Tomorrowland is one of the most global festivals in the world. Individuals from over 214 countries requested tickets in 2014, the highest number ever for a music festival, according to the Huffington Post. Attendees are known for bringing their flags to the event and representing their country in harmony with the tens of thousands of other people surrounding them. That ability to unite people from many different races, ethnicities, religions and nationalities under one common purpose — music — has caught the eye of the United Nations and its Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon who has praised the festival's efforts for "dignity."
The two parties came together and contributed to a 600-meter-long bridge installed on the grounds in 2014 for the 10 year anniversary, which was designed by Arne Quinze. The UN is adding a wooden plaque with the message "Let's work as one towards dignity for all," engraved on the side.
"Young people today are growing up in a world full of change. Tomorrowland demonstrates that it's possible: tens of thousands of people coming together in peace and respect for one another to share a weekend, says Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in a statement. "210,000 messages from all over the world have been incorporated into the One World bridge and we are pleased that our message can be one of them. Let's work as one towards dignity for all, a message for the People of Tomorrow and for all young people in the world".
Manu Beers, founder of Tomorrowland and TomorrowWorld echoed the world leader's sentiment in a statement.
"When we decided to design the bridge in honor of the 10th anniversary of the festival in collaboration with the province of Antwerp and Arne Quinze, as a permanent symbol of the annual gathering, we felt it was important for the entire world to be able to take part. The One World bridge now displays 210,000 positive messages from everyone from our neighbors in Boom, Belgium to faraway friends in Australia. We are very honored to receive the contribution from the Secretary-General of the United Nations and we intend to continue to spread this message for many years to come."
