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

The next Serve the City Brussels Second-hand English Book Sale will set up shop at the UrSquare – The Hall in Ixelles on Saturday 12 September 2026. This indoor location, close to Serve The City’s Brussels HQ, is at Avenue de la Couronne/ Kroonlaan 227 in Ixelles/ Elsene.

Enjoy browsing in a great environment, bring your old books and/or buy others. You will find fiction, non-fiction and children’s books! at a bargain price! The books will be sold by the centimetre at just €1 per cm.

Books will be on sale from 10h00 to 15h30 and books can be donated between 10h00 and 12h00 at Fritz Toussaintstraat 8, 1050 Brussels.

More details on the Serve the City website.

On the evening of Friday 11 September, a new community group, Plentiful Productions, will present a musical entertainment ‘Bon Voyage’ at St Antony’s in Kraainem featuring twelve songs across four continents. All proceeds from the evening will benefit two of our favourite local charities: the Community Health Service (CHS) and Serve The City Brussels.

The concert will open on the yellow brick road and close with Cole Porter waving us off. In between: a Gilbert & Sullivan crew putting to sea, Offenbach's Paris, Willie Nelson on the highway, a Flemish sailor watching the lights of the Scheldt come into view, and a moon that somebody wants to be flown to.

Doors open at 19h00 and the concert starts at 20h00 with a social continuing until 22h00. Tickets cost €10 for adults and €5 for children and advance booking is encouraged.

In addition to the music, food and refreshments from around the world will be available to purchase before and after the performance. Note this will be a cash only event.

For more information visit the Plentiful Productions Facebook page or email PP's Community Lead, Elizabeth Flynn, to reserve your tickets now.

Plentiful Productions (PP) aims to bring people together through live music — celebrating community, showcasing local talent, and raising funds for organisations that support neighbours facing hard times.

Led by musicians and volunteers, PP stages concerts in churches and community venues across Brussels and surrounding communes. Every event is open to all. When a concert is held for a cause, all profits go directly to the selected charities.

Since 1986, the Scottish Weekend has brought a unique mix of music, culture, and traditions to the Landcommanderij Alden Biesen in the east of Belgium. After nearly four decades, this popular event, this year taking place on 4 to 6 September, has a new name and identity: Highland Life.

The new name reflects the evolution of the event as a broad folk and family festival at the historic location of Alden-Biesen. For 2026 the three-day programme has been further expanded with several new elements.

A brand-new Highland Lifestyle Fair allows visitors to discover craftsmanship, culture, products, and inspiration from the broader Highland and folk world.

A Whisky Bar provides an atmospheric spot on the castle grounds where visitors can taste, discover, and enjoy the iconic Highland spirit at their own pace.

And the Highland Games are now open for everyone. For the first time, the organisers are allowing groups of friends, sports clubs, professional teams, and other enthusiasts to participate in our Highland Games, which guarantee fun and team spirit.

But familiar highlights remain, such as the Belgian Pipe Band Championship , the traditional Scottish music and dance demonstrations, and numerous activities for young and old.

For much more information, including tickets, click here: https://www.highlandlife.be

My name is Edwin Dizdaric, and I'm a PhD researcher at Ghent University. I'm currently recruiting participants for a study on how young adults (20-25 years old, currently living in Belgium) talk about identity, belonging, and mental wellbeing.

I'm looking for two groups in particular: people who spent their entire childhood in one place in Belgium, and people who grew up moving between different countries.

I've attached a flyer with a QR code, and the direct link is here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/nva0XRxv20

I'd be happy to answer any questions, and I'm very grateful for any help spreading the word.

Edwin Dizdaric
PhD Researcher, Ghent University
edwin.dizdaric@ugent.be
+32 468 35 23 47

https://www.ticketmaster.be/artist/a-night-in-clara-s-dreams-a-nutcracker-gala-tickets/1441404

With the summer well underway and the kids off school One question comes up in our community again and again: "What is there to do this weekend?"

One of the best resources we've found is 365.be, a free guide packed with hundreds of ideas for days out across Brussels and southern Belgium. It covers museums, castles, gardens, wildlife parks, caves, breweries, abbeys, citadels, family attractions, walking ideas, heritage sites and much more. 

Even after living here for years, its possible to discover places you've never heard of.

You can search the site by:

• Province

• Theme

• Type of attraction

• Family-friendly activities

• Museums and heritage

• Outdoor adventures

• Seasonal events

It is a brilliant resource whether you are new to Belgium or have lived here for decades.

The site also offers a free digital guide and highlights more than 250 official tourist attractions and museums across Brussels and Wallonia. 

Have a look here: 365.be - An attraction for every day of the year

If you discover somewhere special, come back and share it with the community. Hidden gems are often the best recommendations of all.

And if you are looking for an adventure in the north of Belgium the VisitFlanders website is the place to start.

Bon voyage! Goede reis!

In November 2025, the UK Government announced the enforcement of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 25 February 2026, which included information about the requirements for dual nationality citizens. This has inspired a number of questions from UK nationals resident in Belgium. At the BBCA AGM on 21 May members had the opportunity to put questions to HM Ambassador Anne Sherriff on this and other subjects. The article below gives advice on ETA, dual nationality and travel to/ from the UK from the Embassy and closes with a summary of relevant  parts of the Q&A session from 21 May.

British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA. Dual British citizens are exempt from needing an ETA, but are expected to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK. You can renew your British passport via: GOV.UK

This is a requirement for all British citizens regardless of other nationality and is similar to the approach taken by other countries, including the United States, Australia and Canada.

The UK Government recognises that this is a significant change for carriers and travellers, and have therefore provided additional temporary guidance to carriers on possible alternative documentation, including expired passports issued in 1989 or later and alongside a valid non-visa national third country passport where biographic details match. It is an operational decision (i.e. down to the carrier) whether carriers accept alternative proof, and if so, what alternative proof they will accept.

The UK is moving to a modernised ‘digital permission’ system where international carriers are required to confirm, through automated checks against Home Office records, that passengers have valid permission or status to travel to the UK. All carriers (e.g. airlines, maritime and rail) have now been equipped with the necessary tools to verify travel permission via automated digital checks with the Home Office.

It is strongly recommended that passengers should obtain a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement to ensure the smoothest travel experience.

Matching biographic details, maiden names etc

Given the advice above with respect to the use of a valid non-visa national third country passport where biographic details match, there have been questions about the use of maiden name or non-matching names in passports (see Q&A below too).

British nationals can seek support directly from His Majesty’s Passport Officer (HMPO) and/or consult public guidance on gov.uk for further information: Names: aligning names on foreign documents - GOV.UK

HMPO also has a telephone help line (+44 300 222 0000). Further details can be found on the gov.uk website: Passport advice and complaints - GOV.UK

Q&A session with the Ambassador from our AGM on 21 May 2026

Q: There is confusion at the borders of Dunkirk, Calais and Gare du Midi etc on which passport to use.

A: Travellers should use the same passport as they exited the country when they return, but always show your Belgian ID / residence card.

Q: Can a dual national travel to UK without a valid UK passport?

A: UK nationals exempt from ETA requirements must prove their status by having a UK passport or certificate of entitlement. The government recognizes flexibility is required during the change and the use of out-of-date passports (post 1989) can be accepted at the UK Customs border. However, be aware some carriers have their own rules.

Q: Can I travel to UK with an Irish passport?

A: UK has a special rule for free movement between UK and Ireland.

Q: What if passports have different names (maiden / married names)?

A: When applying for a UK passport you can request a remark to explain this difference.

Calling all cricket fans and the ‘cricket curious’ in Belgium. An array of international cricket superstars are in Belgium this week playing in the inaugural EU T20 cricket competition. Players include Moeen Ali (pictured below in action for Antwerp Anchors), Jason Roy, James Vince, Alex Hales, Faf du Plessis, Shoaib Malik and many more.

EUT20 Belgium is a professional T20 (20 overs/ 120 balls per side) franchise cricket league in Belgium organised by Destino Legends Sports LLC in partnership with the Belgian Cricket Foundation. Approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) the competition is the first of its kind in continental Europe.

Five teams are competing representing five cities in Belgium: Akcel United Brussels, Ghent Gladiators, Liege Red Lions, JB Bruges, and Antwerp Anchors.

All matches take place at the Hofstade sports ground just south of Mechelen.

The tournament started on 6 June and culminates this weekend with final round matches on 11, 12 and 13 June and the Final itself on Sunday 14 June from 16h30.

More information, including how to get (very reasonably priced) tickets, here. 

On the evening of Friday 19 June, the Spanish group of the Femmes d'Europe Association invites you to a very special event where art and solidarity come together to create a truly unforgettable experience, held in celebration of the Association’s 50th anniversary.

Flamenco will take centre stage, featuring a powerful, emotional and beautifully expressive performance combining dance, singing and live music. 

All proceeds from the event will be fully dedicated to assisting those most vulnerable, particularly women and children.

“Fâmes de la Terre” is much more than a performance: it is an invitation to share culture, sensitivity and social commitment in a warm, carefully curated and authentic atmosphere, accompanied by a selection of tapas and beverages.

For more details see the poster below with QR link for tickets.

 

The Caledonian Society of Brussels has announced that their St. Andrew’s Ball will be back for 2026 and will take place on Saturday 28 November. The venue will be the Steigenberger Wiltcher’s Hotel on Avenue Louise in Brussels and a ticket to the  ball will include a welcome drink, a three-course meal including wine and haggis, Scottish country dancing, musical entertainment and an open bar after the meal.

The CalSoc St Andrew’s Ball returned to Brussels last year, after a break of over ten years, and was a great success, with over 180 people attending. It was a great evening - from the wonderful hotel, the good food, the raffle with a huge range of fantastic prizes through to the lively dancing provided by the original Brussels-based Scottish ceilidh band, The Hoggies! No previous Scottish dancing experience is necessary as all dances will be explained on the night

Since capacity is limited, and the ball sold out by the end of June last year, grab a ticket asap! To register your interest, send an email to calsocbrussels@gmail.com , including your contact details. The CalSoc will then get back to you with payment instructions. Once payment is received, your seat at the ball will  be confirmed subject to availability.

Ticket prices are €150 each or €1450 for a table of 10.