On 1 August, the Parliamentary Services will be hosting the traditional open day at the Parliament Building in Bern. This year, the event will be all about dialogue: Council of States President Eva Herzog and National Council President Eric Nussbaumer will be answering questions from the public and discussing current Swiss political issues.

This year, the Swiss national holiday will once again be celebrated with a special open day at the Parliament Building. From 8.30am to 4.30pm, the public are invited to get to know the historic building and the workings of Parliament. Admission is possible until 3.30pm via the visitors’ and main entrance.

One of the highlights will be the opportunity to meet the two Council presidents in person. From noon, Council of States President Eva Herzog will give visitors an exclusive insight into her work in the small chamber. This will be followed by a discussion with National Council President Eric Nussbaumer on current Swiss political issues during which the two politicians will take questions from the public. The discussion, which will be moderated by SRF Political Editor Philipp Burkhardt, will take place from 1pm to 1.45pm and will be simultaneously translated from German into French and Italian.

The open day offers visitors a wide-ranging programme of events as well as the opportunity to take part in an exciting dialogue with the Council presidents. Guided tours of the Parliament Building, an audio guide to help you explore the building on your own, musical performances and a special children's programme with competitio​ns, temporary tattoos and button badges to make yourself will ensure that the day is memorable and full of variety.

Please bear in mind that you may have to queue at security if there are a large number of visitors. Persons aged 16 and over are required to present a valid ID card or passport.

You can find further information about the 1 August event in Parliament here.