- Title: Brussels' giant ferris wheel turns again after three-month-long hiatus
- Date: 10th June 2020
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 10, 2020) (REUTERS) 55-METRE-HIGH FERRIS WHEEL TURNING RUSSIAN LAWYER AND BRUSSELS RESIDENT TAMARA KOZLOVA PURCHASING FERRIS WHEEL TICKETS FOR HERSELF AND HER THREE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER YANA WARNING SIGNS, READING (English): "Maximum two adults and two children from one family per carriage", "Free mask with ticket", "Keep your distance" KOZLOVA AND DAU
- Embargoed: 24th June 2020 14:18
- Keywords: Belgium Brussels COVID-19 Coronavirus Courthouse Epidemic Ferris Wheel Pandemic Tourist attraction amusement ride fair tourism
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001CHSFXON
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A 55-metre-high ferris wheel overlooking Brussels resumed operations on Wednesday (June 10), three months after the Belgian government imposed a lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
A Russian lawyer who has been living in Brussels for six years, Tamara Kozlova said after taking a ride that it was the 'first entertainment after the quarantine' for her and her 3.5-year old daughter Yana, who had been 'constantly asking me to take her on this amusement ride.'
She said the view from one of the giant wheel's 42 carriages over the Belgian capital was 'gorgeous.'
A former Syrian refugee now living in Koblenz with his wife and his two daughters, Elaian Alaa Eddin, 33, said the amusement ride, which opened in september 2019, was 'really fun' and offered 'a nice view over Brussels.'
The reopening came as a relief for fifth generation fairground worker Rene Bufkens, who bought the ferris wheel in 2017 for five million euros and said he lost 100,000 euros due to the lockdown.
"It was truly a period of time that we did not see coming," said Bufkens, who also operates roller coasters in other parts of the country.
Belgium, home to EU and NATO headquarters, has been among the worst affected countries in Europe with 59,569 COVID-19 cases and 9,629 deaths, although the number of cases, hospital admissions and fatalities has declined since peaking in early April.
(Production: Christian Levaux, Bart Biesemans, Maria Vasilyeva, Clement Rossignol) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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