Belgians started their week off in shock and horror as Brussels was rocked by deadly blasts that claimed 31 lives.
In the days that followed, locals gathered around Place de la Bourse, turning it into a makeshift memorial for the victims of the attacks.
Local filmmaker and artist Siméon Janssens created a video of the crowds at the memorial sharing hugs, songs and writing messages of peace with chalk.
READ MORE: Brussels attack: How the famous ‘Mannekin Pis’ statue has become a symbol of strength
“As soon as I arrived, I felt like it was a whole big family,” Janssens told Global News. “Usually people don’t talk easily to strangers but that day we wanted to know about everyone.”
Entitled “Manneken Peace,” a play on words of the Mannekin Pis statue that has become a symbol of strength, the video has since gone viral with over 105,000 views in a few days.
“It was a warm moment of solidarity for the family’s victims and a hopeful message for the future,” Janssens said. “I hope that we’ll become stronger and more united than ever.”
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