King Filip delivered his speech in memory of all the victims of terrorism at Schuman, at the heart of the European district and not far from Maalbeek metro station. He spoke in the three national languages and in English.
‘We will never forget this tragic day,’ he began. ‘The victims will remain in our hearts forever. Ten years have passed, but for many, time has not eased the pain. It has made them quieter, more withdrawn.’
‘For those who have lost someone, or those who still bear the scars, 22 March has become a day that never ends. Today we are here for you, to say that our country will never forget you.’
The King wished to acknowledge not only the victims, but also their families and loved ones. ‘For 10 years, they have borne a pain that no one should ever have to know. A pain that is reignited with every visit to the doctor, every administrative or legal procedure.’
He called them ‘the heart of this ceremony’. ‘Know that we see and acknowledge your difficulties. And that the authorities are committed to helping you as best they can.’
He emphasised that the terrorists ‘have failed’. ‘What should have driven us apart has brought us closer together.’
Yet he also had a message for today. ‘We must also face up to the complex reality: that most of the perpetrators were young people born and raised here. That realisation forces us to take a hard look at ourselves. How have young people allowed themselves to be seduced by the rhetoric of death, hatred and destruction?’
‘These are difficult, confronting questions; they sometimes make us feel uncomfortable, but we must continue to ask them.’
The king also referred to the recent attack on a synagogue in the eastern city of Liege.
‘The explosion at the synagogue in Liège shows that hatred in our society is still very much alive and that we still have a long way to go.’
‘Safety begins in schools, in the neighbourhood, in exchanges, dialogue and culture. True security is a society in which everyone feels recognised. Where no one should feel rejected, excluded or marginalised. Today, I hope that we can listen to one another more. Let us keep our hearts open with confidence.’
‘I believe in the resilience of our people, in the strength of our institutions and in the peaceful, bright future that we can build together,’ King Filip concluded.