The UCVL and the City of Luxembourg presented the programme of the next braderie at a press conference on Thursday 1 September. (Photo: Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne)

The UCVL and the City of Luxembourg presented the programme of the next braderie at a press conference on Thursday 1 September. (Photo: Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne)

After two years marked by covid, the Grande Braderie in Luxembourg City is back on Monday 5 September. 250 stalls will be spread out over more than 1,400 square metres, from the station to the city centre.

In total the Braderie will see 250 stalls, including 27 food stalls, 16 stalls of associations and clubs and 8 stalls of political parties, on more than 1,400 square metres. The Luxembourg Flea Market is back on Monday 5 September for its 93rd edition. Discounts will begin on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 in some stores.

This is a great comeback as the 2020 and 2021 versions took place in reduced capacity due to sanitary restrictions. The capital’s commercial union (UCVL) does not have precise figures, but admits that they had gathered "less people" than in previous years, when there were 200,000 visitors.

For 2022, no figures were given. "It's difficult to estimate," explains Anne Darin, director of the UCVL. The shops "are returning to normal flows, so we hope that they will be good" at the Braderie. "But there are still holidays and teleworking. We'll have to see the transformation rate.”

Inflation does not affect stall prices

"The number of visitors also depends on the weather," adds . The alderman is counting on "a lot" of visitors. Will households be keen to shop despite the rise in prices? "I think that with inflation, people are increasingly looking for bargains", says Mireille Rahmé-Bley, president of the UCVL.

The participating traders will be "about the same as in 2019", says Darin. "There will be slightly fewer in the station area", because of the surface occupied by the tram, "but in the upper town, it will be the same". The price of the stand varies according to size and location. For the political parties, located in Place d'Armes, it is around €300. A reduced fee, "between 40 and 60 euros", is granted to associations. For shopkeepers, "it can range from about €50 to €500". The rates have not changed since 2019. "We had increased them after ten years without an increase to index us." This year, despite an "increase in charges, we have not increased it".

The Braderie doesn’t mean sales. While it gives traders the opportunity to lower their prices on old collections, they are not allowed to sell at a loss.

Free parking and road closures

140 cafés and restaurants are located within the perimeter of the braderie, which runs from the station to the centre. €4,000 in gifts, ecological mugs or a €500 voucher can be won by participating in the various games in front of the Cityshopping information point or at the Place d'armes kiosk.

The car parks at Place de l'Europe (Kirchberg) and Fort Wedell (railway station) will be free of charge on Monday. The Fort Neipperg car park offers four hours of parking on Saturday and Monday, and one hour on Sunday.

The rue Notre-Dame will be closed to traffic from rue de l'Ancien Athénée. The same applies to Avenue de la Liberté between Rue Heine and Rue de Hollerich. Diversions will be made via Avenue Marie-Thérèse/route d'Esch or via Boulevard de la Pétrusse. Access for local residents remains guaranteed. Adaptations are also planned for the buses, with stops being removed and replaced.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.