Play Reading

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.

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Rejoins-nous pour découvrir le Touch Rugby sous le signe du sport, du fun et de la convivialité ! 🏉 Que tu sois débutant·e curieux·se, joueur·se occasionnel·le ou habitué·e des terrains, ce rendez-vous est ouvert à toutes et tous. Le touch rugby est un sport en plein essor sans plaquage, accessible, dynamique mais aussi inclusif et fun sur et en dehors des terrains. 💙 ✨ Au programme : * Échauffement collectif * Exercices et jeux * Développement de la condition physique * Bonne humeur, esprit d’équipe et fair-play 🎯 Venez bouger, vous amuser et partager un bon moment ensemble ! 👉 Ramène ta tenue de sport, de l’eau, et surtout ta motivation. On s’occupe du reste 💪 À très vite sur le terrain !

1. **Always RSVP before attending.** 2. **Limited spots:** RSVP does not guarantee a spot — please check if you're on the main list or the waitlist. 3. **WAITLIST notice:** Please don’t take a spot from someone who signed up in time — only attend if you’re off the waitlist. You may move to the active list if someone cancels, which can happen the day before or even on the day of game night. 4. **Be on time:** If you’re more than 20–25 minutes late, you likely can’t join a table — we won’t restart game explanations for latecomers. You may wait for the next game. 5. **Take care of the games:** The people hosting the evening kindly bring and share their own private — and often quite expensive — games. Please don’t bend the cards (these aren’t just cheap poker decks!), be gentle with the components, and make sure everything goes back neatly in the box. 6. **Be present, not on your phone:** Please give your attention when someone is explaining the rules — especially the person hosting the game, who took the time to prepare and make sure everyone can enjoy it. This is a game night, not just a casual bar hangout, so please respect their effort and the focus of the other players. 7. **No double booking:** On Wednesdays, another game night is organized at the same time by another group, the International House of Leuven (IHL). If you sign up for both events, we will automatically remove you from our list. Please don’t be rude by occupying a spot that someone else could use — respect both communities and let everyone enjoy a fair chance to join.

Welcome to our card games night. We will play on Wednesday from 19h-21h at CHEZWaWa Châtelain, a small restaurant. The address is Rue Américaine 91, 1050 Brussels. (Be careful, there also is another CHEZWaWa restaurant.) Please arrive on time. Feel free to call Bruno if you need directions or have questions at +32 485 298 713. We'll bring a selection of games, and you are welcome to bring any of your own. The restaurant serves delicious Mexican-Californian food you might wanna try. It will be available until 20h30. Our group gets a 10% discount on food. We encourage you to have at least a drink, it helps to keep the business running ;) If you like, you can also come a bit earlier for a chat or a snack. We'll be there from 18h30. Katja and Bruno

🎲 **Board Game Night – Everyone Welcome!** Join us in the heart of Antwerp for a fun-filled evening at our board game café! With over 600 board games, drinks on hand, and a welcoming crowd, it's the perfect place to meet new people, learn a game or two, and simply have a great time. Just walk in, grab a drink, pick a game and let the fun begin! 6 euro admission fee. IG: @theplaygroundgames

Romantic relationships can be exciting, comforting, confusing, intense, messy, or all of those things at once. Whether it’s communication, trust, attraction, compatibility, conflict, or simply figuring out what we truly want from a partner, navigating relationships rarely comes with a clear instruction manual. Why do some relationships thrive while others slowly fall apart? What actually makes a relationship work in the long run? And how much of love is about effort, timing, chemistry, or choice? Join us for an open and thought-provoking debate as we explore the challenges, expectations, and dynamics of modern romantic relationships. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic, a committed realist, or somewhere in between, come share your perspective! This debate will follow a British Parliamentary format with eight debaters split into four teams of two. Participants who wish to speak are highly encouraged to bring a paper and pen. You are welcome to participate even if you have no prior debating experience. ⚠️ Disclaimer: We aim for debates that are respectful, constructive, and welcoming. • Respect ideas and people: Listen actively, stay quiet while others speak, and debate arguments, not identities or beliefs. • Be concise and civil: Keep questions short and relevant; avoid hostility, hate speech, or discrimination. • Respect boundaries and time: No unwanted advances or suggestive behavior; arrive on time to avoid disrupting the debate. • Follow moderators: They guide the discussion and ensure fairness. Looking forward to seeing you there 😊

Our traditional "Join & Play" event is on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. As always, it's free to come & play with us. How does it work ? • The events are open for beginner to advanced gamers. If you're new here they're the perfect gateway to discover what we do! • Those who want to host a game are asked to share in the comments below which game, & for how many players you can run your table. • For others, if you see a game you'd like to join just respond to the host in the comments below and we'll reserve a spot for that game for you. • Don't worry if you're new to boardgames or simply don't know the games being hosted this time around; you can simply show up and the event host will sort out a spot at a table for you! *But please make sure to arrive by 19h30* at the latest *so we can take the time to find you a suitable spot.* • The rules for the games will be explained by the table host before the game starts. No need to study them upfront, although several hosts post a video link to rules or background which can enhance your enjoyment of the game if you have the time to watch beforehand. This is never mandatory, however. ============================================== Games on the night: **\-\-\-\-** **[RAJAS OF THE GANGES](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220877/rajas-of-the-ganges) \-\-\-\-** Spot 1: Geraldine (host) Spot 2: k1o4n1d Spot 3: Spot 4: **\-\-\-\-** **[NATIONAL ECONOMY](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/449831/national-economy) \-\-\-\-** Spot 1: Mislav (host) Spot 2: Frodo Spot 3: Hellen Spot 4: **\-\-\-\-** **[PARKS (2ND EDITION)](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/437306/parks-second-edition) \-\-\-\-** Spot 1: Tristan (host) Spot 2: Spot 3: Spot 4:

**🃏 WHAT WE PLAY** We focus on **social interaction games** that are **fun, easy to learn, and engaging**. * **Thursdays** and Saturday nights are for **fun, social games** like Dixit, Coup, Skull, Codenames, Colt Express, Secret Hitler, Exploding Kittens, Bang and more!… Easy to learn, quick to laugh! * **Mondays** are for **deeper strategic games**, for players who love to plan and outthink opponents. Of course, these are just guidelines — you’re always welcome to bring and play whatever game you love! *** **🕖 SCHEDULE** * We meet at **7:00 PM**, with an **intro round at 7:15 PM**. * Arriving later? No problem! Just see a host — we’ll do our best to find you a seat. You might need to wait for a game to finish before joining the next one. **🎉 Good News! BFG is Free Again** As of July 1st, 2025, BFG is once again **free to join**, just like last year! The costs of running the group are now shared by the hosts. If you enjoy the events and want to say thanks, you're very welcome to **offer a drink (or two 😉) to a host** during the evening. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us financially earlier this year — you helped keep the group going, and we truly appreciate it. 🙏 *** **🎒 WHAT TO BRING** * Bring your favorite games and feel free to mention them in the comments. * If we’re meeting in a **park**, bring snacks, drinks, and something comfy to sit on — the grass can be damp even in summer! *** **☕ IF THE VENUE IS A CAFÉ** Please order **at least one drink** to support the venue, and pay directly at the bar. *** **✅ REGISTRATION** Please RSVP to help us plan for space and group sizes. **⌛ WAITLIST ETIQUETTE** * If you can’t make it, cancel **before 7 PM the day before** to give someone else a chance. * If you're **on the waitlist** and your plans change, cancel your RSVP so others aren't left hanging. *** **🤝 WANT TO HOST?** Interested in becoming a host or helping out? Let us know — we’d love to have you on board! *** **💬 FEEDBACK WELCOME** Suggestions or ideas? Drop us a message anytime — we’re always looking to make BFG even better. *** ### **🌟 Let’s have fun, discover great** **games, and build and make new friends** *** ###

FOREST PLAY (10h-12h) The Forest Play - sessions are inclusive, nurturing and natural reconnecting events, focussing on restoring or replenishing energy, the sense of joy and personal perspective by interacting (and playing) with nature's healing elements. Combining tension-releasing stretches, easy flow-restoring exercises (using trees, branches, logs, stones, hills...), doing silent or touch meditations and playful authentic relating games, we're able to get in touch with our inner-child and start to feel free, open-hearted, unassuming and adventurous again, bringing back the joy and vitality we all carry deeply within, but often believed to have been lost. Our hearts gradually open and start reconnecting again. The 2h-sessions focus on gradually increasing physical resilience, but include emotional and energetic aspects as well to restore general holistic balance in body, mind and spirit. There is no competitive stake to it, there are no extremes or high-intensity actions involved. But we do play gently with our personal comfort zones, sliding in and out, at times challenging our personal beliefs, convictions and limitations. These edges are where the real learning takes place, so take note. The sessions have powerful therapeutic value. They are developed, customised and guided by specialised trauma therapist Ken Christiaens. All exercises, while feeling light and fun, have a foundation in trauma and tension-releasing therapies, with elements of inner child work, constellations, reiki, NLP, somatic work, role/game play and meditation. Nature's increased healing potential (forest bathing) is fully being harnessed here. For more info on the therapeutic practice of Ken, please visit: www.nieuwegrond.be PRACTICAL The Forest Play-session starts at 10h sharp and ends at 12h. It costs 18e to participate. Meeting and end-point is always Parking Forest Playground Everzwijnbad, Weertsedreef 8-10, Oud-Heverlee (please read location description well, Google Maps can be a bit tricky). You actually might get a bit dirty and sweaty at some point, please prepare for outdoor nature workout: sporty shoes with ribs, sporty clothes, maybe a small towel (feet might get dirty or wet) or anything you feel comfortable with. Regarding the payment: You will be asked to transfer 18e to Ken's account beforehand or bring it on the day itself. Your participation is only confirmed if you have confirmed the payment as well. The event will be cancelled only when the weather really doesn't allow it. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask via personal message. We hope to see and connect with you there!

Spend time in the company of other writers putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. Work on your current project or start something new. If you are fresh out of inspiration a member of the Wordcraft Collective will be ready with a prompt to get you going. You can use that to unlock your creative brain before moving back to your own project or run with it. Who knows where the story will take you? Arrive when you like, leave when you like, or join us for a drink in the bar downstairs afterwards. Location: Pianofabriek, Rue du Fort 35, 1060 Saint-Gilles.

Let's continue the tradition and play UNO, everybody is welcome :) If you're on the waitlist please check your messages, especially on Sunday. If people drop off last minute I tend to message people on the waitlist to see who can come. We'll be playing at the lobby of Radisson RED, Brussels. The address of the hotel is: Rue d'Idalie 35, 1050 Bruxelles My number is 0471 45 55 02. Feel free to call if you cannot solve a physics question, cannot find the place or simply need a hug. I have quickly written a set of rules on how we play. It is assumed that the reader has a basic concept of the game. *** Setup: * Each player starts with 6 or 7 cards each (depending on total number of players) * A card is shown in play in the middle of everyone, this is known as the top card. Goal: * The goal of the game for each player is to get rid of all cards in your hand Rules: * Whenever you go from two cards to one card, you have to say "UNO". * Each player takes his turn one by one, initially going in the clock-wise direction * A card may be played if it matches the same colour or same number or same type as the top card in play * The two black cards (Draw 4 and Wild) can be played regardless of the top card in play. * Interruption rule: You may interrupt the general flow of the game (clockwise or counter-clockwise) if you have the EXACT same card as the top card in play. If you manage to play the card prior to the person whose turn it's supposed to be, then the game continues on from you in the same direction it was previously. (Unless the reverse card was interrupted, then the direction changes). * Draw2 or Draw4 cards can be played in accordance to the interruption rule. The following person after the interrupt has to take the accumulated number of cards. If however, cards have already been drawn AND seen by the person who was supposed to take the cards, then only the remainder of cards has to be drawn. * Once someone has no cards remaining in his hand, play stops and we start counting points. Points: * Number cards have the face value as the number of points. i.e. number 6 is worth 6 points, number 0 is worth 0 points, number 4 is worth 4 points. * Skip, reverse and Draw2 are worth 20 points each * Wild and draw4 are worth 50 points each

**🃏 WHAT WE PLAY** We focus on **social interaction games** that are **fun, easy to learn, and engaging**. * **Thursdays** and Saturday nights are for **fun, social games** like Dixit, Coup, Skull, Codenames, Colt Express, Secret Hitler, Exploding Kittens, Bang and more!… Easy to learn, quick to laugh! * **Mondays** are for **deeper strategic games**, for players who love to plan and outthink opponents. Of course, these are just guidelines — you’re always welcome to bring and play whatever game you love! *** **🕖 SCHEDULE** * We meet at **7:00 PM**, with an **intro round at 7:15 PM**. * Arriving later? No problem! Just see a host — we’ll do our best to find you a seat. You might need to wait for a game to finish before joining the next one. **🎉 Good News! BFG is Free Again** As of July 1st, 2025, BFG is once again **free to join**, just like last year! The costs of running the group are now shared by the hosts. If you enjoy the events and want to say thanks, you're very welcome to **offer a drink (or two 😉) to a host** during the evening. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us financially earlier this year — you helped keep the group going, and we truly appreciate it. 🙏 *** **🎒 WHAT TO BRING** * Bring your favorite games and feel free to mention them in the comments. * If we’re meeting in a **park**, bring snacks, drinks, and something comfy to sit on — the grass can be damp even in summer! *** **☕ IF THE VENUE IS A CAFÉ** Please order **at least one drink** to support the venue, and pay directly at the bar. *** **✅ REGISTRATION** Please RSVP to help us plan for space and group sizes. **⌛ WAITLIST ETIQUETTE** * If you can’t make it, cancel **before 7 PM the day before** to give someone else a chance. * If you're **on the waitlist** and your plans change, cancel your RSVP so others aren't left hanging. *** **🤝 WANT TO HOST?** Interested in becoming a host or helping out? Let us know — we’d love to have you on board! *** **💬 FEEDBACK WELCOME** Suggestions or ideas? Drop us a message anytime — we’re always looking to make BFG even better. *** ### **🌟 Let’s have fun, discover great** **games, and build and make new friends** *** ###

For our third, we’ll be discussing My Friends by Fredrik Backman — a moving and heartfelt novel about friendship, art, and the ways people leave a mark on each other’s lives. About the book: In a quiet seaside town, a group of teenagers spend their days escaping difficult lives through art and their deep friendship with one another. One summer, a painting is created that will eventually become world-famous. Years later, the story behind that painting begins to surface, revealing the powerful bond between the friends who inspired it and the life-changing events that shaped them. As past and present intertwine, the novel explores how friendships form us, how stories survive over time, and how a single moment of connection can echo across generations

Thanks for being a part of the CABS Meetup Group! We meet @ the COFFEE UNDERGROUND on Indianola Avenue. We play many different games @ CABS - bring your own or play one of the OVER 2222 in our library. What are your favorite games? What was the last game you played? Hope to see and game with you soon! Check us out on Facebook! Doors open early on Saturday Mornings at 10am and around 4pm on Fridays if you are interested in learning new / simpler games ... or new to the hobby or just want to check us out come in early just after noon and we will show you around before the crowd grows. Stay for a game or two, an hour or two or for the day! Your first visit is free and after that it's $5 a meeting or you can join for the year! It's Your Move

Boardgaming and boardgaming and MORE boardgaming .... we have over 2000 games onsite to play Join us !!!

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/columbus-oh/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

Join us for our May Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *[Cantoras](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)*[ ](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)by [Caro de Robertis](https://caroderobertis.com/bio/) in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD