At the latest “City Breakfast” press conference, Luxembourg City officials provided updates on three key initiatives: the ongoing “neighbourhood plans” project, the upcoming Luxembourg Urban Garden (LUGA) opening, and this year’s Octave market.
The participatory “neighbourhood plans” initiative, launched in summer 2024, will advance this year with new workshops and meetings across all neighbourhoods starting mid-May. The programme aims to incorporate resident feedback into local development plans.
Reflecting on the project’s first phase, Maurice Bauer of the municipal executive board (“Schäfferot”) noted that officials conducted walking tours with residents in every neighbourhood to gather suggestions and identify concerns. Bauer described the process as “a huge amount of effort,” involving numerous participants beyond city staff.
The traditional “Mäertchen” (Little Market) will run from 9-25 May alongside the Octave celebrations, which begin on 10 May. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the event. New for 2025 is the “Look 360 Panorama,” a mobile viewing platform offering elevated perspectives of the city.
The LUGA will launch on 7 May, remaining open until 18 October. Mayor Lydie Polfer emphasised that the exhibition will allow residents to “see their city in an even more beautiful and charming light.”
Luxembourg City will host combined celebrations from 21-23 June to mark both National Day and the 25th anniversary of Grand Duke Henri’s reign. The festivities will include a Saturday evening concert featuring vocalist China Moses along with a performance by a jazz orchestra. In a special tribute, images from the Grand Ducal couple’s reign will be projected onto the palace facade.
In the final segment of the press conference, Mayor Polfer addressed current challenges with construction permits, noting that delays stem from broader systemic issues rather than municipal processes. 2024 data shows that 966 permits were issued, with the majority approved for multi-unit dwellings (flats and apartment buildings) and only a minority granted for single-family homes.
