Burkini beach party in Antwerp

It's not a real beach and not France; nonetheless, it was a symbolic gesture against the now-overturned burkini ban on some French beaches. "Women and men should decide for themselves what they want to wear," said a woman wearing a bikini at the event.

Some wear burkinis, others wear bikinis - and everyone is happy. That is the message the protesters want to convey. Organizers had originally expected 300 people; over 1,000 people expressed their interest on Facebook.

The young women proved that you don't have to show lots of skin or wear beach attire at a summer party. Some came completely covered, in a niqab, and others came with a headscarf.

"The ban is ridiculous. I want to wear what I want to wear. Women and men everywhere should be free to dress or undress themselves, depending on what they prefer," the young woman in a blue burkini (left) told Flanders News.

The party was also a statement against the mayor of Antwerp who, according to reports in the Belgian newspaper "Gazet van Antwerpen," said that veiled women "wore tents."

In Belgium, Muslims have the second largest religious community after Christians. Most Muslims are immigrants or the children of immigrants. Unity is something seldom seen in the country divided by the Flemish and Walloons.

During the peaceful beach party, a few far-right, anti-Islam demonstrators protested against the event. They chanted, "No jihad on our streets!"

"Wear what you want" beach parties were held in London and Berlin. Activists brought sand to the French Embassy in London for their celebration.