Abba song?
Yes, but so much more.
Every year, the Battle of Waterloo is re-enacted, at the site of the battle, just outside Brussels - in . . . Waterloo.
Just in case you forgot, it's where Napoleon was finally defeated.
To commemorate 200 years since that famous battle, the re-enactment was stepped up a notch this year.
Yes, but so much more.
Every year, the Battle of Waterloo is re-enacted, at the site of the battle, just outside Brussels - in . . . Waterloo.
Just in case you forgot, it's where Napoleon was finally defeated.
To commemorate 200 years since that famous battle, the re-enactment was stepped up a notch this year.
Tickets for the event went on sale in 2014 and after the first 110,000 tickets sold out, another 8,000 extra tickets were made available (also sold out). I read where these tickets were sold to people from 60 different countries.
In another effort to commemorate this event, Belgium decided to issue a 2 Euro coin.
Well, all hell broke loose in France. The French had a meltdown and insisted that all 180,000 coins Belgium had already minted also be melted down. The French government sent a letter to Belgium saying that the coins would "cause an unfavorable reaction in France". You know, Napoleon was French.
He was forced into exile after his defeat in Waterloo so that was basically the end of the road for him and apparently the French still don't want that commemorated.
Well, leave it to Belgium to figure out a way to do it anyway. Evidently there is a rule that EU countries can unilaterally issue a coin as long as it's in an irregular denomination.
Voila! The Battle of Waterloo 2 1/2 Euro Coin.
In another effort to commemorate this event, Belgium decided to issue a 2 Euro coin.
Well, all hell broke loose in France. The French had a meltdown and insisted that all 180,000 coins Belgium had already minted also be melted down. The French government sent a letter to Belgium saying that the coins would "cause an unfavorable reaction in France". You know, Napoleon was French.
He was forced into exile after his defeat in Waterloo so that was basically the end of the road for him and apparently the French still don't want that commemorated.
Well, leave it to Belgium to figure out a way to do it anyway. Evidently there is a rule that EU countries can unilaterally issue a coin as long as it's in an irregular denomination.
Voila! The Battle of Waterloo 2 1/2 Euro Coin.
The Royal Belgian Mint in Brussels displays the €2.50 coin, bearing the Lion’s Mound monument at Waterloo and a diagram of the battle lines on 18 June 1815. Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images
The Belgian finance minister said "The goal is not to revive old quarrels. In a modern Europe, there are more important things to sort out."
I'm sure the French government appreciated him pointing this out.
"Audacity succeeds as often as it fails; in life it has an even chance."
I'm sure the French government appreciated him pointing this out.
"Audacity succeeds as often as it fails; in life it has an even chance."
Napoleon Bonaparte
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