Brussels eclipse-glasses rush leaves about 1,000 pairs at an Ixelles retailer

Updated 12 August 2026, 17:00 CEST — An eyewear retailer in Ixelles said about 1,000 eclipse glasses remained available on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a rush by Brussels residents seeking protection before the solar eclipse. BRUZZ reported queues at the shop as stocks elsewhere in the capital became difficult to find.

The remaining supply offered a late option for people who had searched pharmacies, supermarkets and opticians across Brussels. BRUZZ’s reporting showed strong demand at the Ixelles outlet, although the publication did not establish how long the roughly 1,000 pairs would last. Availability can therefore change rapidly before the eclipse begins.

The Royal Observatory of Belgium calculates that the eclipse will start over Brussels at 19:18:48 local time. It will reach its maximum at 20:13:36, when the Moon will cover about 91 per cent of the Sun’s diameter, before sunset at 21:03:22. Brussels will see a partial eclipse; the Sun will never be completely covered from the capital.

That distinction makes proper eye protection essential throughout the event. VRT NWS warns that looking directly at the Sun can cause permanent eye damage and that ordinary sunglasses, compact discs and similar improvised filters are unsafe. The Belgian eclipse-awareness campaign Eclipsen.be directs viewers to purpose-made glasses sold through recognised observatories and opticians.

The demand reflects the eclipse’s rarity and its timing near sunset. VRT NWS describes it as Belgium’s most substantial solar eclipse since the total eclipse of 11 August 1999. Totality on Wednesday crosses areas outside Belgium, while observers in Brussels must also contend with the Sun standing low above the western horizon.

Anyone unable to obtain certified glasses should not look directly at the Sun. An indirect projection method offers a safer alternative, while telescopes, binoculars and cameras require dedicated solar filters fitted correctly to the front of the equipment. The immediate questions are whether the Ixelles stock survives until the eclipse begins and whether clouds or blocked western sightlines limit the view.