Tomorrowland DJ Set Near Brussels Tragedy Site Sparks Outrage
Just 48 hours after a devastating fire at the OXY building in central Brussels claimed the lives of six construction workers, the world-famous electronic music festival Tomorrowland held a pop-up DJ set on the adjacent Place de la Monnaie, igniting a fierce public controversy over respect and sensitivity in the shadow of tragedy.
According to La Libre Belgique, the event was part of Tomorrowland’s “Belgian Journey” — a series of pre-festival activities for Global Journey ticket holders ahead of the festival’s 20th edition in Boom. The Place de la Monnaie directly adjoins the OXY building, whose rear facade opens onto the square, making the DJ set literally steps from where the workers lost their lives.
The OXY Tragedy
On Tuesday, July 14, a fire broke out on the second floor of the OXY building at Place De Brouckère, which was undergoing renovation to transform the former Centre Monnaie into a multifunctional complex with apartments, offices, a luxury hotel, and restaurants. Approximately 250 construction workers were on site at the time of the fire. Six workers became trapped in an elevator shaft and died when one of two elevators fell during the blaze; two others were seriously burned. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Brussels Labour Auditorate, as reported.
Among the victims was Jille Verleysen-Moerman, a 23-year-old worker from Limburg employed by OTM, alongside Stijn, Koen, Johan, and Mohamed, according to RTL Info. Their bodies were formally identified by Thursday, July 16 — the same day the Tomorrowland DJ set took place, while families were still in the first throes of grief.
The Controversy
The citizen collective Platform Pentagone, comprising nearly 30 associations, neighborhood committees, and merchant groups from central Brussels, denounced the event on Facebook as “Respectloos en schandelijk” (“Disrespectful and scandalous”), adding, “but the show must go on,” as VRT NWS reported.
Brussels city councilor and member of the Brussels Parliament Lotte Stoops (Groen — Flemish Green Party) called on Mayor Philippe Close (PS) to cancel the DJ set. “This shows a lack of respect for the six families who are still in deep mourning, to see a party organized in the place where their loved ones lost their lives,” Stoops said, as quoted by La Libre Belgique. “Belgium is in mourning and the place where this disaster occurred must allow everyone to come and show their support in serenity.” Stoops also questioned why the event was not relocated, noting that other Tomorrowland activities were taking place at several other locations across Brussels.
Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen responded that all activities would continue as planned. The DJ began the set with a minute of silence for the victims, and the music was played at a reduced volume, according to VRT NWS. “We would like to take a moment to remember the victims, their families, their friends and everyone affected by this tragedy,” Wilmsen said. The mayor’s office and Alderman for Culture and Major Events Nawal Ben Hamou (PS) declined to comment or did not respond to press inquiries.
Partial Reversal
On Friday, July 17, a surprise concert by internationally renowned Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte, scheduled for 19:00-20:00 at the Bourse (Stock Exchange), was cancelled by mutual agreement between the City of Brussels and the organizers, out of respect for the victims’ families, as DH Les Sports+ reported. However, all other Belgian Journey activities in Brussels remained maintained, drawing criticism over the inconsistency of cancelling one event while allowing others to proceed.
Analysis
The controversy highlights a fundamental tension between the right to mourn and the commercial and logistical realities of a major international festival. The spatial proximity — the Place de la Monnaie is not merely “near” the OXY building but directly adjoins it — and the timing, just two days after the tragedy while bodies were still being identified, made the event particularly jarring for many observers.
As NOS noted, the incident also draws attention to broader questions about corporate sensitivity, especially as Tomorrowland celebrates its 20th edition following a 2025 main stage fire. The festival’s decision to proceed with most activities while cancelling only the Charlotte de Witte concert suggests an attempt at compromise that satisfied few. The silence from the city government, with Mayor Close and Alderman Ben Hamou declining to intervene, has also drawn scrutiny.
What’s Next
The Brussels Labour Auditorate continues its investigation into the cause of the OXY fire, while public debate over the appropriateness of the Tomorrowland events continues. Tomorrowland’s 20th edition is scheduled to take place over two weekends — July 18-19 and July 25-26 — in Boom, between Antwerp and Brussels. The controversy has raised questions about whether the festival will face further pressure to adjust its remaining pre-festival activities.