European Culture

**Brussels Saint Patrick’s Europe Day Parade** **of the Nations & Regions:** On Sunday 15 March,2026 the Saint Patrick's Day Committee of Irish in Europe Association organise the 18th annual Brussels Saint Patrick´s Day Parade of the Nations & Regions. Starting from Halles Saint Géry and will be at the Grand Place at 3.30 pm. Assembling at Les Halles Saint Gery at 1.00pm and moving off at 13.30. The 17th of March is the national holiday of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in every corner of the world and parades take place in over 140 cities annually where Irish communities have settled. These global celebrations are a symbolic of the impact that a small country has had through the movement of its people. The parade is centrally important as it brings different aspects of Irish art, music and culture out into the public sphere and invites everyone, Irish or not, to celebrate positive values of inclusion, openness and community. For Brussels, the parade highlights the city's position as diverse, international capital and strengthens the bonds between two small European countries with a lot of shared history. In recognition of Brussels being the capital of Belgium, Flanders, and the European Union, we aim to have our Parade, as in New York, to be truly a ´Melting Pot´ Parade of many cultures that the Irish bring together for one day in the year, invite everyone to ´´Wear the Green´- the symbolic colour of Ireland ´and be Irish on the day. It is for this reason that our multicultural Parade in Brussels aims to be a Parade of the Nations & Regions Our Parade will again be a historical stroll of discovery that will not only celebrate Irish culture but also help promote the architectural heritage of Brussels. Many people in Belgium and around the world will learn, from the Parade publicity about the Brussels of the past and present, its little-known side-streets and cobbled squares bedecked by its century’s old monuments. Along the Parade route, we will embrace the stories of the past, the local customs, and the traditions of the historic streets. As an evolution of these stories, we will weave in the Irish story to create new Irish traditions and ceremonies that will become the Brussels stories of tomorrow and for generations to come. Brussels Saint Patrick´s Day Parade starting at Les Halles Saint Géry. **Every one welcome to ‘Wear the Green’' &‘Be Irish & for the Day’!!!!** On Sunday 15 March Led by the Brussels Caledonian (Corneymusers) Pipe Band. Concert Band Landen, and the LJM Street Band( Lazy jazzmen) Individuals Music & Dance Groups, Social, Sporting and Cultural organisations welcome to walk in Parade-No entry fee! Groups & organisations please let us know you are walking in Parade!!! Write to: Parade Secretary: patricks.day.parade(at)gmail.com Organised by Europe Association (International) aisbl (IEAI). info(at)irishineurope.org • What to bring Come along ´Wear the Green´´and be Irish for the Day!! Cultural and Civic Society groups of all nationalities are welcome to attend and walk in the Parade.. Only rule, no Party political slogans on banners are allowed. Everyone Welcome! If you would like to help out in the organisation of the Parade or know of any group that could participate in the Parade,please contact our Parade Secretary at: patricks.day.parade(at)gmail.com If you wish to help the Parade in any way, please contact the Parade Committee at [patricks.day.parade@gmail.com](http://mailto:patricks.day.parade@gmail.com/) Donations to: Irish in Europe Association International -IEAI Bank transfer to the IEAI Bank Account by using these details: Account name: IEAI, held at Crelan, Parc 50Naire IBAN BE82 8601 1591 3968 When you make a donation, please confirm to [info@irishineurope.org](http://mailto:info@irishineurope.org/) to allow a receipt to be issued to you. Details of the Parade Route Map will be available on [www.irishineurope.org](http://www.irishineurope.org/) on 11 March. Details of the Parade Grand Marshal, Parade Ceremonies, pre-parade and post-parade concerts/workshops can be viewed closer to parade date on [https://www.meetup.com/Irish-in-Europe/](https://www.meetup.com/Irish-in-Europe/) .

Installation of Brigid Laffan, 18th Grand Marshal of the Brussels Saint Patrick's Day Parade of the Nations & Regions , Brigid is Chancellor of the University of Limerick, and Emeritus Professor of the European University Institute. You are welcome to attend this installation ceremony.

Brigit Laffan , Chancellor of the University of Limerick and Professor Emeritus of the European University Institute has been selected as the Grand Marshal of the 18th Brussels Saint Patrick's Day Parade of the Nations & Regions in recognition of her life-long contribution to the ' European Project' The UL Alumni are hosting a Meet-up to celebrate her selection. Everyone is well come to attend this event . Students who may be considering to study in Ireland are encouraged to attend , Also taking place in the same building will be the Cork Jazz Festival Club of Brussels, Irish & Limerick Evening and the write a limerick poetry event organised by Claddagh Toastmasters of Brussels . Admission is free for all events. Self-service restaurant and bar open .

A Pre-Saint Patricks Day Parade music recital with Pedro Gonzaga on piano with a repertoire of Classical & Contemporary Music from different Nations & Regions. Pedro is a talented musician from Portugal, he has been an outstanding student at the University of Porto where he became the youngest doctorate at the age of 23. He speaks English,French and Portuguese fluently. Against a backdrop of academic excellence and an outstanding career, music is his hobby and he loves to play piano and entertain. Enjoy the music in beautiful historic surroundings with a morning coffee, herbal tea or smoothie served at Café Des Halles-Invite your friends along! Admission Free. Everyone is Welcome .

**Claddagh Toastmasters of Brussels Social & ‘Write a Limerick’ Soirée** As part of the Brussels Saint Patrick’s Day Parade of the Nations & Regions celebrations, the city of Limerick on the Shannon river in the Midwest of Ireland is honoured with the presentation of the Limerick Shamrock Bowl to the City of Brussels during the Brussels Saint Patrick’s Day Parade of the Nations & Regions. After the Parade there is Irish & Limerick evening at Les Halles Saint Géry with a Trad Irish & Folk session. Claddagh Toastmasters of Brussels as part of this evening organise a social evening & ‘Write a Limerick’ Soirée from 6pm. Prior to this there is a lively Jazz Session from 5pm. Everyone Welcome, Admission Free. A Limerick is a humorous poem consisting of five lines with a specific rhythm and rhyme scheme. To write a Limerick, start with the first, second, and fifth lines rhyming with each other, while the third and fourth lines form a shorter rhyming pair. Typically, the syllable pattern is 8-8-5-5-8, which gives the poem its distinctive bouncy feel. Begin by thinking of a funny or unexpected topic, then craft your lines to fit the AABBA rhyme scheme. Use playful language, and don’t be afraid to be a bit silly—Limericks often feature clever wordplay and light-hearted content. Once you’ve drafted your poem, read it aloud to ensure the rhythm flows smoothly and the rhymes work together. If you cannot attend the event, you can submit your Limerick to Claddagh Toastmasters of Brussels claddagh.toastmasters\*\*(at)\*\*gmail.com. It will then be read out a the Claddagh Event. No profanities, offensive language entries will not be accepted or read. You must state it is an original work and your own creation and or without human co—writers, You must state if if is AI Generated. Topics could be Brussels,living in Belgium or some current topic affair. Bar and self-service restaurant at venue. Some examples of Limericks below . In Brussels, the streets turn to green, Saint Patrick’s Day brings quite the scene. With flags waving high, The parade marches by, And laughter and joy fill the sheen. In Brussels, where Guinness flows fast, Claddagh Toastmasters stand unsurpassed. With Irish charm they speak, Public speaking at its peak, The best club in town—unsurpassed! There once was a grand Irish parade, Where nations and regions displayed, In Brussels they danced, With flags all entranced, Saint Patrick’s green proudly portrayed. Claddagh Toastmasters helps you to develop your skills in public speaking, planning, leadership training, and managing your time. They aim is to provide a fun and social environment in which to practice your skills. You are invited to Claddagh Toastmasters, guests are most welcome and bring a friend if you wish. Meet on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month. Admission Free. You need also to register by email, as seats are limited. See email registration details below. Welcome coffee at 6.45 pm. Meeting starts at 7pm sharp. You ring the Claddagh designated bell to gain entry. We meet on the ground floor. Please note our venue: The Mug Co-working & Meeting Rooms Centre, Rue Charles Martel 8, Brussels 1000,

more info to follow but everyone is welcome and admission is free

Performance inside Les Halles Saint Géry after the parade between 16.30 and 17.00. Outdoor Performances outside Les Halles Saint Géry at 13.00 and along parade route . Performances at review stand the Grand Place from 15.30 and 15.

Saint Patrick's day Arts and Crafts Workshop at Les Halles Saint Géry Cultural Centre on day of Brussels Saint Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday 15 March between 10.30am and 1pm. All children of all nationalities welcome to attend. Admission free. Let your children enjoy the face painting for the Parade and exercise their creativity with the colouring workshops. We still need creative people help organise more children activities, if you can help lets us know at patricks.day.parade@gmail.com The Workshop Main Co-ordinators: Ian Nolan eonua@proton.me Ian Nolan is an Irish artist based in Brussels. Recently graduated from the Dutch Art Institute fine arts masters program, Ian works with storytelling, music; facilitating community projects and workshops that explore landscape, language and memory as a basis for cultivating community resilience and resistance. Ian is also a tour guide here in Brussels and shortly he will launch a guided tour of the historical route of Brussels Saint Patrick's Day Parade of the Nations & Regions. He is a member of the Cultural Movement for Palestine and plays irregularly with (non-local) noise band, Tyranny of Silence. Özge Yalnız ozgeyalniz@outlook.com Özge Yalnız is an architect with a special interest in heritage conservation. Originally from Turkiye, Özge has studied Conservation of Monuments and Sites at KU Leuven and contributed to projects on architectural conservation and documentation in both Niel and Herent. Based in Brussels, Özge continues to work freelance. She hopes this colouring workshop will inspire younger generations to take a playful interest in the diversity and quirkiness of architectural heritage in Brussels City. We will also like to thank Amanda Mejia and our other volunteers who are helping with this workshop and will be listed in our Volunteer Roll of Honour after the Parade.

Spring is doing its yearly cameo in Brussels, so we’re stealing the good weather for a **garden BBQ**: grill smoke, laughs, games of cards, new friends, and language switching mid-sentence like civilized chaos. The goal is easy language practice, meeting new people, and having a good time. This is a **bring & share** setup: you show up with something tasty, you leave with new words, new people ### **The vibe** * Backyard BBQ, relaxed and social * Language exchange baked into the night (talk, eat, switch languages, repeat) * Cultural food is strongly encouraged: bring your “this is what we eat at home” item ### **Languages** Host are fluent in **English, Italian, French, Spanish**, **Tamoul, German.** If you speak anything else, bring it. We collect languages like Pokémon. ### **What to bring (Bring & Share)** * Food + drinks for you **AND** something to share * Bonus points for something from your culture * If you’re bringing veggie stuff, make it something people actually want to eat. ### **If you don’t want to bring food** Message the host in WhatsApp. You can pay a **small fee** instead and still eat like a functional adult. ### **Contribution** **€2 per person** to cover wood/charcoal. Yes, even in 2026 humans still pay for fire. ### **Location (shared privately)** The address is shared **only** with confirmed RSVPs who: 1. Join the CLUB WhatsApp chat 2. Send a quick intro: first name + languages + what you’re into WhatsApp link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/F2hTxZ4TT3hHICiihX1Efy ### **Rules (because humans)** * **Not a dating meetup.** * This is not an “NPC meetup” where everyone tiptoes around like they’re negotiating a hostage release. People can talk freely and share opinions. **No censorship, no tone-policing, no drama farming.** * **No creeps. No harassment. No pushing after a “no.” No weird DMs.** * Respect the host’s home, neighbors, and the group. * If you act shady, you’re out. Simple.

Post Parade Jazz Session **17.00 -18.00** **Cork Jazz Festival Club of Brussels** with LJM Street Band (Lazy Jazzmen) Promoting the Ryanair Brussels South Charleroi Airport to Cork Airport in Ireland's sunny South. Admission Free, Kitchen and Bar open.

## 🌍 About the experience This Sunday we travel to the Belgian coast to explore one of the most fascinating historical sites in Belgium: **Atlantikwall Raversyde**. Hidden in the dunes near **Ostend**, this open-air museum preserves more than **60 bunkers, trenches and underground passages** from the German Atlantic Wall built during **World War II**. Unlike many other sites, the complex remained buried in sand after the war, which helped preserve it almost intact. Walking through the trenches and bunkers gives a powerful glimpse into the reality of the coastal defenses of the time. After the visit, we will enjoy a **relaxing walk along the North Sea coast**, explore the dunes, and finish the afternoon with **drinks or food in Ostend**. As always with Sunday Vacations, the idea is simple: **discover places, meet interesting people, and enjoy the moment together.** --- ## 🗺️ Plan for the day • Meet at **Brussels central train station and travel to Oostende** • Coastal tram to Raversyde • Visit of **Atlantikwall Raversyde museum** • Walk through the dunes and along the beach • Optional food or drinks in Ostend before returning Walking distance: ~6–8 km (easy pace) --- ## 🎟️ Entrance Museum ticket: approx **€10** --- ## 🚆 Getting there Train from **Brussels → Ostend** (about 1h15). Many participants usually take the same train from Brussels. Exact suggestions will be posted in the comments closer to the event. --- ## 👥 Who is this event for? Sunday Vacations events bring together **international professionals, expats and curious locals** who enjoy discovering places and meeting new people in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Expect a welcoming and open-minded group 🌍 --- ## 💛 Participation As a reminder, participation requires either the **organizing fee** or a **membership**: 🔹 **Explorer members** → €5 organizing fee 🔹 **Voyager & Ambassador members** → organizing fee included 🔹 **Not yet a member?** → please complete the **€5 yearly membership** 👉 Your **first activity is free**, so no organizing fee once you join. Membership helps us run the community, ensure safety and organize quality events. --- ## ⚠️ Important • Please register only if you really plan to attend. • Bring comfortable shoes (part of the visit is outdoors). • Weather on the coast can change quickly — bring a jacket. --- ## 🌟 About Sunday Vacations **Sunday Vacations** is an international community bringing together global professionals through shared adventures. Our motto: **Living the moment.**

Hey Brussels Sprouts!! **Our Language Exchange Event is coming up!! 🌍** We will have five language tables: **French, Dutch, English, Spanish, and Italian.** Each table will host around **2–5 participants**, **Participants rotate every 15–30 minutes** and you are welcome to move freely between tables to practice different languages. Native speakers are especially encouraged to join and share their language and culture! **Contribution to Our Events** Starting this year, we kindly ask participants to contribute in one of the following ways: **€5** per event, or **€40** annual membership fee If you feel like supporting us beyond this, to help people who can’t afford it, you are very welcome to do so 💛 If the contribution is a concern for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly 😉 **These contributions will help us:** * Cover the annual Meetup platform fee * Encourage everyone to respect RSVPs (We experienced a high number of no-shows at several events last year, which made organization more difficult.) * We will donate 10% collected fees to support Queer oriented organisations in the end of the year. Bank details: Yifei Yang BE12363234512492 Communication: your name+ event/membership **To make sure your spot is reserved, please complete your registration once you sign up.** We will prioritize those who have completed the registration process. Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation. **Cheers!** 🥂 Brussels Sprouts 🇧🇪🥬💚

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **This is a curated, small-group meetup make new friends in Brussels.** Each meetup brings together 4–6 like-minded people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to organize and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com](https://groupvibe.com) Once you register, and **buy a ticket or become a Groupvibe member**, we’ll share the exact location and match you with your group. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier \* Matching helps avoid awkward dynamics **Note:** RSVPs here on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. This meetup is organized by **Groupvibe**, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

* This is a Free Walking Tour. Participants are welcome to join and pay what they want at the end of the experience. Cash is appreciated but PayPal also works. * We will walk around 5 km in the centre of Brussels, please plan accordingly to the weather and your particular needs. It is also advised to arrive 10 minutes in advance so we can start on time. * The explanations will be done in English. * An informative booklet will be provided to the participants so they can get a better sense of what they are looking at during each stop. **Did you know that there is a neighbourhood in Brussels where a funeral was held to celebrate Hitler's death?** Unlike many major European cities, Brussels suffered relatively little destruction to its infrastructure and historical heritage during Nazi Germany ocupation, yet its citizens did not escape suffering. Ordinary people had to find ways not only to survive, but also to keep alive the hope that freedom would one day return. Beyond the delicious beer and perfectly cooked fries, Brussels hides many stories of resistance, bravery, and sacrifice. This tour was created to give voice to those stories, which form a compelling testimony of a city that stood tall in the face of hatred and death. Walking around the city center, I will introduce you to some of the main places that marked the **Nazi presence in Brussels.** We will explore how black markets flourished in response to scarcity and hunger, how Nazi propaganda spread through the city, and the risks some people took to shelter persecuted Jews and save them from extermination. By the end of the tour, participants will leave with a richer, more human understanding of the EU’s capital city.

We thought of one of the interesting things that can be enjoyed at this time of the year. We will be meeting at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for a "Fish Fry" in Marian Hall on Friday, March 27th at 5:00 PM. It might be fun for you to experience what has become a tradition on the Fridays before Easter. They will have fried fish or baked fish, French fries and Cole slaw, as well as beverages, all for $16.00 for adults. They will have other beverages and desserts available for sale, as well. We have never tried this, and sometimes there are quite a few people at these events so we hope that we will be able to find each other easily. I'll try to have signs outside Marian Hall that Identify our group. We hope to have you join us!

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

The aim of this group is to get together and practice our German. Doesn’t matter if are a beginner or a native speaker. The goal is to speak and improve our German. Everyone is welcome! If the weather is good, look for us in the Biergarten. Pro Tip: Get there before 6:00 for happy hour pricing.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

***Okay, call me crazy but you have got to try their chip n dip!*** Club 185 is a true hidden gem in German Village! Seriously, old school, good comfort food and drink. We will try to gather in spaces near the windows. While we'll share Chip n Dip, you'll want to order a sandwich, too. **Where the Chip Began (1817)** Potato chips can be traced back to an English chef, William Kitchiner, who includes ‘crisps’ in his bestselling cookbook, “The Cook’s Oracle.” **Chip and Dip Popularity** The popularity of chip and dip skyrockets at the end of World War II with new entertainment fads and the introduction of Lipton’s new advertising campaign for their famous French Onion Dip. (Club 185 doesn't openly admit it, but I'm pretty sure that's their dip recipe!) **[Club 185](http://club185.com/)**—a true neighborhood bar serving since 1954, when it was known as a local 'speak-easy'. Located in German Village, Club 185 features a menu of quality casual comfort food and full bar. From politicians to lawyers, hardhats to hipsters—all find Club 185 the perfect place to tame their hunger and quench their thirst! **PARKING**: I know, brick street parallel parking can be a pain. Two other choices, metered parking along Livingston heading towards Children's Hospital or across the street in the large church lot (park in spaces farthest away from the church entrance doors, closer to the street). **PRE-EVENT**: **HAPPY HOUR (3-5pm)**: Italian drinks and bites at [Cento's happy hour](https://centogermanvillage.com/menus/), nearby.