Visitors to Bourse plaza have created hundreds of messages of defiance, comfort and solidarity in response to bombings

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A Brussels square has been transformed into a giant message board for people to chalk tributes to the victims of the Brussels attacks and leave notes of defiance and solidarity.

Belgians and tourists have flocked to the plaza outside the Bourse – the Belgian stock exchange – in the aftermath of the explosions that ripped through the departure hall of Brussels’ Zaventem airport and a metro station in the Belgian capital.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Visitors read messages at the Bourse building in Brussels. Photograph: Belga vi/Rex/Shutterstock

Messages range from the angry – “Fuck Daesh [Isis]” and “Fuck terror” – to those that expressed solidarity – “From Spain with Love”. Others, such as “Make love not war” and “Peace no war”, simply expressed hope for a better world.

The act of going to the square in itself represented an act of defiance, given that people in the city have been told to stay at home and “avoid all unnecessary movements”.

Aurélien Breeden (@aurelienbrd) On Bourse square in #Brussels, people writing chalk messages of peace and resilience pic.twitter.com/fiMgBhDHaR

People from around the world have shown their solidarity on social media, sharing pictures of the famous Belgian statue Mannequin Pis relieving himself on an assault rifle and of Tintin – Belgium’s beloved boy reporter – crying.

wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) Our thoughts are with the people of Belgium today. The terror will not stop the music. #JeSuisBruxelles pic.twitter.com/z62kYcfBGR

Federica Seneghini (@fedesene) People Are Sharing Pictures Of Tintin Crying In Response To The #Brussels Terror Attacks #Bruxelles pic.twitter.com/V9OYoROrt8

Other images included a hand holding a cone of french fries in a similar vein to the Statue of Liberty.

In Brussels, meanwhile, locals invited stranded travellers to stay in their homes using the hashtag #OpenHouse. “If you’re stuck in Brussels today we can accommodate a family. Equipped for babies too,” wrote user Julien Bloit.



Others used the hashtag #ikwilhelpen – I want to help – to offer assistance to anyone who needed it. “#ikwilhelpen whoever is stranded in #Antwerp – let me know if you need a ride, food or temporary shelter!” another user said.

The hashtag #JeSuisBruxelles also began trending, a message of solidarity reminiscent of the outpouring of grief following the Charlie Hebdo attack in France last year, when the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie was created.

Rudi Vervoort, the minister-president of the Brussels-Capital region, said the city had shown “its true nature ... an exemplar of solidarity”, citing the massive number of blood donations, taxis giving their services for free and people on social networks offering to open their homes to those in need.



Michael Verbauwhede (@mverbauwhede) Superbe hommage à la Bourse à #Bruxelles #brusselattack pic.twitter.com/ikWaf4sd5K

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A woman writes a message at the Bourse. Photograph: Belga vi/Rex/Shutterstock

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A cyclist views messages at the Bourse. Photograph: Belga vi/RexShutterstock

Solidarity came too from Paris, where the Eiffel Tower will be lit up in the colours of the Belgian flag on Tuesday evening.

Paris (@Paris) Ce soir, @LaTourEiffel sera illuminée aux couleurs de la Belgique.



Paris est solidaire de #Bruxelles. #NousSommesUnis

French cartoonist Jean Plantureux, aka Plantu, drew a cartoon of a crying figure draped in a French flag consoling another in a Belgian flag.

The cartoon, published by newspaper Le Monde, was shared by Manuel Valls, the French prime minister, who tweeted: “13 November in Paris, 22 March in Brussels, France and Belgium together in the face of terrorism.”