived by the will of the guilds of crossbowmen, the historian Albert Marinus and the political and religious authorities of Brussels. This modern Ommegang was recreated based on the descriptions of the procession that Charles V attended in 1549. Ever since, it perpetuates the tradition of processions of the former Brabant, which included corporate nations, lineages, magistracy, rhetoric chambers, the clergy, dancers, musicians, jesters, processional giants and animals and often the figure of Charles V.

The Ommegang of Brussels has been organised every year since 1957. It remains deeply inspired by the 1930 version, while evolving as society changes. This festive heritage event serves as a reference point of identity both for those taking part and for the inhabitants of Brussels and its region who come to watch. It is intended to be unifying and carries a message of peace. The values that the Ommegang continues to convey are those of the social, economic, political and even police communities of the city. There are few occasions when all these groups work together on a joint project for a festival. A heritage event that recalls the roots of the urban community, this historical procession promotes the identity of the city, the Capital Region and the European capital; it also contributes to social cohesion.

The Ommegang also has priceless heritage in the form of almost 2,500 costumes, banners, weapons, giants and floats that it creates, maintains or restores. The know-how and creativity of its costume designers and directors are particularly noteworthy. The traditions kept alive by the guilds, the stilt-walkers and flag throwers, the horse riders and other associated groups, who train and practise all year long, make the Ommegang a true ambassador for intangible heritage. Organised by two main associations, it would be nothing without the community behind it. The procession brings together almost 1,200 participants of various backgrounds but includes certain families who are descendants of those who welcomed the Emperor.

The Ommegang is living heritage that is not frozen in time in a backward-looking vision. While the presentation and execution of the procession are constantly changing, particularly in terms of

technical support, it conserves a precious sense of identity both for its participants and for its attendees.

The organisations that organise and take part in this historical procession have put in place safeguards which have been tried and tested for generations. To continue to perpetuate this living urban heritage, shared between tradition and modernity, a safeguarding committee has been set up in order to manage communication and to prevent the over-commercialisation and decontextualisation of the event. Ongoing safeguarding initiatives include promoting the ceremonies in the Sablon/Zavel, information sessions during local festivals and in schools in the and legal protection of the name.

The nomination

The Ommegang of Brussels - an annual historical procession and festival - was nominated for recognition on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Intangible cultural heritage, as defined by the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, includes living traditions or expressions transmitted from generation to generation, such as verbal traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.

It is the first nomination for recognition on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage submitted to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Brussels-Capital Region, competent for regional bi-cultural intangible cultural heritage since the 6th State Reform in 2014. This nomination was made by the Cultural Heritage Department of urban.brussels, at the request of and in close cooperation with the heritage community of the Ommegang and the City of Brussels, and enjoys the formal support of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation which oversaw compilation of the nomination documents before competence was transferred to the Region.

Links with the UNESCO criteria

The Ommegang satisfies several stated criteria for UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. It is a traditional urban event that is both contemporary and living at the same time. It is inclusive, transmitted from generation to generation, which contributes to creating a sense of identity and continuity, establishing a link between our past and, through the present, our future. It develops from its roots in the communities and depends on those whose knowledge of traditions, know- how and costumes is transmitted to the rest of the community or to other communities. It is founded on the communities that have supported the recognition process. It carries the values and practices of several Belgian heritage traditions and can be considered an ambassador for intangible cultural heritage in a broad sense as well as world heritage since it takes place on the Grand Place/Grote Markt, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 and serves as the backdrop for its final scene. It features on the Inventory of Intangible Heritage of the Brussels Region and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and is in keeping with sustainable development principles and endeavours to comply with the Convention’s ethical rules.

The decision

From 9 to 14 December 2019, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is meeting at the Agora Bogotá Centro de Convenciones conference centre in Bogotá, Colombia. For six days, the 24 members of the Intergovernmental Committee will review recent developments in implementation of the 2003 Convention. During this meeting, the Committee is also examining the elements for inscription on the lists of the Convention: 6 elements with a view to their inclusion in the Urgent Safeguarding List; 42 in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; 3 selection proposals for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

On 11 December 2019, the Committee decided to include the Ommegang on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with the nomination having satisfied the criteria for inscription as follows:

R.1: The Ommegang of Brussels supports local identity and strengthens social and community ties among the people of the city, inspiring a spirit of solidarity and friendship among participants and attendees. The element confirms the human fabric of the historic and cosmopolitan city of Brussels and is directly related to a World Heritage property - La Grand-Place, Brussels -, which houses one of the main events of the element.

R.2: The inscription of Ommegang would ensure the visibility of intangible cultural heritage at the local, national and international levels. It would also make an important contribution to raising awareness of intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts as well as drawing attention to the link between intangible heritage and built heritage. The element is practised not only by French- speaking people but also by Dutch-speaking residents of Brussels and surrounding areas and immigrant communities. Dialogue between the organizers of this and similar festivities abroad has already taken place and will be further encouraged.

R.3: The permanent work of the association Ommegang Oppidi Bruxellensis and of many groups of practitioners has ensured the safeguarding of the element over the decades, as well as the support of the City of Brussels. The State Party has presented pertinent, feasible and structured safeguarding measures with clear objectives, which will strengthen the viability of the Ommegang and that have been developed with the participation of the communities. A new safeguarding committee is to be established to supervise the element and control the risk of its potential commercialization.

R.4: Ommegang Oppidi Bruxellensis, which organizes and produces the procession, along with the groups involved and the many institutions and groups that support its realization have participated and given their consent to the nomination of the element, which brings together more than 1,200 participants.

R.5: Ommegang was included in the Inventory of Brussels’ intangible cultural heritage in 2017 and in the Inventory of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation’s intangible cultural heritage in 2010. Both inventories have mechanisms that encourage the participation of practitioners and community members.

UNESCO also emphasised the quality of the nomination documents which can serve as an example of how the inscription of an element on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity can help to ensure visibility and raise awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage and was very happy with this proposal which illustrates the close link between tangible and intangible heritage in the urban environment, particularly within a world heritage site.

The Brussels-Capital Region and urban.brussels would like to thank Mr Francis Jacques, Secretary-General of the Ommegang, and Mr Rieks Smeets for the work done on the application dossier, as well as Mr Olivier de Trazegnies and Mr Paul Le Grand, Presidents of the Ommegang Royal Society and Brussels Events associations and their boards of directors, Ms Maria Pia Pastorelli and the seamstresses Ms Amina Ben Sliman and Ms Idalina Vera, for their unwavering commitment, and all the families and individuals taking part, some of them for many years or even decades now, in perpetuating this wonderful event which brings together the values, traditions, customs and a unifying image of the city and the region.

Come and visit the Sablon/Zavel on the evening of 1 and 3 July 2020, along the route of the procession or at the Grand Place/Grote Markt, to soak up the atmosphere of Renaissance splendour.

Further info

Office of Minister-President Rudi Vervoort Rue Ducale/Hertogstraat 1 - 1000 Brussels Lidia Gervasi +32 (0)2 506 32 32 - Mobile: +32 (0)483 59 18 31 [email protected] urban.brussels Mont des Arts/Kunstberg 10-13, 1000 Brussels Isabelle Leroy +32 (0)2 432 84 17 [email protected] Jean-Pierre BOUBLAL + 32 (0)2 432 85 90 [email protected]

The Royal Society of the Ommegang Oppidi Bruxellensis (NPO) Francis Jacques Rue des Tanneurs/Huidevettersstraat 180, 1000 Brussels +32 (0)474 208 228 [email protected]

Ommegang Brussels Events (A.S.B.L.) Paul Le GRAND Rue des Tanneurs/Huidevettersstraat 180, 1000 Brussels +32 (0)475 41 21 18 [email protected]

The Inventory of Brussels’ Intangible Cultural Heritage

Eleven bi-cultural traditions are currently inscribed on the Regional Inventory of Brussels’ Intangible Cultural Heritage, the most recent being St Verhaegen’s Commemoration on 20 November, a student festival linked to the founding of the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. It also includes the Meyboom, which has also been inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2008, the culture of Giants, Fritkot culture, the Royal Puppet Theatre Toone, the practice of the historical weapons of the Guilds, etc.

A mechanism for sharing and knowledge, the inscription of a tradition on the regional inventory is the result of a participative process that takes the criteria and concerns of UNESCO into account. http://patrimoine.brussels/decouvrir/inventaires-du-patrimoine-bruxellois/inventaire-du- patrimoine-culturel-immateriel/inventaire-du-patrimoine-culturel-immateriel