06 050860 brussel eng 04-04-2005 15:39 pagina 1brussel.vlaanderen.be/documenten/06 050860 brussel...

06 050860 BRUSSEL Eng 04-04-2005 15:39 Pagina 1

Brussels, a piece of us!

Brussels and Flanders form a fascinating story. A story of love and hate, similarities and

differences, openness and closed doors, dependency and enrichment. The ties between

Brussels and Flanders form a constant theme through the Flemish Government’s policy on

Brussels. We would like to strengthen, cherish and publicise these ties.

There is still a great deal of work to do. Our vision of the ties between Flanders and Brussels

makes us row against the current. In the Flemish Community there are more and more voices

which see Brussels as an obstacle to further autonomy. Some Flemish people in Brussels

are also calling increasingly loudly for an artificial Brussels community. However, what both

these groups fail to see is that Flanders needs Brussels as a capital, as a meeting place with

other cultures, as a gateway to the world. Brussels can turn Flanders into an intercultural

society. It makes the Flemish Community open and rich.

Conversely, Brussels also needs Flanders. In Brussels, the Flemish Community provides a

rich network of cultural, educational, health and welfare provisions. Without Flanders,

Brussels would become narrow and rigid, cut off from the vital oxygen and energy that it

needs. In order to promote this combined action between the Flemish Community and its

capital, it is necessary to tackle prejudices.

This brochure describes a part of Flanders in Brussels. Flanders is a Brabant city, where

hundreds of thousands of Flemish people are still living and working today, together with

other cultural communities. Brussels is a piece of us. It is our heart. It is a city to cherish.

Bert Anciaux

Flemish Minister for Culture, Youth, Sport and Brussels Affairs


CULTURAL

CROSSROADS

WORKING, LIVING AND WELFAREBEING

YOUNG

IN

BRUSSELS

Cultural crossroads 2————————

Working, living and welfare 12————————

Being young in Brussels 20————————

Capital of Flanders 28————————

CAPITAL OF FLANDERS

Discover the Flemish side of Brussels

This brochure introduces you to the Flemish networks in Brussels. Brussels is

the capital of Flanders, the Dutch-language part of Belgium, and through the

years the Flemish Community has developed a network of provisions which

makes Brussels even more attractive for visitors and inhabitants. In culture,

welfare, education, youth initiatives – Flemish people have put their mark on

Brussels everywhere. Feel free to get to know these Flemish initiatives in

Brussels in situ. The list of addresses given after the end of every chapter will

help you on your way. The initiatives shown in bold in the text are found in

the list of addresses.


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Do you know Brussels? Only very few people will be able to

answer this absolutely affirmatively. Even people who have been

living in Brussels for years still regularly discover new corners of

the city. The Brussels of the Manneken Pis and the Atomium do

not resemble the bustling Brussels of the Matongewijk or the

exotic chaos of the Zuidmarkt on a Sunday. The impressive

Leopoldswijk district, the high-rise buildings at the Noord station,

the majestic avenues and symmetrical parks are every bit as

much a part of Brussels as the small streets with hidden restau-

rants and cafes and unexpected meetings around every corner.

CULTURAL

CROSSROADS

Cultural crossroadsCultural crossroads

The tests of an infinite range of provisionsBrussels reveals many faces in the confusion of streets and squares, museums and libraries, markets

and boutiques. In the evening, countless concert halls and theatres, cafes and restaurants provide a

colourful cocktail of culture and entertainment. In this delicious mixture which is Brussels, the Flemish

ingredients provide an extra zing.

Who can say that they knowBrussels?


Downtown Brussel?At the moment one of the trendiest districts is close to the

Beurs, around the Oude and Nieuwe Graanmarkt, the Sint

Katelijneplein and the Sint-Gorikswijk district. This rather

dilapidated district has been given a new lease of life since

the 1990s. Artists, writers, film makers, designers, often

Dutch speaking, found homes there or a place to work. The

central artery is the Dansaertstraat with art galleries, fash-

ion shops, antique shops, cafes and restaurants alternat-

ing with traditional commercial shops.

This district is the heart of the Brussels fashion world.

Anyone who would like to discover this can start at Modo

Bruxellae in the Léon Lepagestraat. This organisation

brings together young designers and businesses, awards

prizes, arranges stock sales and organises the well known

Stylists event every two years. De Markten , one of the 22

Flemish community centres in Brussels, is close by on the

attractive Oude Graanmarkt. Cultural and other activities

take place in the renovated old exhibition halls of the Val

Saint-Lambert glass factory. The café of De Markten is a

pleasant meeting place where you can get to know many

Flemish people in Brussels while you have a drink and a

bite to eat.

Classical cultural facilitiesLovers of culture can find something to do every day in

Brussels. When you think of culture it is impossible to ignore a

number of great Belgium institutes. For example in the

Jubelpark museum – part of the Royal Museums for Art and

History – there is a very diverse collection of objects, ranging

from the Egyptian civilisation to medieval retables and tapes-

tries, and pre-Columbian art. Approximately 20,000 paintings,

sculptures and drawings are stored or exhibited in the four mu-

seums which form part of the Royal Museums for Fine Arts .

On the Kunstberg, the Palace of Fine Arts, or Bozar , opens up

its large halls to exhibitions, concerts, dance and all sorts of

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other activities. The film museum can be found in the same

location. Five film classics can be seen there every day of the

year. The Stripmuseum in the Zandstraat is also well known

in Brussels and beyond. It is accommodated in a splendid

building designed by Victor Horta. Furthermore, the strip walk

determines the look of the streets in various places in

Brussels, with enlarged cartoons on blind walls. Obviously the

Munt Theatre should not be left off the list. This is the cele-

brated opera house which is one of the best in Europe.

In addition to these classical Belgian institutions, there are

many well known Brussels cultural centres which have develop-

ed specifically from the Flemish community. Through the

years, the Flemish community has built up a network of cul-

tural initiatives which help to give the city life and culture of

Brussels extra character. In fact, one museum is devoted to

this, the Archives and Museum of Flemish Life in Brussels

(AMVB) , which also keeps and studies the archives of

many Flemish-Brussels organisations. Meanwhile, a striking

number of these Flemish cultural institutions have become

part of the establishment, often accommodated in beauti-

fully restored historical locations. They have something else

in common: they enter into a dialogue and work, sometimes

very intensively, with the other language and cultural com-

munities in Brussels.

In front of the footlightsFor example, the Kaaitheater is located in the canal zone,

on the Sainctelette Square. This art centre has historically

focused on innovative theatre, dances and concerts. In

addition to its own productions a great deal of attention is

also devoted to co-productions, and the Kaaitheater puts

Brussels Bubbles

It is also possible to quench your thirst with a typicalBrussels brew: the “geuze”. This beer is the result of amixture of brews of different ages which ferment spon-taneously for a second time in the bottle. Traditionally, itis said that Geuze can only be brewed in the Zenne val-ley, because the right wild yeasts are found only there.The Geuze is a mild foaming beer with a rather sourtaste which is every bit as good as champagne, accordingto the people of Brussels.

The fact that Brussels is a city of beer is also clear fromBrussels cuisine, in which rabbit with Geuze or withKriek is a traditional dish. And how else can you describea city which has both a Geuze museum, a beer museumand a brewery museum?

CULTURAL

CROSSROADS

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on large-scale productions with an international image

both in Belgium and abroad. The Kaaitheater also has one

of the largest stages in Brussels. For smaller productions,

it moved to the nearby Kaaitheater studios, in a former

brewery. It was in the Kaaitheater, that Anne Teresa De

Keersmaeker found a stage to launch her career.

Meanwhile her dance company Rosas has become the

home company of the Munt. The international dance

school P.A.RT.S. also developed from this cooperation.

Slightly closer to the centre is the Royal

Flemish Theater , abbreviated KVS. In

this historical theatre, one of the oldest

and most beautiful theatres in Brussels,

our own actors and directors are producing plays for a

broad general public, but foreign productions and compa-

nies are also staged there. The KVS does not lose sight of

the urban reality, resulting for example in productions

together with young immigrants in the district.

Close to the Grote Markt and the Beurs, the

Beursschouwburg determines the appearance of the

street. The emphasis there is on a mixture of disciplines

and genres, of art and everyday life, local and internation-

al talent. The Beursschouwburg supports and stimulates

talented young people and is not afraid of staging experi-

mental work from Flanders and abroad. Dance, perform-

ance, music, theatre and all sorts of combinations are all

possible in the Beursschouwburg.

Live in the ABAnother cultural centre in the centre of the city is the now

almost legendary concert hall Ancienne Belgique , on the

Anspachlaan. Lou Reed, The Cure, Red Hot Chili Peppers

have all played there, but Flemish rock,

world music and other genres also

appear on the programme. For more

intimate concerts there is the Club.

Another popular venue is the Flagey

building which accommodates the Flemish Radio

Orchestra, the Flemish Radio Choir and the Flemish

Brussels media. The artistic activities focus on visual art

and music and transcend the communities. In the future,

the Flagey can develop to become a Flemish art centre that

is open to other cultures.

Of course the French language community in Brussels also

has its own cultural centres, the best known of which is the

Théâtre National on the Emile Jacqmainlaan, the

Hallen in Schaarbeek, and the Botanique . In fact, the

Flemish and French language cultural institutions regular-

ly co-operate on productions, events, etc. One example of

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Flemish initiatives, but ina dialogue with other

communities

< THE CAFÉ OF DE MARKTEN IS A PLEASANT

MEETING PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GET TO KNOW MANY

FLEMISH PEOPLE IN BRUSSELS.

<< BRUSSELS CULTURAL CENTRES LIKE THE

BEURSSCHOUWBURG AND THE AMVB HAVE

DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FROM THE FLEMISH

COMMUNITY.


this cooperation is the international Passa Porta house

of literature in the Dansaertstraat, a combined initiative of

the literary associations Het Beschrijf and Entrez Lire .

In addition to the established centres, new initiatives are

constantly emerging in the lively city of Brussels. In many

cases it is not even possible to say from which language

community they have developed. One of the most striking

in recent years is Recyclart , which is developing a broad

range of social and artistic activities in the Kapellekerk sta-

tion of Brussels that is no longer used as a station. This

ranges from music, clubbing, multi media, to the visual

arts and design and workshops, training and what they

call themselves “conquering the public space”.

Local and socialThe 22 community centres which form the local focus for

Flemish social and cultural life are a very specific Brussels

phenomenon. All the Brussels municipalities have one. The

community centres organise theatre productions, perform-

ances, exhibitions, events, courses, Dutch language les-

sons for adults from other countries, etc. They serve as a

meeting centre and often also provide social services, both

for Flemish people and for people with different back-

grounds. For example, six community centres in Brussels

Oost have drawn up a programme to bring together mem-

bers from the various different communities in Brussels.

Under the heading Glad to meet you they organise all

sorts of socio-cultural activities and courses in different

languages. The socio-multicultural centre Globe Aroma

brings together newcomers, refugees and other inhabitants

of Brussels in studios, a world café, world dances, work-

shops, an educational programme etc. Brussels also has a

Dutch language adult education centre, Citizenne , where

you can go for workshops, courses, meetings etc.

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The tentacles of the Zinneke

In 2000 a new event made a big impression in Brussels:the Zinneke Parade . Literally from every corner of thecity, colourful streams of Brussels inhabitants came tothe centre to celebrate their city. This ode to creativitytakes place every two years in May and is supported byFrench, Dutch and other language associations andartists who perform their acts in creative workshops inthe districts of Brussels across every discipline and cul-ture. The parade focuses on the Brussels identity, the cos-mopolitan and multicultural wealth of the city. Thename Zinneke is not arbitrary. In the Brussels dialect, aZinneke is a street dog, i.e., someone of mixed origin, amixture of Flemish, Walloon, Italian, Spanish, Arabic,English, German and other races.

CULTURAL

CROSSROADS


Every day is an event In Brussels there will be a festival happening some-

where every day of the year, often with a large Flemish

contribution. There are music festivals such as the clas-

sical Festival of Flanders in autumn, the Brussels Jazz

Marathon in May, the world music festival Couleur

Café , the jazz and folk festival Brosella , the summer

lunch concerts Boterhammen in de Stad , and the park

festival Plazey by the Basilica. There are also festivals

relating to film, literature and many other art forms. It is

worth mentioning the unique International Festival of

Fantastic Film and the literary event Het Groot

Beschrijf. In May, the city is taken over by the

KunstenFESTIVALdesArts , which, as its name sug-

gests, is a bilingual festival with theatre, music, dance,

film, opera, the visual arts and multimedia. Most festi-

vals are no longer confined to halls or theatres: they

also take place out in the streets. Other events which

are worth experiencing include some which are rooted

in Flemish popular culture such as the Ommegang in

July and the planting of the May tree in August.

Brussels buglesBrussels inhabitants who wish to remain informed

about what is happening in the city and in the Dutch

language community can consult various media. FM

Brussel , TV-Brussel , and the city newspaper

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Brussels welcome and promotion:the city opens its arms

In order to get a good view of Brusselsyou do not necessarily have to climb upthe stairs of the Palace of Justice or theBasilica of Koekelberg. It is easier to visitthe Brussels Welcome and PromotionCentre (OPB) on the Muntplein. Anyonewho is looking for information about the Flemish networksand Dutch language initiatives in Brussels will find whatthey are looking for there. Some projects include:

• The website www.opbrussel.be contains all sorts of infor-mation for exploring the city. OPB may also be reached bytelephone on 0800 13 700.

• Brussels Open City: every month you can be introduced toBrussels and the numerous initiatives of Dutch languageassociations during a theme walk. You can choosebetween Dutch,French and English. Participation is free ofcharge.

• Broodje Brussel (Brussels Roll): There are all sorts of thingsto do in Brussels during a lunch break. There are concerts,theatre, exhibitions, film: Broodje Brussel collects all thepossibilities focusing on everyone who works in Brussels.

• Brussel XL : the three-monthly free magazine Brussel XLdescribes what is happening in the city and invites you toparticipate.

• De Gulden Ontsporing: 11 July, the Flemish holiday, is cele-brated in Brussels with all sorts of activities in the city anda big party on the Grote Markt.

• Day of the Student in Brussels: every year in October, thisday of meetings for students in Brussels is an event not tobe missed.


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CULTURAL

CROSSROADS

Brussel Deze Week developed from fairly small-scale ini-

tiatives to become essential channels of information. They

found an ideal base in the former broadcasting building of

the national television company on the Flagey square and

combined their forces in the news portal

brusselnieuws.be .

FM Brussel (98.8 FM) started as a student radio broad-

casting company of the film school RITS that has now

developed to become the city radio. It broadcasts a com-

bination of news programmes, broad cultural information,

Brussels political news, traffic information with a signifi-

cant proportion of music and in this way serves as a sound

track of city life. FM Brussel is mainly in the Dutch lan-

guage, but in a programme such as FM World, on Saturday

and Sunday afternoon, the broadcaster brings the whole

world to the studio, and switches quickly from one lan-

guage to another. FM Brussel can be heard everywhere via

the website.

Brussel Deze Week is a fat and varied city paper which is

delivered to thousands of inhabitants of Brussels and

interested Flemish people every week. Economics, culture,

a social and political life – every aspect of life in Brussels

is covered. Special attention is devoted to the initiatives of

the Flemish Community. Brussel Deze Week also distrib-

utes the Agenda, a magazine for going out which is pub-

lished in Dutch, French and English.

TV-Brussel is the regional broadcaster for the capital city.

Every evening from 6 p.m., TV-Brussel broadcasts a variety

of news and a current affairs programme. The broadcasts

are in Dutch but there are French and English subtitles, a

clear sign that it also wants to promote communication

between the different population groups in Brussels. It is

successful because six out of ten viewers speak a different

language.

Burning topics

You can now keep a close eye on what is happening in Brussels at any time of the day thanks to brusselnieuws.be. FM Brussel, TV-Brussel and BrusselDeze Week use the website to offer detailed accountsof what is going on in the capital city, focusing on various categories of news including culture, politics,the economy and sport. If you miss a broadcast by TV-Brussel or FM Brussel you can always pay a visit to brusselnieuws.be to hear or watch the latest programmes.www.brusselnieuws.be


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Brussels Welcome and Promotion (Onthaal en Promotie Brussel):

0800 13 700

You can ask any questions about Brussels and the Dutch language

initiative at the not-for-profit Brussels Welcome and Promotion (OPB):

Onthaal en Promotie Brussel, Prinsenstraat 8 (near the Muntplein),

1000 Brussels. Open every working day from 8.30 to 17.30, T 0800 13

700, [email protected], www.opbrussel.be

Flemish Community Commission (Vlaamse Gemeenschaps-

commissie): www.digitaalbrussel.be and www.vgc.be

The Flemish Community Commission is pivotal in Flemish community

life in Brussels. On its website you can find information about culture,

education, welfare and health care, child care, sport, youth organisa-

tions, etc. You can also find the addresses of community centres there.

Brussel Internationaal, the tourist office of the Brussels Capital

Region has an office on the Grote Markt and an information depart-

ment in the large hall of the Zuidstation. Brussel Internationaal,

Stadhuis, Grote Markt, 1000 Brussels, T 02 513 89 40, tourism@

brusselsinternational.be, www.brusselsinternational.be

Exploring the city

Dozens of organisations organise tours of the city in Brussels. These

work both in the Dutch language and in other languages. A detailed

summary can be found on the website www.opbrussel.be and in the

brochure Boordevol Brussel, which can be ordered from Brussels

Welcome and Promotion at 0800 13 700. Here are a few examples

from the range of possibilities:

Brukselbinnenstebuiten, Hopstraat 47, 1000 Brussels, T 02 218 38 78,

[email protected], www.brukselbinnenstebuiten.be

Brussels by Water, Akenkaai 2bis, 1000 Brussels, T 02 203 64 06,

[email protected], www.scaldisnet.be

GBB - Gidsendienst BI-TC, Grote Markt-Stadhuis 1, 1000 Brussels,

T 02 548 04 48, [email protected]

Klare Lijn, Gilisquetlaan 92, 1030 Schaarbeek, T 02 400 83 49,

[email protected]

Korei, Liebrechtlaan 37/6, 1090 Jette, T 02 380 22 09, [email protected],

www.korei.be

Brussel Open Stad, Brussels Welcome and Promotion, Prinsenstraat 8,

1000 Brussels, T 0800 13 700, [email protected], www.opbrussel.be

Pro Velo, Londenstraat 15, 1050 Brussels, T 02 502 73 55,

[email protected], www.provelo.org

VTB-VAB Brusselgidsen, Osystraat 35, 2060 Antwerp, T 03 224 10 52,

[email protected], www.brusselgidsen.be

Tours that are accessible for the disabled

The brochure Steden anders bekeken (Looking at Cities Differently)

can be ordered from Brussels Welcome and Promotion (Onthaal en

Promotie Brussel), T 0800 13 700

Museums

Brusselse Museumraad: www.brusselsmuseums.be

This website contains general information on most Brussels museums.

Jubelpark museum (Royal Museums for Art and History), Jubelpark

10, 1000 Brussels, T 02 741 72 11, www.kmkg-mrah.be

Addresses


Royal Museum for the Army and the History of War (Koninklijk

museum van het Leger en de Krijgsgeschiedenis), Jubelpark 3,

1000 Brussels, T 02 737 78 11, www.klm-mra.be

Royal Museums for Fine Arts of Belgium (Koninklijke Musea voor

Schone Kunsten van België): www.fine-arts-museum.be

Museum of Ancient Art (Museum voor Oude Kunst),

Regentschapsstraat 3, 1000 Brussels, T 02 508 32 11

Museum of Modern Art (Museum voor Moderne Kunst),

Koningsplein 1-2, 1000 Brussels, T 02 508 32 11

Wiertzmuseum, Vautierstraat 62, 1050 Brussels, T 02 648 17 18

Meuniermuseum, Abdijstraat 59, 1050 Brussels , T 02 648 44 49

Archives and Museum of Flemish Life in Brussels (Archief en

Museum van het Vlaams Leven te Brussel (AMVB), Arduinkaai 28,

1000 Brussels, T 02 512 42 81, [email protected], http://amvb.vgc.be

Stripmuseum (Belgian Centre of the Cartoon - Belgisch Centrum van

het Beeldverhaal), Zandstraat 20, 1000 Brussels, T 02 219 19 80,

[email protected], www.stripmuseum.be

Literature

Capital Public Library (Hoofdstedelijke Openbare Bibliotheek)

Muntplein 6, 1000 Brussels, T 02 229 18 40, [email protected], www.hob.be

Youth department: Schildknaapstraat 28, 1000 Brussel.

Vorst branch: Bondgenotenstraat 54, 1190 Brussels, T 02 343 20 04

Sint-Gillis branch: Fortstraat 35a, 1060 Brussels, T 02 541 01 72

Koekelberg branch: Pantheonlaan 12-13, 1081 Brussels, T 02 411 08 65

Various Brussels municipalities have their own Dutch language libraries.

You can find all the addresses on www.brusselse-bibliotheken.be

Het Beschrijf, A. Dansaertstraat 46, 1000 Brussels, T 02 223 68 32,

www.beschrijf.be

Passa Porta, A. Dansaertstraat 46, 1000 Brussels, T 02 226 04 54,

www.passaporta.be

Entrez Lire, A. Dansaertstraat 46, 1000 Brussels, T 02 513 46 74,

[email protected], www.entrezlire.be

Performance

Ancienne Belgique, Anspachlaan 110, 1000 Brussels, T 02 548 24 00,

[email protected], www.abconcerts.be

Beursschouwburg, Auguste Ortsstraat 20-28, 1000 Brussels, T 02

550 03 50, www.beursschouwburg.be

Kaaitheater, Akenkaai 2, 1000 Brussels, T 02 201 58 58,

[email protected], www.kaaitheater.be

Royal Flemish Theater (Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg),

Arduinkaai 7, 1000 Brussels, T 02 210 11 12, [email protected], www.kvs.be

Bozar, Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels, T 02 507 84 44, www.bozar.be

Flagey, Heilig Kruisplein, 1050 Elsene, T 02 641 10 20, [email protected],

www.flagey.be

Munt Theatre (Koninklijke Muntschouwburg), Leopoldstraat 4,

1000 Brussels, T 02 229 13 72, [email protected]

Recyclart, Brussels – Kapellekerk station, Ursulinenstraat 25,

1000 Brussels, T 02 502 57 34, [email protected], www.recyclart.be

Théâtre National de la Communauté Wallonie Bruxelles,

Emile Jacqmainlaan 111-115, 1000 Brussels, T 02 203 41 55,

[email protected], www.theatrenational.be

Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Koninklijke Mariastraat 22b,

1030 Schaarbeek, T 02 218 21 07, [email protected], www.halles.be

Le Botanique, Koningsstraat 236, 1210 Brussels, T 02 218 37 32,

[email protected], www.botanique.be

Social-cultural

Glad to meet you, T 02 762 37 74, [email protected], http://gtmy.vgc.be

Citizenne, Vormingplus Brussels, Liedtsstraat 27-29, 1030 Brussels,

T 02 240 95 22, [email protected], www.citizenne.be

Globe Aroma, Cellebroersstraat 16, 1000 Brussels, T 02 511 21 10,

[email protected], www.globearoma.be

Community centres

Anderlecht: De Rinck, Dapperheidsplein 7, 1070 Brussels,


Brussel: De Markten, Oude Graanmarkt 5, 1000 Brussels,


Elsene: Elzenhof, Kroonlaan 12-16, 1050 Brussels, T 02 648 20 30,

[email protected]

Etterbeek: De Maalbeek, Oudergemselaan 90, 1040 Brussels,


Evere: Everna, Sint-Vincentiusstraat 30, 1140 Brussels,


Ganshoren: De Zeyp, Van Overbekelaan 164, 1083 Brussels,

T 02 422 00 11, 02-422 00 12, [email protected]

Haren: De Linde, Cortenbachstraat 7, 1130 Brussels, T 02 242 31 47,

[email protected]

Jette: Essegem, Leopold I-straat 329, 1090 Brussels, T 02 427 80 39,

[email protected]

Koekelberg: De Platoo, Pantheonlaan 14, 1081 Brussels,


Laken: Nekkersdal, E. Bockstaellaan 107, 1020 Brussels,


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CULTURAL

CROSSROADS


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Neder-Over-Heembeek: De Mutsaard, De Wandstraat 14,


Oudergem: Den Dam, Waversesteenweg 1747, 1160 Brussels,


Schaarbeek: De Kriekelaar, Gallaitstraat 86, 1030 Brussels,


Sint-Agatha-Berchem: De Kroon, J. B. Vandendrieschstraat 19,


Sint-Gillis: De Pianofabriek, Fortstraat 35a, 1060 Brussels,


Sint-Jans-MoIenbeek: De Vaartkapoen, Schoolstraat 76,


Sint-Joost-ten-Node: Ten Noey, Gemeentestraat 25, 1210 Brussels,


Sint-Lambrechts-WoIuwe: Op-Weule, Sint-Lambertustraat 91,


Sint-Pieters-Woluwe: Kontakt, Orbanlaan 54, 1150 Brussels,


Ukkel: Candelaershuys, Brugmannlaan 433, 1180 Brussels,


Vorst: Ten Weyngaert, Bondgenotenstraat 54, 1190 Brussels,


Watermaal-Bosvoorde: Wabo, Delleurlaan 39-43, 1170 Brussels,


The websites of the community centres can be found on www.

digitaalbrussel.be

Fashion

Modo Bruxellae, Léon Lepagestraat 38, 1000 Brussels,

T 02 502 52 64, [email protected], www.modobruxellae.be

Events/festivals

Zinneke, Anspach Center, Anspachlaan 30-36, 1000 Brussels,

T 02 214 20 07, [email protected], www.zinneke.org

KunstenFESTIVALdesArts, Handelskaai 18, 1000 Brussels,

T 02 219 07 07, www.kunstenfestivaldesarts.be

Festival of Flanders Brussels, Ravensteinstraat 60, 1000 Brussels,

T 02 548 95 95, [email protected], www.festival-van-vlaanderen.be

Brussels Jazz Marathon, www.brusselsjazzmarathon.be

Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film, www.bifff.org

Couleur Café, www.couleurcafe.be

Brosella, T 02 270 98 56, [email protected], www.brosella.be

Boterhammen in de Stad, www.boterhammenindestad.be,

www.feeerieen.be

Plazey, www.plazey.be

Media

Brussel Deze Week / Agenda

Flageyplein 18, 1050 Elsene, T 02 226 45 45, [email protected],

www.brusseldezeweek.be

Subscriptions: free for the people of Brussels, 15 euros a year for oth-

ers. Inhabitants of Flanders can apply for a free trial subscription.

Zone 02

A free city magazine with a cultural agenda which can be found in

Brussels and the peripheral municipalities in post offices, cultural

venues, shopping centres, etc. T 02 454 26 26.

TV-Brussel

T 02 702 87 30, [email protected], www.tv-brussel.be

Every Saturday at 12.30, TV-Brussel present a summary of news of the

past week on Eén.

FM Brussel

98.8 FM, can be heard as far as Mechelen and Leuven or on the website

T 02 800 08 08, www.fmbrussel.be

www.brusselnieuws.be

The latest news from Brussels.

www.opbrussel.be

You can find cultural news about Brussels, a detailed diary, planned

tours of the city, city news, links and much more, such as the OPB

newsletter to inform you about forthcoming events on the website of

Onthaal en Promotie Brussel.

Brussel XL

A three-monthly magazine from Brussels Welcome and Promotion, with

news about Brussels and the main cultural events. It is distributed free

of charge in Flanders and in Brussels, through cultural centres,

libraries, museums, theatres, institutues of higher education, tourist

information offices, etc. You can find a list on www.opbrussel.be. A

postal subsciption costs 5 euros, or you can call 0800 13 700.

We are doing everything we can to keep the contact addresses

in this brochure up to date. However, if you think that a contact

address is out of date please let us know. In that case we will

change it in the next edition:

Ministry of the Flemish community, Administrative Coordination

Brussels Unit, Boudewijnlaan 30, 1000 Brussel, T 02 553 56 28,

[email protected], www.vlaanderen.be/brussel


Approximately one million people live in the nineteen

municipalities of Brussels. In the streets, you can see and

hear that these inhabitants of Brussels are very different.

Approximately one in three residents of Brussels do not

have Belgian nationality. More than half of the non-

Belgians come from the European Union, with the French,

Italians, Spanish and Portuguese in the lead. Of the non-

Belgians from outside the European Union, by far the

largest group consists of Moroccans. In addition, there are

also many residents of Brussels of foreign origin who do

have Belgian nationality.

The capital of Flanders has developed to become a mul-

tilingual city of minorities. Its international character will

continue to increase with the European Union. This

development should not be seen as a threat to Dutch cul-

ture. On the contrary, the diversity is a source of cultural

enrichment if it is experienced in a spirit of respect for

everyone’s identity.

This intercultural society also comprises a large group of

Dutch speaking Brussels inhabitants. Over the years, they

have developed a network of initiatives and institutions

which means that life is good in Brussels, both for Flemish

people and for people who speak a different language.

A daily migration In addition to the Flemish people who live in Brussels, tens

of thousands of people come to work in Brussels every

day. Of the estimated 650,000 jobs in Brussels approxi-

mately half are taken up by resident of Brussels and half

by commuters, the majority of whom are Flemish. About a

quarter of a million people travel to the capital every day

by train, car or bike – this is quite a migration. One of the

main reasons why so many Dutch language commuters

work in Brussels is the fact that many Flemish people are

bilingual. After all, for many employers in Brussels a

knowledge of French as well as Dutch is essential.

Almost 40% of the people who work in Brussels work in

the public sector. Brussels is the capital of Belgium, of

| |12

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Working, livingand welfareWorking, livingand welfare

Like a magnet, Brussels attracts people to live and work there. They come from every corner of the world, but

also from Flanders. Brussels is confronted with the typical problems of a large city, but living there can still be

surprisingly pleasant. Many Flemish initiatives contribute to this. And did you know Brussels is the greenest

capital in Europe?

The inhabitants of Brusselsand commuters


WORKING, LIVING AND WELFARE

One in three inhabitants of Brussels are not Belgian.


When this brochure refers to Brusselsthis means the Brussels Capital Regionwhich consists of the nineteenBrussels municipalities.

However, when you walk aroundBrussels you will find that it is notinterpreted in this way by everyone. Afew terms are described below to avoidconfusion indicating the postal areasbetween brackets:

The pentagon or 1000 Brussels is thecity centre, bordered by the largeavenues of the small ring.

The City of Brussels is one of the nine-teen municipalities and itself consistsof six large districts:• the pentagon (1000);• Laken (1020);• Neder-Over-Heembeek (1120);• Haren (1130);• the southern part Louiza-Roosevelt

(1050);• the European district (1040).

The Brussels Capital Region consists ofthe following nineteen municipalities:• Brussels (see above);• Schaarbeek (1030);• Etterbeek (1040);

• Elsene (1050);• Sint-Gillis (1060);• Anderlecht (1070);• Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (1080);• Koekelberg (1081);• Sint-Agatha-Berchem (1082);• Ganshoren (1083);• Jette (1090);• Evere (1140);• Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (1150);• Oudergem (1160);• Watermaal-Bosvoorde (1170);• Ukkel (1180);• Vorst (1190);• Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe (1200);• Sint-Joost-ten-Node (1210).

From 1000 Brussels to “the Nineteen”

Sint-Gillis

Sint-Joost-ten-Node

Oudergem

Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe

Evere

Schaarbeek

Neder-over-HeembeekHaren Jette

Koekelberg

the pentagon

Laken

Etterbeek

Elsene

Sint-Pieters-Woluwe

Watermaal-Bosvoorde

City of Brussels


Flanders and of the French Community and the lion’s share

of the government administration takes place there. In

addition, Brussels is also the political capital and decision

making centre of the European Union. Many European and

other international institutions are concentrated there.

Apart from New York there is no other city that has more

diplomats than Brussels.

Brussels attracts the worldThe international institutions also attract offices of solici-

tors, consultancy agencies, lobbyists, advertising people

and journalists. In addition, many international companies

want to be located next to the European decision-making

centre. These companies in turn attract other service com-

panies.

Brussels is also very strategically situated in a densely

populated and wealthy region in the centre of Europe. The

nearby international airport of Zaventem connects the city

with all the European capitals and the other continents.

With a high speed train, it is only one and a half hours to

Paris and less than three hours to the centre of Amsterdam

or London. Brussels is also a financial centre. In 2000, the

Brussels stock exchange merged with the stock exchanges

in Amsterdam and Paris, amongst others, to become the

Pan-European exchange Euronext.

The Brussels economy is above all a service economy:

more than 85% of the added value and employment are in

this sector. In 1900, Brussels was still the main industrial

city in the country. In the early 1960s, industry started to

decline at the same time that Brussels started to become

an international capital. However, there are still about 300

industrial companies active in the Brussels canal zone. The

growth sectors are information and communication tech-

nology, with no fewer than 700 companies, but also the

health sector, the food industry, and the precision industry

are becoming increasingly important.

The people of Brussels are poorer andmore often unemployed

Brussels has enormous economic importance, but at the

same time, the average income of the inhabitants of

Brussels is low and the region has the highest level of

unemployment in the country. Brussels is economically

rich but socially poor: this is the Brussels paradox. In 2003

| |15

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deBuren (Neighbours): at hometogether with one language

Promoting the Dutch language in Europe and the worldis the mission of DeBuren , the Flemish-Dutch Centrewhich opened its doors in the Leopoldstraat in 2004,right next to the Brussels Muntschouwburg. Withapproximately 22 million Dutch speakers in Flandersand the Netherlands, Dutch is a medium-sized languagein the European Union. DeBuren is a joint initiative ofFlanders and the Netherlands and provides a platformfor the debate about a cultural Europe and gives infor-mation about Dutch language and culture and presentsthis to Europe.



the level of unemployment was higher than 20%, while the

national average is 11.9%. Between 1990 and 2004 the

number of unemployed people in Brussels increased by

approximately 60%. Unemployment is particularly high in

young people and people with a low level of education. In

addition, there are also enormous differences between the

different municipalities of Brussels. The richest municipal-

ities are in the south east and north

west, with Ukkel, Watermaal-Bosvoorde,

Oudergem, Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, and

Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe. The poorest

municipalities are closer to the city cen-

tre, such as Sint-Joost-ten-Node, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek,

Sint-Gillis and Schaarbeek. Within the municipalities there

are also large differences between individual districts.

Anyone living or working in Brussels is regularly confronted

with poverty, dilapidation and other less attractive aspects

of city life. However, if you spend some time there, you will

find that something is being done about this. Slum areas are

being renovated and are once again attracting more pros-

perous residents. The governments and institutions of

Brussels and Flanders have taken steps to combat unem-

ployment, for example with targeted vocational training.

A healthy networkThe Flemish initiatives in Brussels make efforts every day

to improve the quality of life in Brussels and make it more

pleasant. For example, at the level of health and welfare

there is an extensive network of facilities:

from pre-school and after-school child-

care , toy libraries and educational sup-

port, to specific initiatives aimed at the

elderly or the disabled. Many organisa-

tions are actively involved in combating deprivation, look-

ing after the homeless and other forms of welfare work,

such as, for example, the Centres for General Welfare work

(CAW), which are found throughout the city, as well as ini-

tiatives working specifically with socially vulnerable young

people in the district. In Brussels there is also a Dutch

| |16

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A Dutch-language House

More and more people in Brussels are interested in theDutch language. Anyone who is looking for a suitablecourse of Dutch should certainly go and visit the Dutch-language House . This provides information about allthe existing courses and you can find out which coursewould suit you best.After all, a knowledge of Dutch is a very importantadvantage in the search for work. There are also otherreasons to learn Dutch: perhaps because your children goto a Dutch-language school, or because you have Dutch-speaking friends, or simply because you would miss alarge part of the city life without Dutch.The Dutch-language House is looking for ways ofimproving the quality of courses and co-ordinatingthem better with the needs. For example the Houseorganises tailor-made Dutch language courses fortraders and sales people in the centre of Brussels. Inaddition it encourages everyone to speak Dutch in thecity. After all, many tend to use French too quickly.If you want to maintain your knowledge of Dutch outsidethe classroom as well, the activities of Bru-TAAL may bethe thing for you. You can test your Dutch in practice inan enjoyable way during a pleasant cultural evening, in acafé or other activities organised by Bru-TAAL.

Flemish network:also at the level ofwelfare and health


| |17

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language hospital, the Academisch Ziekenhuis , of the

Free University of Brussels (VUB). It has 700 beds and is

obviously also open to people who speak other languages.

An essential facility for all the Flemish people in Brussels

is the Brussels Zakboekje, which contains hundreds of

social initiatives. It is published by the Brussels Welfare

and Health Council , which supports Dutch language

welfare and healthcare in Brussels.

In the field of work and training the Dutch language network

also takes many initiatives where both Dutch-speaking

people and people speaking other languages can go. For

training and employment or information about this, there is

Tracé . In addition, there are many other centres, such as,

for example, Brusselleer, which organise specific training.

Newcomers can go to the Brussels Reception Agency for

Newcomers (BON) in the Philippe de Champagnestraat,

for an introductory social orientation, basic knowledge of

Dutch, and the first steps to find employment.

Living in Brussels but without a premiumAnyone who is considering going to live in Brussels should

certainly go and have a look at Living in Brussels (Wonen

in Brussel). You can go there with all your questions about

buying or renting a house in Brussels. You can also find

many tips and interesting information on the website.

Living in Brussels regularly organises housing tours:

during these tours, you are introduced to the city and can

go into a number of houses.

To help resolve a widely held misconception straightaway:

there is no premium for Flemish people who come to live

in Brussels, except for the civil servants of the Flemish

Community Commission. However, the Brussels Capital

Region and various municipalities do provide premiums,

for example, for renovation or cleaning the exterior of

buildings.

Playing football on a bath towelWith more than a hundred parks, thousands of city gar-

dens and the extensive Zoniënwoud , Brussels is the

greenest capital in Europe. Obviously, some municipalities

are greener than others, but in general the inhabitants of

Brussels have no reason to complain. For example,


< IN THE STREETS, YOU CAN SEE AND HEAR THAT THE

INHABITANTS OF BRUSSELS ARE VERY DIVERSE.

IN BRUSSELS THERE IS ALSO A DUTCH LANGUAGE

HOSPITAL, THE ACADEMISCH ZIEKENHUIS, OF THE FREE

UNIVERSITY OF BRUSSELS (VUB). IT HAS 700 BEDS.<


Parisians have to make do with a square metre and a half

of green space per person, which is hardly more than the

size of a bath towel. Every inhabitant of Brussels has 30

square metres of green space: it’s enough to kick a ball

about.

Throughout Brussels there are district parks where the res-

idents and children of the district go to have fun, practise

sports, and relax. Every park has its own atmosphere and

character and some parks attract enthusiasts from far out-

side the district, For example, the magnificent Jubelpark

with its grand avenues, triumphal arch and museums is

often used as a background for large events. There is a very

different romantic atmosphere in the Josaphatpark in

Schaarbeek, where you can enjoy not only nature, but also

sculpture and summer concerts in the park.

The Zoniënwoud in the southwest of the city is entirely

different again: it covers 5,000 hectares and takes up 10%

of the surface of the Brussels Capital Region. The wood is

accessible from a number of different municipalities and

there are paths, cycle routes and bridle paths, playing

areas and picnic places.

No excuse not to practise sportsYou cannot really call Brussels a cycling city, although many

inhabitants have discovered the advantages of a bicycle in

a large city. Things are happening: for example, the cars in

the Wetstraat – one of the busiest streets in the country

with 60,000 cars per day – had to surrender one lane for

cyclists and pedestrians. In addition, work is being carried

out on five cycling routes crossing the entire region.

Brussels has innumerable sports clubs. Whether you want

to go deep sea diving, or play baseball, whether your pas-

sion is taekwondo or athletics, everything is possible in

clubs in Brussels. There is certainly no excuse not to prac-

tise any sports. Anyone who is not entirely convinced

should participate in Stadskriebels, an annual sporting

event which is organised by the sports department of the

Flemish Community Commission and BLOSO. The Oude

and Nieuwe Graanmarkt are closed to traffic and different

sports and clubs are presented there. Every year, thou-

sands of walkers do a 20 km walk through Brussels, from

real professionals to real amateurs. People who prefer

merely to observe also have many sports events to go to in

Brussels, such as the athletics meeting Memorial Van

Damme and the cycling race Paris-Brussels/Grote Prijs

Eddy Merckx.

| |18

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Why an iris?

The Brussels Capital Region has chosen theiris as a symbol for Brussels, and theFlemish Community Commission has alsoincorporated the iris in its coat of arms,together with the Flemish lion. This is

related to the history of the city development. The iris isa typical marsh flower. Brussels also developed from amarsh: in the tenth century, the city was founded in themarshy valley of the Zenne. The name Brussels is basedon Bruocsella which literally means “settlement in themarsh.”


| |19

||

Housing

Living in Brussels (Wonen in Brussel), Muntplein 6a, 1000 Brussels,

T 0800 20 400, [email protected], www.woneninbrussel.be

Flemish Community Commission (Vlaamse Gemeenschapscom-

missie)

You can find lots of information about various aspects of life in

Brussels on the website of the Flemish Community Commission,

www.digitaalbrussel.be

Brussels Capital Region (Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest), 02 204 21 11

The info line of the ministry of the Brussels Capital Region answers

questions about town planning, the environment, public works, etc.

You can also find a lot of information on the Region’s website:

www.brussel.irisnet.be.

Work and training

Tracé, local jobcentre, Philippe de Champagnestraat 8, 1000 Brussels,

T 02 289 00 90, [email protected], http://trace.vgc.be/

Brussels Reception Agency for Newcomers (Onthaalbureau voor

Nieuwkomers), Philippe de Champagnestraat 23, 1000 Brussels,


Overleg Opleidings- en Tewerkstellingsprojecten Brussel (OOTB),

Delaunoystraat 58, p/a De Bottelarij – 3e verdieping, 1080 Sint-Jans-

Molenbeek, T 02 511 99 72, [email protected], www.ootb.be

VIZO, support centre for Flemish entrepreneurs, Kanselarijstraat 19,

1000 Brussels, T 02 227 63 93, [email protected], www.vizo.be

Foyer, Flemish integration centre, Werkhuizenstraat 25, 1080 Sint-

Jans-Molenbeek, T 02 411 74 95, [email protected], www.foyer.be

Dutch

Dutch-language House (Huis van het Nederlands),

Philippe de Champagnestraat 23, 1000 Brussel, T 02 501 66 60,

[email protected], www.huisnederlandsbrussel.be

deBuren, Vlaams-Nederlands Huis, Leopoldstraat 6, 1000 Brussel,

T 02 212 19 33, www.vl-nl.be, [email protected]

Bru-TAAL, Dutch Centre, Philippe De Champagnestraat 23,

1000 Brussel, T 02 501 66 90, [email protected], www.bru-TAAL.be

Welfare and health

Childcare

Flemish Community Commission, Child and Family (Kind en Gezin),

Lombardstraat 41, 1000 Brussels, T 02 548 05 93

Child and Family (Kind en Gezin), Vlaams-Brabant and Brussels depart-

ment, Karel van Lotharingenstraat 4, 3000 Leuven, T 016 21 05 11

Brussels Welfare and Health Council (Brusselse Welzijns- en

Gezondheidsraad), publisher of the Brussels Zakboekje,

Leopold II-laan 204 bus 1, 1080 Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, T 02 414 15 85

Brussels Zakboekje online: www.users.skynet.be/bwr

Academic Hospital of the Free University of Brussels (Academisch

Ziekenhuis van de Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Laarbeeklaan 101,

1090 Brussels, T 02 477 41 11, www.az.vub.ac.be

Pro Medicis Brussel, promotes work experience and placements in

the medical sector in Brussels, [email protected],

www.promedicisbrussel.be

Specific services

Seniors Citizens Centre (Seniorencentrum), Care for the elderly,

Leopoldstraat 25, 1000 Brussels, T 02 210 04 60,

[email protected], www.seniorencentrum-brussel.be

Holebi’s (People with a different sexual orientation)

Regenbooghuis, Kolenmarkt 42, 1000 Brussels, T 02 503 59 90 (tues-

day 18-22 uur), [email protected], www.rainbowhouse.be

Sport

On the website of the Sports department of the Flemish Community

Commission, http://sportdienst.vgc.be/ you will find a databank of

Brussels sports clubs.

Green spaces

Brussels Institute of Environmental Management (Brussels Instituut

voor Milieubeheer), Sint-Gorikshallen, Sint-Goriksplein 1,

1000 Brussels, T 02 775 75 75, [email protected], www.ibgebim.be

Zoniënwoud, www.zonienwoud.be

Cycling

Pro Velo, association of and for cyclists, Londenstraat 15,

1050 Brussels, T 02 502 73 55, [email protected], www.provelo.org

Cycle routes, www.fiets.irisnet.be





Ministry of the Flemish Community, Administrative Coordination

Brussels Unit, Boudewijnlaan 30, 1000 Brussels, T 02 553 56 28,

[email protected], www.vlaanderen.be/ brussel

AddressesWORKING, LIVING AND WELFARE


There are about 125,000 children under the age of ten liv-

ing in Brussels and this number continues to increase year

after year. More than one fifth of the people living in

Brussels are under the age of 18. Obviously all these chil-

dren and young people have to go to school.

Developing an extensive and high quality network of

schools is one of the major concerns of the Flemish people

| |20

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Being young in Brussels

Growing up with a wider viewof the worldDutch education is one of the hobby horses of the Dutch-language community in Brussels.

Furthermore, there are more things to do for children and young people after school than anywhere

else. Students in Brussels have access to the broadest range of facilities and courses, as well as enter-

tainment. For anyone who does not want to miss anything, all they have to do is go out and take a look.

Being young in Brussels


in Brussels. After all, they considered that it was very

important that their children could be taught in the Dutch

language in their own district. Of course Dutch education

also devotes attention to other languages. The second lan-

guage in Brussels is extremely impor-

tant, even more so than in other

places in Belgium. In Dutch-language

primary schools in Brussels, children

are therefore taught French at an ear-

lier age than in Flemish schools, i.e., from the third year.

They also have more hours of French lessons, up to five

hours in the fifth or sixth year.

What do you want to be?The Dutch language network of schools has now been

firmly established. Anyone who lives in Brussels can find a

nursery or primary school within walking distance from

home. With more than thirty secondary schools and eighty

study disciplines at universities, you can become almost

anything in Brussels. Furthermore, the Dutch-language

schools are easily accessible by public transport, also for

students who come from outside Brussels.

Year after year, Dutch-lan-

guage education in Brussels

has been increasingly

successful. In other

places in Belgium, the numbers of pupils are falling, but in

Brussels they continue to increase, particularly in nursery

and primary schools. More and more French-speaking

parents and parents who speak other languages send their

children to a Dutch language school. They do so because

they consider that being bilingual or multilingual is very

important for the future of their children. Teachers ensure

that all the children in the Brussels Dutch-language edu-

cation are given the best possible learning opportunities.

| |21

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BEING

YOUNG

IN

BRUSSELS

The logo of Dutch-languageeducation has become

a quality label.


Furthermore the classes are often smaller, and the infra-

structure is more modern. The blue-green logo with the N,

which applies for all Dutch-language schools in Brussels,

has developed to become a quality label.

Teaching in BrusselsIn Dutch language education in Brussels, children are in

multilingual and multicultural classes from an early age,

with children from every social class. This is an enriching

experience and at the same time a chal-

lenge, particularly for the teachers. To

provide better support, the Flemish

Community Commission and the

Flemish Community developed all sorts

of initiatives. For example, the majority of primary schools

make use of the provisions of the Brussels Priority policy

and Taalvaart: they increase the language skills of the

pupils step by step, with expert supervision and using

appropriate teaching methods. In addition, the teachers

learn to relate better to the different customs and cultures,

which means that the contacts with parents improve. After

all, the cooperation with parents is absolutely essential,

even more than in other places: in order to really master

the Dutch language, children also have to come into con-

tact with Dutch outside the school, through books, TV pro-

grammes, etc. The teachers can also go to an in-service

training centre, which focuses its programme specifically

on the situation in Brussels.

Moreover, the Dutch-language education network is

broader than the schools alone. There are also schools for

special education, boarding schools,

centres for pupil supervision, etc.

Anyone who wishes to perfect their artis-

tic talents after school can go to part-

time art education for music, literature and dance. Adults

can go to the centres for adult education to learn extra

skills for their jobs or for themselves. There is also an

extensive provision of training courses, for example, in the

22 community centres.

Outside the schoolgatesAfter school, children and young people in Brussels can

also enjoy the enormous range of free time activities. For

| |22

||

Are museums boring?Not in Brussels.


anyone who likes theatre, Bronks , which is being given

its own theatre on the Varkensmarkt, is a must. Since the

early 1990s, Bronks has put on interesting productions for

children and young people. In addition, Bronks attracts

interesting productions by other Dutch-language compa-

nies to Brussels. Anyone who prefers to go on stage them-

selves can try out a theatre workshop. Another interesting

possibility is the Pantalone arts centre on the

Martelaarsplein. Children can also experiment using

sound and there are productions, concerts and workshops

in the Muziekhuis of Pantalone.

Anyone who thinks museums are boring places will have

to change their mind in Brussels. For example, in the

Scientastic Museum , you can experiment with the laws

of physics and chemistry. Would you like to play Fakir?

Make a rainbow? It’s all possible. The Museum of Musical

Instruments , the Toy Museum and obviously the

Stripmuseum , are also recommended, but the large

museums also regularly organise activities for young

people. In Elsene there is even a Children’s museum , which

is entirely devoted to the lives of young people. Anyone

who is more interested in film and the media could go and

take a look in the Fabriek in Schaarbeek. Art Basics for

Children (ABC) has a Medialab where you can experi-

ment with images, sound, and even with architecture. In

the sports clubs, libraries and community centres there

are also interesting initiatives for children and young

people on a regular basis.

| |23

||

BEING

YOUNG

IN

BRUSSELS

Laura, Mohamed, Imane andAlexandre together in a class

At the beginning of 2004, there were more than 34,000children in the Dutch-language schools. At least four inten secondary pupils come from a family in which onlyDutch is spoken. This is different for nursery school chil-dren and primary school children: on average 16%, oreven fewer, are from a purely Dutch-speaking family.One in three children only speak French at home and forone in three, family life takes place in another languagealtogether.

< MULTILINGUAL AND MULTICULTURAL CLASSES :AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE AND AT THE SAME TIME A

CHALLENGE.


Slightly older children will undoubtedly enjoy the many

youth centres and youth clubs active in Brussels. In fact,

they can be regularly heard on FM Brussel. The organi-

sation Youth and City (Jeugd en Stad) also uses Brussels

as its area of operations, with training courses and street-

corner workshops and all sorts of projects such as the

Rock Factory: workshops, rehearsal

spaces, etc., for young musicians. Did

you know that Brussels is the cartoon

capital of Belgium, and that Youth and

City has organised a youth hotel, De

Waterman ? This is just as well because there are so

many things to do that it will take more than one day to

do them all.

Largest student city in the countryWith approximately 70,000 students at universities and

institutes of higher education, Brussels has the largest

student population in Belgium. However, in a large city

such as Brussels, students have a less obvious presence

than in Leuven or Ghent. Still, Brussels is certainly a stu-

dent city with an almost infinite range of courses.

You can also follow higher education in the Dutch lan-

guage in Brussels: there are four Dutch-language insti-

tutes of higher education and two universities. In Brussels,

almost 23,000 students are at a Dutch-language institute.

The Royal Military School is an exception: there the

courses are taught in both the languages of the country.

Obviously a student wants to do more

than just study, and Brussels is the right

place to be. Nowhere else will you find as

many cultural centres, libraries and museums in such a

compact area. And this is even without the almost infinite

number of possibilities for going out. There are cafés, cin-

emas, clubs and restaurants for everyone’s taste and style.

You can enjoy the campus atmosphere of typical student

cafés, but you will also come across hot spots where you

can count the number of students on one hand.

Afraid of the large city?Because the large city frightens some Flemish students -

and probably their parents even more, there are many ini-

| |24

||

There are more thanten youth centres

operating in Brussels.


| |25

||

Four institutes of higher education and two universities pro-

vide higher education in the Dutch language in Brussels. Here

are just a few of the courses you can follow there:

European Institute of Higher Education, Brussels (EHSAL) :

economics and management, health care, social work, teacher

training, etc.

Erasmus Institute of Higher Education, Brussels : communi-

cation, health care, ecology, hotel and tourism, industrial sci-

ences, conservatory, teacher training, audio-visual and dra-

matic arts, social work, applied linguistics, etc.

Institute of Higher Education Sint-Lukas, Brussels : con-

struction, interior design, audio-visual arts, visual arts, trans-

media, teacher training, etc.

Institute of Higher Education for Science and Art : visual

arts, management, industrial sciences, music and dramatic

arts, technology, architecture, applied linguistics, commercial

sciences, etc.

Catholic University of Brussels : law, history, philosophy,

language and literature, applied economics, commercial engi-

neering, communication sciences, political and social science,

etc.

Free University of Brussels : philosophy, language and liter-

ature, history, archaeology, law, notarial studies, criminology,

economics, political and social sciences, psychology, physical

education, sciences, applied sciences, medicine, pharmacy,

etc.

Studying in Brussels: excellent choice

BEING

YOUNG

IN

BRUSSELS

QUARTIER LATIN INTRODUCED A QUALITY LABEL

FOR STUDENT ACCOMMODATION WITH CONDITIONS

RELATED TO SAFETY, HYGIENE, COMFORT AND

PRICE.


tiatives where future students go to be introduced to

Brussels. For example, a Students’ Day takes place in

Brussels every year in October, a day for students to be

introduced to Brussels, but at the same time an event not

to be missed by students. In addition, the various insti-

tutes of higher education and universities all organise

their own information days.

One of the driving forces behind student life in Brussels is

the organisation Quartier Latin , a joint initiative by all the

Dutch language institutes of higher education and univer-

sities. Quartier Latin would like to improve the image of

Brussels as a student city, and is particularly active in rela-

tion to housing. Until recently, Brussels did not have one

specific student area, although traditionally many stu-

dents could be found in the area of the Royal Sint-Maria

Church in Schaarbeek and also in Elsene near the VUB.

However, things have changed as a result of the efforts

made by Quartier Latin.

Quartier Latin considers Brussels to be the student city for

the 21st century, and this student city needs a real student

area in the centre. For this purpose, Quartier Latin has sin-

gled out the district between the stock exchange and the

canal. However, it should be clear that this must not

become a student ghetto but a mixed area where it is also

pleasant for non-students to go.

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Quality student accommodationat Quartier Latin

Quartier Latin introduced a quality label for studentaccommodation with conditions related to safety,hygiene, comfort and price. The organisation also buyspremises itself to rent out as student accommodation,and concludes agreements with landlords. The QuartierLatin database contains thousands of student rooms,hundreds of which have a quality label.

The international student house which is being built inthe Bischoffsheimlaan is another initiative of QuartierLatin. Belgian and foreign students staying in Brusselsfor a short period for work placements, can find accom-modation there. Furthermore, Quartier Latin also rentsout rooms to recent graduates when they are startingwork in Brussels in a shortage sector such as educationor health care.

Are you looking for student accommodation in Brussels?Please search the online student housing database ofQuartier Latin, at www.qlb.be.


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General education

Flemish Community Commission (Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie)

Information about the Brussels Dutch-language educational provi-

sions, from nursery to adult education: www.schoolkeuze.be,

http://bop.vgc.be or www.digitaalbrussel.be

Guide to Dutch-language education (Gids voor het Nederlandstalig

onderwijs), a detailed summary of all the Dutch-language schools in

Brussels, also for part-time art education and education for social

promotion (evening classes for adults), can be applied for at the

Education Department of the Flemish Community Commission,

T 02 482 05 16.

Vlaamse Infolijn, 0800 3 02 01

Prospective teachers in Brussels can go to the Flemish Information

line for information.

Also try surfing to the website www.leerkrachtinbrussel.be.

Brussels OnderwijsPunt (Brussels Education Point), http://bop.vgc.be

Teachers can go to the Brussels Education Point (BOP) of the Flemish

Community Commission for a broad range of information and educa-

tional resources.

Students

Universities

Free University of Brussels (VUB), Communication Department,

Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, T 02 629 21 34, www.vub.ac.be

Catholic University of Brussels (KUB), Vrijheidslaan 17,

1081 Koekelberg, T 02 412 42 11, www.kubrussel.ac.be

Institutes of Higher Education

European Institute of Higher Education, Brussels (Europese

Hogeschool Brussel) (EHSAL), Stormstraat 2, 1000 Brussels,

T 02 210 13 12, www.ehsal.be

Erasmus Institute of Higher Education, Brussels

(Erasmushogeschool Brussel), Nijverheidskaai 170, 1070 Brussels,

T 02 523 37 37, www.ehb.be

Institute of Higher Education Sint-Lukas, Brussels (Hogeschool

Sint-Lukas Brussel), Paleizenstraat 70, 1030 Brussels,

T 02 250 11 00, www.sintlukas.be

Institute of Higher Education for Science and Art (Hogeschool voor

Wetenschap en Kunst), Koningsstraat 328, 1030 Brussels,

T 02 250 15 11, www.wenk.be

Royal Military School (Koninklijke Militaire School),

Renaissancelaan 30, 1000 Brussels, T 02 737 62 11, www.rma.ac.be

Quartier Latin - Students in Brussels, Anderlechtsesteenweg 172,

1000 Brussels, T 02 513 71 74, www.qlb.be

Young people and free time

Bronks, Youth theatre, Brialmontstraat 11, 1210 Brussels,

T 02 219 99 21, [email protected], www.bronks.be

Pantalone, Martelaarsplein 13, 1000 Brussels, T 02 223 00 84,

[email protected], www.pantalone.be

Children’s museum, Burgemeesterstraat 15, 1050 Elsene,

T 02 640 01 07, [email protected],

www.kindermuseum.be

Scientastic Museum, Metro Beurs, niveau -1, 1000 Brussels,

T 02 732 13 36, www.scientastic.be

Musical Instruments Museum,, Museum for Art and History,

Hofberg 2, 1000 Brussels, T 02 545 01 30, www.mim.fgov.be

Toy Museum, Verenigingstraat 24, 1000 Brussels, T 02 219 61 68,

www.cyber.be/museedujouet

Stripmuseum (Belgian Centre of the Cartoon - Belgisch Centrum van

het Beeldverhaal), Zandstraat 20, 1000 Brussels, T 02 219 19 80,

[email protected], www.stripmuseum.be

Other museums

You can find information about the other museums on

www.brusselsmuseums.be.

Art Basics for Children (ABC), Medialab in De Fabriek,

Jollystraat 125, 1030 Brussels, T 02 502 00 27, [email protected],

www.abc-web.be

Youth and City (Jeugd en Stad), Werkhuizenstraat 3/5, 1080 Brussels,

T 02 411 68 83, [email protected], www.jeugdenstad.be

Youth accommodation centre de Waterman, T 02 411 68 83,

[email protected], www.jeugdenstad.be

Youth centres in Brussels, http://jeugdhuizen.vgc.be



address is out of date please let us know, in that case we will





AddressesBEING

YOUNG

IN

BRUSSELS


Capital of FlandersCapital of Flanders

Today Brussels is an international and multicultural city

where French is the main language. Nevertheless,

Brussels was originally a Dutch-speaking city, and today it

is also the capital of Flanders. On a map of Belgium, it is

striking to see that Brussels is like an island in Dutch-

speaking Flanders. The Brussels dialect and names of the

Brussels municipalities – Schaarbeek, Anderlecht,

Watermaal-Bosvoorde, Oudergem – also clearly reveal the

Flemish character of the city.

From the establishment of Brussels in the 10th century up

the end of the 18th century it was a predominately Dutch-

speaking city. Obviously, French was spoken at the court,

but the same thing applied for St. Petersburg and The

Hague. It was only in the 19th century after the indepen-

dence of Belgium that language relations really changed.

The new kingdom had a government that was strictly cen-

tralised in Brussels, and in 1830 chose French as the offi-

cial language. French started to dominate public life and

became the language of law, the administration, the army,

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Two communitiesin one regionBrussels is the capital of Flanders, but at the same time, French has the upper hand in the streets. If you want

to understand the reality of Brussels you have to go back a few centuries in time. The complex way in which

Brussels is governed also has its roots in history.

Up to the 18th century, Brussels wasa predominately Dutch-speaking city

CAPITAL OF FLANDERS


culture, and the media. As the language of the political

and economic elite, French developed to become a status

symbol. In 1860, approximately 95% of the people in

Flanders spoke Dutch but these people had hardly any

political or economic power. They were governed, educat-

ed and tried in court in a language which most people did

not understand.

19th century: French to achieve progressBelgium was governed from the centrally situated capital

of Brussels. The court, the government and the parliament

were all located there. Gradually a financial and economic

elite also developed around this political centre. Brussels

gained a French-speaking upper and middle class incredi-

bly quickly. It was virtually only possible to receive primary

and secondary education in French, so that French gradu-

ally also permeated the lower social classes.

In the same period, Brussels also attracted large numbers

of newcomers, the majority of whom came from Flanders.

Flanders had been one of the richest regions of Europe for

centuries, but in the 19th century there was a period of

economic decline and hunger. These newcomers also

One city, two languages

Since the 1960s, Belgium has definitively been dividedup into four language areas: the Dutch, French andGerman language areas and the bilingual French-Dutcharea of the Brussels Capital Region. This division is basedon the principle of territoriality. In accordance with thisprinciple the language of the region must be used as theofficial language for certain matters.

In the Brussels Capital Region, which comprises thenineteen Brussels municipalities, there are two officiallanguages, Dutch and French which have equal status.This means, amongst other things that you can useeither French or Dutch in all the Brussels public institu-tions – including the OCMW and IRIS hospitals, theemergency services, and the fire brigade. If you speakDutch in a post office, or in the town hall, the personhelping you at the counter must also speak to you inDutch. Although this right is guaranteed by law, it is notalways respected in practice.

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became more French: anyone who spoke only Dutch had

no chance at all of advancing. Flemish parents made sure

that their children spoke perfect French. If they were able

to afford it, they sent their children to French language

schools. The result was that their children became bilin-

gual but their grandchildren often spoke only French. This

spread of the French language also took place outside the

historical centre: surrounding municipalities such as

Elsene, Schaarbeek, Molenbeek and Anderlecht gradually

became more and more French.

Movement in FlandersAt the end of the 19th century a broad Flemish emancipa-

tion movement got under way. This insisted for the first

time that Dutch should be considered on an equal par with

French and that both languages should become the official

languages of government throughout Belgium. This was

inconceivable for the French speakers. Wallonia was only

French speaking and the Walloons wanted it to stay that

way. The Flemish people then adjusted their demands:

Flanders should also become monolingual. This demand

was met in the early 1960s.

However, meanwhile Brussels had continued to become

more and more French. In the 1950s Brussels had already

expanded to nineteen – formerly Flemish – municipalities.

The Flemish realised that measures were needed to pre-

vent even more Flemish municipalities from becoming

French. Furthermore, they wished to prevent Brussels the

capital of a bilingual country, from becoming monolingual-

ly French. The first step was to limit Brussels to the nine-

teen municipalities. Brussels was then given a bilingual

status and the Flemish people had to be properly repre-

sented in government and administration. Many of these

demands were achieved in 1963 when the Belgian parlia-

ment approved the language legislation.

New stimuli for DutchDuring the course of all these years, there were obviously

still many Dutch-speaking people living in the Brussels

municipalities. They saw the city becoming more French

and developed a network of Dutch language institutions

and initiatives. This meant that the Flemish people in

Brussels could experience their own culture and be taught,

cared for and assisted in their own language.

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Become more aware oflanguage laws

Because the language legislation is relativelycomplicated, particularly in Brussels, theGovernment of Flanders has established theLanguage Legislation Support Centre (Steun-punt Taalwetwijzer) . You can go there withquestions and complaints and you can order abrochure which can clarify these matters.

CAPITAL OF FLANDERS


As Flanders became increasingly independent

culturally and politically, the Government of Flanders

started to actively support this Flemish network in

Brussels. It became larger and was institutionalised,

and expanded to become today’s close-knit and open

network. Since Flanders has developed to become a

prosperous region itself, the Dutch language has also

received a new stimulus in Brussels. For anyone

applying for a job in Brussels today, a knowledge of

Dutch is an advantage, and more and more people

who speak other languages have shown an interest in

learning Dutch.

Belgium: regions and communitiesIn order to understand how Brussels is governed

today, it is necessary to look at the history of

Belgium. Up to 1970, Belgium was a single state with

one parliament and one government. From 1970 the

Belgian state was gradually transformed into a feder-

al state consisting of a number of federated states. In

a federal state the citizens are governed at the same

time by the federal government and by the govern-

ment of their federated state. These governments

have equal status and have their own competences.

For example, the federal state is competent for justice

in all the federated states, but is not competent for

the media. In Flanders it is the Government of

Flanders which decides which television companies

can use the cable. This seems a simple principle, but

in practice it is more complicated. In fact, Belgium

has two sorts of federated states which partly overlap

in terms of territory: communities and regions.

> Belgium is a federal state which consists ofthree communities and three regions.

Belgium has three communities: the Flemish

Community, the French Community and the German

language Community. These communities are, in the

first place, competent in their own language area.

However, the Flemish and French Communities also

have competences in the bilingual Brussels Capital

Region, because Brussels does not form a separate

fourth community. Therefore you could say that the

Flemish people in Brussels form part of the Flemish

Community while the French-speaking population of

Brussels is part of the French Community. In this


sense a community is a population group which speaks

the same language. The communities are competent for

language, culture, education and welfare and health care.

> The Flemish Community: all the inhabitants of theDutch language area and the Flemish inhabitants ofBrussels.

> The French Community: all the inhabitants of theFrench language area and the French-speakinginhabitants of Brussels.

> The German language Community: all the inhabi-tants of the German language area.

Belgium also has three regions. The regions exercise their

competences in a well-defined territorial area. The territo-

ry of the Flemish Region corresponds with the Dutch lan-

guage area. The Brussels Capital Region comprises the

bilingual area of the Brussels Capital – the nineteen munici-

palities of Brussels. The territory of the Walloon Region

corresponds to the territory of the French and German lan-

guage areas. The Regions are competent for matters such

as the economy, employment, agriculture, roads, town and

country planning and the environment.

> The Flemish Region: the region which cor-responds to the Dutch language area.

> The Brussels Capital Region: the bilingual area ofthe Brussels Capital, i.e., the area which cor-responds with the nineteen municipalities ofBrussels.

> The Walloon Region: the area which correspondswith the French and German language areas

Every region and every community has its own govern-

ment and its own parliament. In 1980 Flanders decided

to combine the governments of the Flemish Community

and the Flemish Region. This means there is only one

Flemish Parliament and one Flemish Government.

Brussels, one region, two communitiesA special arrangement was worked out for Brussels in the

1980s. After all, there are Dutch-speaking as well as

French-speaking inhabitants of Brussels, and moreover,

the capital of Belgium could not simply be classified under

Flanders or Wallonia. Since 1989, the nineteen munici-

palities of Brussels have jointly formed a separate region: the

Brussels Capital Region. At the same time, both the French

Community and the Flemish Community have compe-

tences in Brussels.

Institutionally the Brussels Capital Region is different from

the Flemish and Walloon Regions. Furthermore, the nature

of the legal norms which the Brussels Parliament can issue

is slightly different from those of the Flemish and Walloon

Parliament. The Brussels Parliament exercises its compe-

tences through ordinances, while the Flemish Parliament

and its Walloon counterpart issue decrees. Although both

the ordinances and the decrees have force of law, stronger

legal control is possible on the ordinances and they can

Brussels, capital of Flanders

When Flanders became a federated state of Belgium, itchose Brussels to be its capital city. In order to emphasisethe close links between Flanders and Brussels, the centralFlemish institutions were accommodated in Brussels. TheFlemish Parliament meets there in its own parliamentbuilding. The seat of the Government of Flanders is situat-ed on the Martelaarsplein, and a large part of the Flemishadministration is situated in the centre of Brussels.

CAPITAL OF FLANDERS

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only be overturned by the federal parliament in exception-

al cases.

The Brussels Capital Region is the most important policy

level in Brussels. It is competent for so-called territorial

matters such as traffic, the environment, urban develop-

ment, public works, housing, the economy and infrastruc-

ture. The Brussels Capital Region has its own parliament,

its own government and its own administration. The

Brussels Parliament is the parliament of the Brussels

Capital Region. It consists of 89 directly elected members.

Of these, 17 seats are reserved for the Dutch language

group. The Brussels Capital Region has five ministers: two

are French-speaking, two are Dutch-speaking, and one is

the minister-president.

> The nineteen municipalities of Brussels togetherconstitute the Brussels Capital Region. It is compe-tent for territorial matters.

The Flemish and French Communities also have compe-

tence in Brussels for subjects related to personal and cul-

tural matters, such as welfare, education and cultural

affairs. After all, the Flemish inhabitants of Brussels are

part of the Flemish Community , while the French inhabi-

tants of Brussels are part of the French Community.

Therefore both Communities can take direct decisions in

Brussels. For example, if the Flemish Parliament approves

a decree related to education, that decree also applies for

the Dutch language schools in Brussels.

> The Flemish Community and the French Communityare competent in Brussels for subjects related topersonal and cultural matters.

Sometimes the Communities do not act directly, but

through their Community Commissions in Brussels: the

Flemish Community Commission (VGC) and the French

Community Commission (Cocof ). The VGC and Cocof are

like the tentacles of the two Communities in Brussels. The

Joint Community Commission (GGC), in which both lan-

guage groups are represented, was established in order to

regulate matters which are not exclusively the competence

of one Community or the other, such as, for example, the

OCMWs (public welfare centres).

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Flemish Community in Brussels

The Flemish Community does not always act directly inBrussels: sometimes it does so through the local admin-istrative levels of the provinces or municipalities. InBrussels this local administrative level is carried out bythe Flemish Community Commission (VGC). The VGCsupports the Dutch language provisions in Brussels inthe fields of culture, education and welfare, and healthcare. In addition, the VGC helps to ensure that theFlemish decrees are implemented in Brussels.

The VGC also has a board and a committee: there areseventeen Dutch-speaking members of parliament ofthe Brussels Parliament on the board of the VGC. Thereare Dutch-speaking Brussels ministers and a secretary ofstate in the committee.


AddressesFlemish Community Commission

The Flemish Community Commission plays a pivotal role in Flemish

community life in Brussels. You can go there for information about

Dutch language education, child care, culture, sport, youth organisa-

tions, etc.

Flemish Community Commission, Sainctelettesquare 17,

1000 Brussels, T 02 548 05 80, www.digitaalbrussel.be

and www.vgc.be

Flemish Infoline 0800 3 02 01

You can call the information number of the Government of Flanders

with all your questions for the Government of Flanders. You will also

find all the information about current campaigns and new initiatives

there, and you can surf to www.vlaanderen.be

Administrative Coordination Brussels Unit and

Language Legislation Support Centre (Steunpunt Taalwetwijzer)

In the Ministry of the Flemish Community the Administrative

Coordination Brussels Unit is responsible for a number of administra-

tive aspects of the Brussels policy, but is also responsible for

strengthening the link between Flanders and Brussels, strengthening

the Flemish presence in Brussels, providing information on the lan-

guage legislation, etc.

• You can order extra copies of this brochure from this department.

It is also available in Dutch, French and German.

• You can also go there for the language legislation support centre

with a brochure of the same name.



[email protected], www.vlaanderen.be/brussel,

[email protected], www.taalwetwijzer.be








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CAPITAL OF FLANDERS


Brussels Welcome and Promotion

Archives and Museum of Flemish

Life in Brussels

Capital Public Library

Ancienne Belgique

Beursschouwburg

Kaaitheater

Royal Flemish Theater

Dutch-language House

deBuren (Vlaams-Nederlands huis)

Passa Porta

Senior Citizens Centre

Flemish Parliament

Flemish Government (Martelaarsplein)

Headquarters of the Flemish

Administration

Headquarters of the VGC Council

(Lombardstraat)

Headquarters of the VGC

Administration (Sainctelettesquare)

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COLOPHON

Responsible Publisher: Armand De Troyer

(Administratie Kanselarij en Voorlichting)

Editor and lay-out: Jansen & Janssen Uitgeverij, www.jaja.be

Advice on content : Ann Steenwinckel and Gunter Bousset

Translation: BD Consult

Photos: Kristien Buyse

page 6 left: Zinneke Parade 2004, ©Bertrand Ginet

page 7: Couleur Café, ©Nathalie Nizette

page 7 below: ©Alain Dereymaeker

Printer: Sintjoris

Registration number: D/2004/3241/357

You want more information about this brochure?Ministry of the Flemish Community,Administrative Coordination Brussels Unit,T 02 553 56 28,[email protected]


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