News and Events -----------

Are you working in Brussels or planning to start a job here? Wondering how the Single Permit works or what rules apply to cross-border workers? On Tuesday 20 January from 12 noon to 13h30 the Expat Welcome Desk is organising an online webinar to guide you through the essential legal aspects of working in Brussels as a foreign employee. Get clear, practical insights to help you navigate your professional life with confidence!

The session, entitled ‘Foreign Workers’ Rights in Brussels: Understanding the Single Permit and Cross-Border Work Rules’, will be moderated by Selma Mitri, Legal Advisor-Manager at the Expat Welcome Desk and the speaker will be Jeroen Maes, Director, Economic Migration Department, Brussels Economy & Employment. The issues to be covered in the webinar include an introduction to the legal framework and scope, applicable procedures, conditions for granting, and some special categories.

The webinar will be in English and is free to access, but you will need to register before Friday 16 January via this form.

Please note that the number of registrations for the webinar is limited and that the session will not be recorded.

The link to access the webinar will be sent via e-mail to registrants one day before the event. Remember to check your spam box !

A magnificent concert of film music with video projections will take place on Thursday 5 February 2026 at the Woluwe-Saint-Pierre cultural centre. 150 choristers, adults and children, accompanied by the Brussels Orchestral Ensemble under the direction of talented conductor Romain Verbeeren will perform some of the most beautiful chapters of film music.

This special musical evening has been proposed and organised by the Irish and Multinational Groups of the Association Femmes d'Europe.

This show will feature a selection of some of the most memorable and moving film scores. The music, video projections and special lighting promise a magical evening for young and old alike.

Enjoy a wonderful moment of musical emotion and at the same time support the mission of Femmes d’Europe. Tickets cost € 40 for adults and € 20 for under 18s. More information and booking here.

Our January 2026 e-Newsletter has just been published and sent to our members contact list.

As ever the newsletter highlights recent community news and forthcoming exciting community events including BBCA events with a focus on our fabulous Christmas Reception that took place on 15 December!  A range of other community activities plus many dates for your diary into the New Year are also featured.

You can access a pdf copy of the newsletter here. Enjoy!

Many thanks to everyone who came to the BBCA Christmas Reception on Monday 15 December. We hope you all had a very enjoyable evening at the British Residence. Thanks to your generous purchase of raffle tickets, we were able to raise €1250 to support the work of Serve The City in Brussels.

Our thanks to Deputy Ambassador Lizzie McKinnell who was our host at The Residence. Guests were royally entertained by the usual fine food and drink and seasonal songs from the ‘Sixterhood’ plus a festive recital.

In addition to the money raised for Serve The City, the evening saw the annual presentation of cheques to support the work of BBCA ‘core’ charities: The British Charitable Fund (BCF), the Community Help Service (CHS), the Royal British Legion Brussels branch, and The Wednesday Club.

Our thanks to all the BBCA team (see above) who helped make the evening such a success, in particular Nikki, Amanda and the raffle sales team, and Tracie for organising the entertainment.

Our thanks also to our Raffle prize sponsors: Waterstones, the English Comedy Club, Crush Wine, The Bulletin, Progeny Group and Stonemanor.

You can enjoy the evening again with some photos from the event here.

We hope to see you again at one of our 2026 events. One date for your diary already is Sunday 10 May for the Spring Mothers Day event at Stonemanor Everberg, which promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Our best wishes for the rest of the Festive Period wherever you may be and a very Happy New Year from the BBCA.

On the evening of Wednesday 10 December the Arts Society Brussels is asking the question: What about Beauty? The question relates to Art Deco architecture that is often seen as a luxury movement attempting to counter purist modernism and industrial mass production.

This talk will examine the web of relations between these parallel tendencies taking a look at some fine examples of Art Deco in Brussels and the links between beauty and function, including some remarks on Henry van de Velde who 'never succumbed to the lure of Art Deco' but whose intimate modernism and theoretical concepts relate to the more indulgent architecture of the interbellum.

The speaker is Olaf Winkler who studied architecture in Aachen and Vienna and AT and is a journalist, architecture critic, editor, Brussels correspondent for db Deutsche Bauzeitung, architecture guide, and artist.

As ever, the venue will be the Maison Communale of Woluwe St. Lambert, Avenue Paul Hymans 2, 1200 Brussels. Doors open for complimentary drinks at 19h30 with the talk beginning at 20h00.

Members of the ArtSoc have free entrance, but guests can pay at the door (€15 or €8 for bona fide students) and registration to view the talk via Zoom costs €10.

More information here: https://theartssociety.org/events/what-about-beauty-art-deco-withversus-modernism

Holy Trinity Church has just published its programme of Christmas services to which all are welcomed.

On Sunday 7 December at 18h00 experience CHRISTMAS LIGHT: a Carol Service with a mixture of traditional and contemporary carols followed by Christmas refreshments.

On Sunday 14 December there will be two services featuring NINE LESSONS & CAROLS. The first at 16h00 will be a traditional Carol Service with biscuits for the children and at 19h30 there will be a traditional Carol Service followed by mulled wine and mince pies!

Christmas week itself kicks off on Sunday 21 December a special service at 18h00 - LIGHT IN DARKNESS. This will be a quiet reflective service for people who, for whatever reason, find the Christmas season difficult. This service will also be available online.

On Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, there will be a CHRISTMAS NATIVITY SERVICE FOR ALL AGES at 16h00 where all children are welcome to come dressed as angels, shepherds or even sheep!

CHRISTMAS NIGHT HOLY COMMUNION will be held from 22h00.

On Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December, there will be three services of HOLY COMMUNION. The service at 9h00 will follow the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, while the 10h30 service will be a service for all ages. Finally, a service at 15h00 will be delivered in French and English and followed by the Christmas Feast organised by the 2pm congregation.

All are welcome to the services at Holy Trinity, which is situated in central Brussels at Rue Capitaine Crespel29. For more details on the poster below and on the Holy Trinity website.

Avoid the last-minute rush at the Brussels Women's Club Christmas Fair on Saturday 29 November! Discover one-of-a-kind gifts and festive treats, including seasonal specialties, mince pies, home-baked cakes, jams and chutneys, hand-crafted decorations and wreaths, custom jewelry, children’s toys and books, cards, and so much more. Plus, enjoy delicious homemade goodies all day at the Non-Stop Café.

No need to register — just drop in to the BWC Clubhouse in Woluwe Saint Pierre between 10am and 2pm and enjoy the magic! More information here: https://brusselswomens.club/events/christmas-fair-2025/

The Association Femmes d’Europe invites you to its annual Christmas Bazaar taking place on Saturday 29 November in Brussels. This is a festive occasion where you will discover, all in one place, a brilliant selection of splendid gifts, and also support a good cause.

The venue for the Bazaar will be the European Commission buildings at Rue Joseph II 79, 1000 Bruxelles (nearest Métro Maelbeek) and the Bazaar will be open from 10h00 to 17h00.

At the Bazaar you will find gourmet delicacies from the four corners of Europe, winter accessories such as scarves, hats and shawls, artisanal leather goods and jewellery, soaps, hand knits and ornaments, a classy brocante and books for all ages, plus activities for children. The tombola will be drawn at 15h00!

Christmas is a time for sharing, discovery and generosity and every purchase will support humanitarian projects worldwide. In 2024 total charitable funds distributed by the Association Femmes d’Europe amounted to € 315 400 supporting 73 projects in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

More information here: https://www.assocfemmesdeurope.eu/BAZAR-DE-NOEL-29-Novembre

Whether you are relocating, investing, or planning your dream home abroad, understanding your borrowing options is key. To help, the Expat Welcome Desk is organising an ‘in person’ seminar at lunchtime on Thursday 20 November at their Brussels office.

The seminar will provide a clear overview of the key considerations, challenges, and available solutions related to borrowing and mortgages for expatriates in Belgium. It will share up-to-date insights and practical information to help participants better navigate the Belgian lending and mortgage environment.

To register for the seminar email contact@commissioner.brussels before 16h00 on Friday 13 November. But be quick, places are limited (60 maximum) and the session will not be live streamed or recorded.

The venue for the seminar will be the Office of the Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations (CEIO) at 63 Avenue d’Auderghem, 1040 Etterbeek.

The session will be moderated by Selma Mitri, Legal Advisor-Manager at the Expat Welcome Desk and the speakers will be Franky Van den Broucke and Nina Zynga, both from ING Belgium.

Presentations will start at 12h00 and will be followed by a Q&A session and a sandwich lunch.