How to read Brussels ?

Many expats arrive in Brussels with the feeling that the city is difficult to “read”.
Not only because of the languages, institutions or complexity, but because Brussels often feels like a maze of very different worlds that somehow coexist without fully connecting.
After years of organising Brussels Secrets walks, discussions and international explorations, I have started developing a new way of helping people get to grips with Brussels more quickly — by understanding the historical, cultural and societal patterns that still shape the city today.
I would therefore like to invite Brussels Secrets members to a special evening session at the Cercle des Voyageurs.
Theme of the evening:
“Brussels is not a city you conquer, but a city you gradually learn to read.”
During this 2-hour session, we will explore:

• why Brussels can feel confusing or fragmented at first
• why the city functions so differently from many other capitals
• how seemingly disconnected parts of Brussels actually fit together
• and how understanding these patterns can help you feel more at ease in the city and navigate it more confidently

This is not a tourist presentation, nor a traditional lecture. This evening is the first introduction to a broader Brussels immersion concept.
It is an interactive evening for curious people who want to better understand the city they currently live in.
📍 Cercle des Voyageurs – Brussels
🕰️ Duration: 2 hours
🎟️ Participation: €15
If this speaks to you, you are warmly welcome to join us. The welcome drink is waiting for you.

PS: “For those who know me: over the past year, I stepped back from Meetup activities to focus on Summer Schools and smaller international historical projects. During that period, I also started rethinking how Brussels could be explored and understood more deeply. Carl”

Join us on Wednesday from 18.45 Hrs on !
Looking forward to seeing you there and RSVP here.