Culture

Ardennes in Springtime

by Martin Banks
Photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash

Photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash Spring has sprung so what better excuse to get out after the long winter and visit the Belgian Ardennes? One great option for lots of fun and daring adventure are the activities operated by the locally-based Dinant-Evasion which has just “opened its doors” for the summer season. That means a resumption of…

Karma Club – a New Twist on Modern Day Cuisine

by Martin Banks

Two go-ahead Brussels-based restaurateurs have cooked up a particularly creative new concept.  The business plan served up by Filippo La Vecchia and Cedric Gilot is, possibly, unique in the city and is already going down a treat. It is a highly unusual idea: you make a meal reservation (that’s the conventional bit)… but you do…

Never Give Up

by Our Staff Correspondent

The Scouts have launched a new “Never Give Up” initiative for its members. A cloth badge, pin and neckerchief can be awarded at the discretion of a local volunteer as an encouragement or ‘well done’ to any Scout or volunteer who’s struggling with something, persevering, or making a particularly strong effort. They can be awarded to any…

Time for a Happier Easter

by Philip Bushill-Matthews
Photo by Sophie Laurent on Unsplash

Photo by Sophie Laurent on Unsplash Around 35 years ago Melina Mercouri, then Greek Culture Minister, launched a campaign to return various marble pieces wrenched from the 2,500-year-old Parthenon frieze in the Acropolis. Pope Francis has just returned three fragments which had been in the papal museums since the nineteenth century: the British Museum, holder of the largest…

Belgium Wins Top Award at Crufts

by Martin Banks
Photo by Melissa Keizer on Unsplash

Photo by Melissa Keizer on Unsplash A Belgian dog team has scooped a top prize at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts.  Roadrunners Beep Beep, took the top prize on Sunday 13 March, winning the flyball final at Crufts. Roadrunners Beep Beep is made up of dogs and handlers from across Belgium, mostly Flanders. The team successfully set…

European Association Summit

by James Wilson
On Thursday 27 and Friday 28 April, representatives of international associations will gather for the 11th edition of the European Association Summit. It will take place in Brussels, where more than 2,400 associations have their headquarters. On Thursday evening, the Brussels Meetings Ambassadors will be honoured. The European Association Summit will address the major topics facing international associations, with the aim of the conference being to enable associations to function as well as possible in a rapidly changing world. Many experts from different fields will share their expertise during workshops and presentations, giving participants the tools to prepare for the future with lots of inspiring ideas and insights. Much of the focus this year is on networking. After COVID-19, there is a clear need to get to know industry colleagues and exchange ideas. This is much easier now that participants can meet offline. European Year of Skills This EAS-edition will focus on young members. What is the best guidance you can provide for young members? What about training and retraining opportunities? Several sessions will be dedicated to professional development and preparing the new generation of association professionals. This is fully in line with the European Year of Skills 2023. EAS is organised by visit.brussels in collaboration with ESAE (the European Society of Association Executives), FAIB (the Federation of European and International Associations based in Belgium), UIA (the Union of International Associations), ASSOCIATIONWORLD and GAHP (the Global Association Hubs Partnerships). Brussels Meetings Ambassadors Night A number of event and meeting organisers will also be honoured on Thursday 27 April. This will happen during an evening on invitation of the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region Rudi Vervoort. For the first time, this annual VIP event will coincide with the European Association Summit.

Photo by Alicia Abeloos on Unsplash On Thursday 27 and Friday 28 April, representatives of international associations will gather for the 11th edition of the European Association Summit.  It will take place in Brussels, where more than 2,400 associations have their headquarters.  On Thursday evening, the Brussels Meetings Ambassadors will be honoured.  The European Association Summit will address…

CORE Festival in Brussels

by Martin Banks
Photo by dimitri.photography on Unsplash

Photo by dimitri.photography on Unsplash The line-up of the upcoming CORE Festival in Brussels is taking shape. Six new acts have been added to the programme – Eliza Rose, PinkPantheress and Yussef Dayes are coming to the Osseghem Park in Brussels on Saturday May 27 while Channel Tres, Joy Orbison and Olivia Dean will be joining on Sunday…

Black Forest Ideal Destination For Easter

by Martin Banks
Photo by Julien Riedel on Unsplash

Photo by Julien Riedel on Unsplash Easter is fast approaching and you may well be scratching your head wondering what to do over the holiday. If so, why not consider a destination that is often overlooked by travellers from Belgium. Some often bypass the region en route to sunnier climes or a spot of skiing in the Alps….