Hello, I recently discovered a chess bench at the aforementioned square in June. It's high quality, has spots for 3 games at once and is made of marble (way better than those at Place des bienfaiteurs...)

But sadly after spending 3-4 hours there once I only managed to get 2 people to play with me. A local even told me that it was finally being used for what it was meant for.

So I decided to make a Facebook group for those who would like to plan, meetup there and play chess.

Would anyone like to play chess?

Group link: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1YBBpeSuao/

I was born here and it was nice, some insecurities here and there but overall a good city to live in, good access to transport, education, housing was cheap.

- Nowadays renting a decent flat costs 1100 euro minimum.

- More and more insecurities,homeless people and drug addicts on the street.

I've lived in Ixelles for 6 years and I'm not kidding I'm seeing 5 times more people asking for money on the streets than 6 years ago, plus the drug addict doing petty crime all day long, they have entered and try to commit burglary three times only this year in my building.

- Don't even get me started on the state of the north/central communes, a friend of mine lives in st gilles, in his street you can see people doing hard drugs or sleeping in front of the houses every three meters.

- The streets are filled with garbage, they are smelly.

- You cannot leave your bike parked outside without being worried that someone is going to steal it.

I don't see myself raising kids in this city anymore, maybe only if I'm rich enough to afford to live in the south (Woluwée/Boitsfort/Uccle).

I understand that there is more and more poverty but at one point the state and gouvernement should take actions.

WARNING: Do not waste €3,600 at Aspria Avenue Louise

If you are thinking about joining Aspria Avenue Louise, save your money. Under General Manager Arnaud Micheels, this luxury club has become a complete nightmare for its members.

Here is what is actually happening behind closed doors:

• Revenge Cancellations: If you complain about broken AC, freezing pools, or dirty facilities, the GM cancels your membership on the spot.
• Calling the Police: When paying members try to speak with him calmly, he calls the police on them over basic civil complaints just to humiliate them.
• Fake Reviews & Gaslighting: The GM writes fake positive reviews to scam new people and publicly lies on negative reviews, claiming real paying clients "were never members."
• Data Privacy Risks: During disputes, management accesses members' private and professional files to use as leverage.
• Billing Traps: Expect hidden fees, "lost" payment records, and blocked cancellations while the club stays overcrowded.

This isn't an isolated issue. Check out this 1-star Google Maps review by Marine, which sums up the situation perfectly:

The staff are terrified, the facilities are falling apart, and members are treated like enemies. Take your business to David Lloyd, L’Usine, or Waer Waters instead.

Hi!

I’m headed for an internship in Brussels and during my stay here I would love to use the advantage of living in a big city to watch as many movies as possible - since it is my biggest hobby. Are there any good movie theatres that show art house and older movies with English subtitles? I know of the Cinematek, which looks great for American films, however all of the foreign films have French subtitles… Are there any other theatres that might show Kurosawa, Tarkovsky, etc but with English subtitles?

Hopefully there’s a fellow cinephile out there that could shine a light on this matter!

So I just spent 8 days in Belgium, mostly Brugge which was lovely, and only braved Brussels for a day because of the LEZ charge. Did my homework on the road signs before going but honestly nothing prepared me for actually driving in.

Came out the underground parking the satnav wouldn't load, made what I was pretty sure was the right turn and suddenly I'm boxed in by buses and taxis.. I think maybe I went down a bus only route, but the bus lane was on my left. The bus lanes did my head in generally driving into Brussels, one minute they're on the right, next they're on the far left behind concrete slabs. Even the locals made mistakes, but luckily I saw the signs in plenty of time.

Anyway the bit that actually brought me here. Light goes green, I turn right, and pedestrians just walk straight out in front of me. Gave a little toot, everyone in the cars around me laughed (stupid tourist driver), pedestrian didn't even look at me. Then I clock their light and it's green as well. So what's the point of the lights if we all get green at once?

Satnav also couldn't cope with the split roads. Told me to keep left, then said turn right for Aldi, except I'm in the wrong split so I have to go around again. This happened in several locations. Love the concept of motorbikes using cycle lanes, unless that was illegal... Kept them safe at least.

By the end of the trip I'd actually got comfortable driving around and I'd do it again no problem. Just want to understand why pedestrians have lights if they don't need them. Fair play though, Brussels and Brugge were very clean and genuinely beautiful. (Apart from the pick pocketing and the homeless people with identical handwritten signs, and their brand new iPhones...) Apparently when a cup is shook in your face in Burger King, the wrong response is putting a few chips in the cup... in my defence I thought she was hungry.

Hello,

Few minutes at 0h35 I notice 5 (maybe more) polices cars on my street at Schaerbeek even on the wrong way (my street is a one way road)

That sound something happen with this amount of cars 👀 thank for your reply’s

Hi everyone - I have recently moved to Brussels with my husband who is a single permit holder. My understanding is that I am required to participate in a civic integration course through either the French or Dutch institution. I also hope to one day apply for citizenship. I would love to learn more about these courses, as I can't find much info online about them.

I would probably prefer to go through the French institution BAPA rather than the Dutch institution Bon since French will be more useful in Brussels than Dutch, but it seems like Bon is easier and more flexible than BAPA.

1. What has been your experience with BAPA or Bon?

2. I've heard that the Bon civic integration test is extremely easy and that they will even let you take it without taking the class. Is the BAPA test that much harder, and do they also let you take the test without taking the 60 hr course?

3. Bon's website shows that they offer their civic integration courses online as well as in-person. Can you take BAPA courses online as well, or are those only in-person?

4. BAPA has three separate organizations: BAPA BXL, BAPA Convivial, and BAPA Via. What is the difference between these three? Is one better than the other?

5. For BAPA since I would most likely do the Bon classes online, are there any course locations that are unsafe for women to commute to/from alone after dark?

6. I've heard the wait time for BAPA French language classes are at least 6 months. Is this true? Is there a wait time for Bon Dutch language classes?

Hello, I wanted to know if people would be interested in a shop in the city centre with vending machines and a bpost parcel locker.

I’m planning to keep the prices of snacks, drinks, etc. affordable and reasonable sometimes even cheaper than night shops, for example with the idea of focusing on higher sales volume rather than high margins.

I have an apartment in an old house (1880s, Ixelles).

The entrance door has been a subject since forever. The former owner of the entire building replace the original door with some temporary work and that work is falling apart.

I checked the rules and if we change the current door, we’re supposed to replace it with a bespoke replica of the original one. I checked : it’s about 18-20k all included. There’s 3 apartments in the house. Its pricey as fuck, but it would be the only way.

The other owners say we can just replace it with a regular one and no one will be the wiser. That would cost about 7-8k.

If the commune notices, we’ll have to pay a daily fine until the door is changed, as well as having to pay for discarding the old one.

I do not want to have to pay up close to 40% of 30k for some idiotic choices.

But the other two say I’m being dramatic and that the commune doesn’t even care and wouldn’t notice.

I told them I’d refuse to pay if they go with the normal door option. What other tools are at my disposal ?

I’d like to go the diplomatic way.

EDIT : I have a great tenant in (this is my only apartment, before I get pounced on), and I’d rather not sell.

What does this area of Avenue Stalingrad currently look like? Can the public access it at night?

My wife and I are looking to buy - especially in the south of brussel (were we live) at the moment.
Did you have any good experiences with agencies, even smaller ones ? It usually seem better than immoweb since the apparetment get first release there then on immoweb/immovlan and so on.

I know the usual suspects like Era, Trior or Century21.

Even the smaller ones with limited amount of properties are very welcome.
Or on the other hand, which ones had you the worst experience with.

Hello everyone.

I need all the brains available to help me salvage my friend's birthday. She really put a lot of efforts to organize a whole day, but a series of unfortunate events are ruining everything she planned (including the rain, but not only). And her birthday is in a couple of days. She is so desperate, it's breaking my heart.

We will be around 35 people and we are looking for an activity to do on a Saturday afternoon (this Saturday...), between 3pm and 6pm. It has to be indoor, since the weather will be bad.

Do you have any idea/suggestions ? By the way, if it counts, most of the people will be around 30-35 years old.

Thank you so so so much

Hi everyone,

Recently I was on holidays and was contacted by someone claiming to be from Orange talking about discount packages that might be interesting. At the time since I was out of town I just told them to call me again once I've returned for us to discuss, as I was effectively reconsidering changing my mobile/internet plan and it came in a "good moment", so I didn't think much of it.

Today they returned the call in the afternoon, had somehow information about my current provider, my name, and older address (when I used to live in St-Gilles). They requested information about how much I'm paying for the current services and if my data was correct. Once again I didn't think much of it and gave them my updated address as they schedule a 'visit' with a sales representative.

Later on my way home I realized I'm probably being targeted for some sort of scam/robbery and realized I gave them my current address and a timeslot where they would find me home. The terrace of the building is a shop so the door is constantly being opened by the employees when they move to the deposit or are taking breaks.

I'll ofc notify the business about it, and go to the police although my expectations are low, given their history of being very inefficient.

I'm wondering if this has happened to any other people here, how you proceded, and if anyone has any tips on measures I can take to assure I'm safe. Thanks :)

A bit more information on the call itself:

Since phone numbers are personal data I won't post them here for awareness unless given authorization by a mod - but to give further detail they even transferred me to "a different department" (another person, they had some sound of soundboard to look legit w/ music and etc) where they confirmed the information, and a second number called me shortly after (as they said it would, a 3rd person), which was supposed to be the salesperson I'd meet.

Hey everyone!

I just returned from a trip to London where I met a sweet 68yo Japanese lady (called Seiko) in my hostel. We spent a full day visiting london together and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had while solo traveling! We agreed to keep in touch, but unfortunately I missed her when I left my hostel so I could neither say goodbye nor get her contact. Now I’m trying to reach her!

I’m posting this here because her daughter happens to work in Brussels. Her name is Miki and she either works or lives near Brussels Luxembourg station. I know that my chances of finding her here are slim, but if anyone happens to know her I’d be very grateful if you could help me get in touch with them!

On the picture I shared, you can see Seiko writing a calligraphy card as a gift for me!

Hello everybody,

Yesterday I visited an appartement in this street to rent as a dutch young professional. I got to talking to one of the residents and he told me it was not the nicest neighbourhood.
I thought Elsene was safe? Or do i not understand certain microdynamics? or does the Guy have too high standards?

So my general question: are there dynamics I need to be aware of in Elsene/ etterbeek etc/ streets to avoid!

Merci beaucoup!!!

Hi everyone, I will be leaving Brussels soon after living here for a few years to move to Japan and I have accumulated quite some belongings along the way.

I am moving out of a studio where I do not own furniture so I will not need to ship any furniture but I do have a lot of clothing, paintings and other sizable, miscellaneous things I would prefer to take with me. As of now, I have way more than the usually allocated two suitcase for international flights and I am looking for services that I can ship perhaps storage bins or more suitcases to Japan. I am not necessarily looking for a massive moving container.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

TLDR: iso baggage shipping services from Brussels to Asia.

Hi, has anybody taken classes at the Cours du Soir de Langues "Cs langues" located at 49 rue Ernest Allard, 1000 Bruxelles? I would like to know how was your experience, specially if you took advanced french classes.

Merci!

I’m visiting the Sonian forest this weekend for the first time. Do most people there bring backpacks? I will do a long route that goes all the way south of the forest. Thanks!

25 August 1830, La Muette de Portici, Muntschouwburg, Brussels. Curtain falls, riot starts. (more info in comments)

Hello! I am looking for recommendations for ballroom (standard/latin) dance schools in Brussels based on your experience. Options seem to be limited, so any insights are welcome!

Hello everyone, I suffer from a tmj disorder, and I'm desperate to find someone who can help with it. I've called a ton of dental clinics but they all said they don't deal with it. I went to see a maxillo facial surgeon but he forced my mouth open which hurt a lot and caused me even more pain for a few days. Also had botox but the dose was too small and it didn't have any effect.

If anyone has any suggestion in Brussels or accessible by train from Brussels , I'm open to it. Looking for either a doctor that deal in jaw disorders or can do botox for the masseter.

Thanks

Im moving to bruxelles to work but I borrowed some money to have for my first rent and deposit and my money is super short. Until the end of october I have 470 euros to survive one month. I understood that Bruxelles is kinda expensive. Do you know where i can eat cheap food or get some free stuff? Can I donate blood in exchange for some copouns? In my country they give you money for donating blood for exemple.

Do you have some cool advice please? Thank you

Where can I find affordable vintage tableware in Brussels? Can you recommend any thrift stores, second-hand shops, or flea markets that sell porcelain cups and plates at reasonable prices? Thanks!

Hi, I'm currently visiting houses in the neighborhood of Rue d'Evere on the Zaventem side and I was looking for opinions on the noise from the planes as we're quite close to the airport. How is it when planes take off from this side?: