German-Belgian Sister City Day
The German-Belgian Sister City Day is an event that provides a forum for mutual exchange for the participating German and Belgian cities and municipalities.
The twin city day took place for the first time on June 29, 2009 in Brussels in the European office of the state of Baden-Württemberg at the European Union. The partner city day was organized by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of Belgium together with the German Association of Cities , the German District Association , the German Association of Cities and Towns , the Vereniging van Vlaamse Steden en Gemeenten, the European office Eurocommunalle, the Union des Villes et Communes belges, the Association de la Ville et des Communes de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale / Vereniging van de Stad en de Gemeenten van het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest and the Union des Villes et Communes de Wallonie. Around 130 representatives from 63 cities took part in the twin city day.
There are more than 130 city and municipal partnerships between Germany and Belgium , the cooperation and joint projects of which are to be specifically addressed and deepened by the partner city day. The event itself includes lectures, panel discussions and the exchange of experiences. Partnership anniversaries were also honored. As reported by the Savings Banks and Giro Association, the partner city day program contributed to a “far-reaching gain in knowledge” (Brussels Update 24/2009).
The second twin city day took place on April 11, 2011 in the Belgian consulate in Cologne with around 180 participants from 70 cities. It was under the theme "Youth". The Belgian Ambassador in Berlin, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Brussels, the Consul of Belgium in Cologne and the Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne invited together.