Weekday Hikes

Shake off the workday and train with a welcoming crew of internationals and Brussels professionals. This is a **co-hosted session with F45 Brussels**—fast, fun, and coached circuit training that fits perfectly after work. **Why join?** * **Community vibe:** Friendly, social, in English. * **All levels welcome:** Coaches demo every move with **easier/harder options**. * **Time-smart:** 45 minutes, full-body, high energy, great music. * **Accountability:** Come with the group, leave with endorphins. **What we’ll do** 1. Quick intro & warm-up 2. **F45 functional circuits** (intervals that mix strength + cardio) 3. Team finisher & cool down 4. Optional post workout social drink/rooftop bowling nearby (meet new people, not just new burpees 😉) **Good to know** * **When:** Thursday, **6:30 PM start** (arrive 6:15 to check in) * **Where:** **F45 Brussels** (Brussels Central Station) Galeries Ravenstein * **Bring:** Clean trainers, towel, water bottle * **Fitness level:** Beginner to advanced (scalable stations) * **Capacity:** Limited spots — **RSVP required** * **Price:** Free weekly tryout **Who this is for** * New in Brussels and want a **friendly fitness + social** routine * Busy professional looking for a **structured, coached** workout * Sunday Vacations regulars who want to stay fit for hikes & trips **About F45** F45 = **Functional 45-minute training**: coach-led, station-based, results-driven. Expect variety, technique tips, and a positive team atmosphere. See you on the floor at 6:30! 💪🏽✨ By joining this event, you agree to the Sunday Vacations [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sundayvacations.com/terms), [Privacy Policy](https://www.sundayvacations.com/privacy) & [Code of Conduct](https://www.sundayvacations.com/code)

**Join us for a beautiful summer evening at Bozar Rooftop for the Casavillani Rooftop Sessions — a relaxed open-air gathering with house music, good vibes, drinks, food, and sunset views over Brussels. 🌆✨** Casavillani is bringing fresh house records and DJs to the rooftop, creating the perfect atmosphere to meet new people, enjoy the music, and spend a warm evening together above the city. Entry is free, but spots can be limited. 🎧💃🕺 **📅 Date: Thursday, 25 June** **🕕 Meetup time: 18:00** **📍 Meetup location: In front of Bozar, Rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels** **🎟️ Entry: Free** **🍹 Drinks & food: Available on the rooftop** Important note: I have not booked any table, private area, or reserved place for the group. This is an informal meetup where I simply bring people together to enjoy the evening as a friendly group. We will meet outside Bozar and go up together, but entry and space on the rooftop depend on the venue’s availability and rules. Everyone is responsible for their own drinks, food, and personal expenses. 😊 Come with good energy and an open mind — it’s a perfect event for socializing, dancing, and discovering one of Brussels’ nicest summer rooftop spots. 🌞🥂 Join the WhatApp group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/EimXMXyRBjo7PfHRoVc1j7](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EimXMXyRBjo7PfHRoVc1j7) Personal number: 0471695419

Socializing and Networking 🛜🆕 at PLUX on Thursday. Making new friends and drinking 🚰🎈🎉🚿🌊. Everybody Welocme, locals, expats or new 🆕 in town.

**Welcome to The Club.** A **curated** social community in Brussels for people who want real connections, memorable experiences, and **better energy than the usual random meetup chaos**. Most of our events happen in **private homes**, gardens, hidden places around Brussels, or unusual locations outside the city. The goal is simple: create the kind of atmosphere where people actually talk, laugh, connect, and want to come back. We organize things like: • gourmet lunches & dinners • picnics & roadtrips • cooking nights • walks around Brussels • karaoke & movie nights • debates & discussions • card and social games • occasional “chaperoned” social evenings where people can meet naturally in a safe environment The difference is that we personally curate and vet new members. The host actively introduces newcomers, helps people integrate into the group, and keeps the atmosphere respectful and relaxed. We have zero tolerance for creepy behavior, unwanted pressure, spam, random uninvited people, or drama. *Unfortunately, posting too many details publicly on Meetup or on the internet in general quickly attracts bots, scammers, fake profiles, crypto weirdos, and people who completely ruin the vibe for everyone else.* That’s why most of our real coordination happens privately through our ***vetted WhatsApp community***. To join, simply scan the QR code in the image. If you are on your phone and cannot scan it directly: • take a screenshot of the image • open the screenshot in your photo gallery • most phones can automatically detect QR codes from photos by long pressing or using Google Lens / iPhone scan feature Then request access to the group and introduce yourself briefly. See you soon

**\#\# Dance & Meet Experience – Afterwork pour danser et rencontrer 💃** ***Scroll down for EN*** **📅 Jeudi 25 Juin** **📍 café Flora** **🕖 18h – 22h** **Et si on changeait la façon de faire des rencontres à Bruxelles ?** **Bienvenue à** **Dance & Meet Experience**\*\*, un concept original qui mêle\*\* **danse, rencontres et bonne énergie** **dans une atmosphère conviviale et élégante.** **Inspiré de la nouvelle tendance des** **soirées dansantes en début de soirée**\*\*, cet événement vous permet de profiter pleinement de l’ambiance festive\*\* **sans devoir sortir toute la nuit**\*\*.\*\* **Après le travail, venez vous détendre, bouger, rencontrer de nouvelles personnes et partager un moment vibrant — tout en gardant votre soirée libre.** *** **\#\#\# ✨ Le concept** **Dance & Meet Experience** **n’est pas simplement une soirée.** **C’est une** **expérience sociale autour de la danse**\*\*, conçue pour favoriser des rencontres naturelles et authentiques.\*\* **La soirée combine :** **• une atmosphère chaleureuse et ouverte** **• de la musique entraînante pour faire bouger tout le monde** **• des rencontres spontanées** **• une énergie festive mais détendue** **Pas de pression, pas de formats artificiels :** **la musique et la danse créent naturellement les connexions.** *** **\#\#\# 💫 Ce qui vous attend** **• une ambiance internationale et conviviale** **• un dancefloor accessible à tous** **• des rencontres simples et naturelles** **• une énergie afterwork positive** **Que vous veniez** **seul(e) ou avec des amis**\*\*, l’atmosphère est faite pour que chacun se sente rapidement à l’aise.\*\* *** **\#\#\# 🕺 Pour qui ?** **Pour les personnes à Bruxelles qui ont envie de :** **• rencontrer de nouvelles personnes** **• danser et relâcher la pression de la journée** **• vivre une soirée élégante et différente** *** **👗** **Dress code :** **smart casual / chic décontracté** **📍 Lieu : café FLORA** **📅 Date : Jeudi 25 Juin** **⏰ Horaire : 18h – 21h** **🎟 Ticket gratuit + boisson Gratuite\***: OFFRE SPECIALE GRATUITE !!! La boisson GRATUITE sera pour les 150 PREMIERS PARTIPANTS!! \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\***S'enregister sur ce meetup + s'enregister sur ce lien :** [https://tr.ee/O9B-Bvk-3D](https://tr.ee/O9B-Bvk-3D) **✨** **Danser. Rencontrer. Ressentir l’expérience.** **\# 💃 Dance & Meet Experience – Afterwork Party & Social Vibes** **📅 Thursday 22 June** **📍 Café Flora – Brussels** **🕖 6pm – 10pm** **Looking for a different way to meet new people in Brussels?** **Welcome to** **Dance & Meet Experience**\*\*, a fresh social concept where\*\* **music, movement and connection** **meet in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere.** **Inspired by the new wave of** **early-night dance events**\*\*, this experience offers the joy of dancing and socializing\*\* **without the late-night exhaustion**\*\*. The idea is simple: come after work, move your body, meet inspiring people and enjoy a vibrant evening — all while still having your night ahead.\*\* **✨** **The concept** **Dance & Meet Experience is not just a party.** **It’s a** **social dance experience designed to spark authentic connections**\*\*.\*\* **The evening blends:** **• a friendly and stylish crowd** **• uplifting music to get everyone on the dancefloor** **• spontaneous encounters and conversations** **• a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere** **No pressure, no complicated icebreakers —** **just music, energy and human connection**\*\*.\*\* **💫** **What to expect** **• A welcoming international crowd** **• Great music to dance and connect** **• A social atmosphere where meeting people feels natural** **• A vibrant afterwork energy** **Whether you come** **with friends or alone**\*\*, you will quickly feel part of the experience.\*\* **🕺** **Who is it for?** **Professionals, expats, creatives and curious minds in Brussels who want to:** **• meet new people** **• dance and release stress** **• enjoy a classy yet relaxed social evening** **💡** **Dress code:** **Smart casual / stylish** **📍** **Location: café lux** **– Brussels** **📅** **Date:** **Thursday 25 June** **⏰** **Time:** **6pm – 10pm** **🎟 free Ticket + Free drink \***: FREE SPECIAL OFFER !!! The first 150 registrants will receive a FREE St. Germain Spritz! HURRY UP8 \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\***Register on the meetup + register to this link :** [https://tr.ee/O9B-Bvk-3D](https://tr.ee/O9B-Bvk-3D) **Come for the music.** **Stay for the connections.** **✨** **Dance. Meet. Experience.**

Join our next meetup on June 25th! We will have 3 talks and will share some food and drinks while networking **Location:** Infrabel, Rue des Deux Gares 82, 1070 Anderlecht, Belgium **Agenda:** 17:45 : Doors open 18:00 - 18:40 : Drinks and pizza 18:40 - 18:45 : Welcome 18:45 - 19:00 : Elastic @ Infrabel 19:00 - 19:15 : Real life never-seen-before railway project 19:15 - 19:55 : From unknown and raw to real value 19:55 - 20.20 : What’s new in Elastic v9 20:15 : Wrap up **Talks:** **Elastic @ Infrabel** In this presentation, we will explain how Infrabel uses Elastic today and how it supports our current needs. We will briefly outline some future optimizations and the integration of OpenTelemetry to further strengthen and extend our Elastic platform. To showcase how we use Elastic for addressing real business use case, we will demo a never-seen-before application build in collaboration with Elastic Belgium. *Safia Souabi – Big Data Engineer at Infrabel* *Olivier-Désiré Muhimpundu – Big Data Engineer at Infrabel* **Real life never-seen-before railway project** *How Elastic helps ensure the punctuality of rail services by detecting and correlating events in real time to anticipate disruptions, ensure operational continuity and optimise the flow of rail traffic."* *Vanessa Coeurnelle – Cyber Resilience Data Analyst at Infrabel* **From unknown and raw to real value** In this talk, Chris shares how he transformed a legacy log ingestion pipeline into a structured, scalable, and insight-ready ELK-based system. Starting from loosely indexed XML/SOAP logs with minimal configuration, the project required rebuilding the data model to handle multiple message types, complex nested structures, and inconsistent field representations. Without the luxury of a full upfront redesign, Chris adopted an iterative, data-driven approach: combining exploratory analysis with dynamic mapping strategies to progressively shape the data into a usable format. He will discuss how this led to the design of flexible ingestion pipelines, including XML parsing, normalization, and generic handling of heterogeneous payloads. The talk also covers practical techniques for managing sensitive data, reducing storage overhead, and improving query performance—such as selective data retention, hashing and fingerprinting strategies, and the use of data streams. Finally, Chris will touch on how structuring the data effectively enables higher-level capabilities like anomaly detection and automated alerting. This session is aimed at practitioners dealing with messy, real-world data and looking for pragmatic ways to make Elasticsearch pipelines more robust, maintainable, and valuable. **Bios** **Christoph Evers** is a Senior Data Scientist and Data Engineer based in Brussels, with over 15 years of experience in data systems, search technologies, and analytics. He has been working with Elasticsearch since its early days, contributing to the project between 2010 and 2012 and applying it extensively as a search engine, document store, and log ingestion platform. At OpenLex, he designs and builds advanced data solutions for legal research, including full-text search engines, NLP pipelines for entity detection and anonymization, and large-scale analytics systems. His work also includes operating and optimizing ELK-based observability stacks in Linux and Docker environments. Previously, Chris held roles spanning software engineering, data science, and R&D leadership across sectors such as social media analytics, mobility and market research. His experience combines hands-on engineering with business-oriented data applications, delivering scalable systems and actionable insights for both startups and multinational clients. He mainly focuses on search relevance, data observability, and the practical use of ELK in production environments. **Olivier-Désiré Muhimpundu** is a Data Engineer at Infrabel, where he has been working for more than three years on large-scale data platforms and data projects. He holds an engineering degree from University of Mons Faculty of Engineering and a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence. In his current role, Olivier focuses on designing, operating, and evolving enterprise data platforms based on technologies such as Apache Kafka, Elastic Stack, and Cloudera. His work spans data ingestion, real-time processing, monitoring, observability, and platform engineering in a large-scale railway environment. **Safia Souabi** is a Data Engineer with 6 years of experience at Infrabel in Brussels. With a BSc and MSc in Physics from London, she combines a strong analytical background with expertise in building and operating large-scale data platforms for mission-critical operational and asset data. Experienced with Apache Kafka, Elastic Stack, and the Cloudera ecosystem (Hadoop, Spark, Hive/Impala), she delivers scalable batch/real-time data pipelines and optimized ETL/ELT workflows. She works closely with stakeholders to translate requirements into reliable data products, with a strong focus on data quality, governance, security, performance, and platform resilience.

**This event is free for Sunday Vacations members. Membership starts at €5/year.** 👉 Join here: [https://www.sundayvacations.com](https://www.sundayvacations.com/membership) *Please RSVP only if you are reasonably sure you can attend and update your RSVP if your plans change.* Escape the city bustle and join us for a magical evening walk from the royal gardens of Tervuren, through the ancient Sonian Forest, ending at the picturesque Rouge Cloître. This hike is perfect for anyone looking to unwind, breathe some fresh forest air, and enjoy the golden hour colors. 🗺️ The Route We will start at the Tervuren Station (terminus of Tram 44). We’ll begin by walking through the formal gardens and ponds of Tervuren Park, enjoying the open views and the sunset light reflecting on the water. From there, we will dive into the Sonian Forest (Fôret de Soignes), walking under the canopy of the majestic beech cathedrals. We will walk through the magnificent Arboretum that boasts centennial trees and majestic Giant Sequoias. The path will lead us gently downhill towards the historic Rouge Cloître (Red Closter), a 14th-century Augustinian priory nestled on the edge of the forest where we will stop for a well deserved drink. 🕒 The Plan \*Meeting Time: 14:50 * Meeting Point: Just outside the Tervuren Station (Terminus of Tram 44). \*The Walk: We depart at 15:00 sharp. * The End: We aim to arrive at Rouge Cloître around 18:00 - 18:30. \*Après-Walk: We usually grab a drink at the beautiful Maison du Prieur in Rouge Cloître. 📋 Practical Details * Distance: Approximately 12 km. \*Duration: \~3.5 hours walking time. \*Pace: Casual to moderate. We wait for everyone, but please be comfortable walking this distance. * Terrain: Mostly flat/downhill with some unpaved forest paths. 🎒 What to Bring \*Comfortable Shoes: Walking shoes or sneakers (trail runners are great if it has rained recently). * Water: Stay hydrated! \*Layers: Evenings can get chilly in the forest. 🚇 Getting Home The walk ends at Rouge Cloître. From there, it is a short 10-15 minute walk to Herrmann-Debroux metro station (Line 5), buses and tram 8 which connect you easily back to the city center. Note: This event is free of charge. Participation is at your own risk. Please **RSVP only** if you intend to come so we don't leave anyone behind! See you on the trail! 🌳✨

**Hike #4** You are invited to join this short hike by the Meetup group "**Walking, Talking, maybe a Picknick**". This is a great opportunity to flee the high temperature and cool down in the forest. 😊 **When** Friday 26/06 21:20 Assembly. 23:45 Ending. **Intro** We're going to hike **9+km** in the **Forêt de Soigne/Zoniënwoud**, just before twilight until complete darkness. **Start and assembly location** We assemble on the corner outside from Metro Hermann Debroux. Please be on time as we will leave at 21:30 **By car** Why would you? **Dogs, cats, other animal** This time no pets allowed. **The hike and your preparation** This 9+km hike will take approx 2.5 hours, without breaks. If you have, bring your head lamp, although using it will spoil the whole thing. Just let your eyes adapt to the darkness. That will also make it easier to detect any Firefly. The weather forecast suggests blue sky, around 27 °C. There is no mention of rain. Anyway make sure to carry water. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To cover my costs as a Meetup organiser I'm going to ask for a voluntary calendar year contribution. **Community contribution:** €5 for non members What is included: *Event organisation - Group coordination - Guided community hiking experience Not included - Public transport ticket - Any insurance - Food & drink - Personal expenses ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Saturday will be extremely hot, let’s exit our home sauna for a refreshing walk aimed at maximising shade and water point close to Brussels. We will meet in front of Starbucks at Brussels central before noon and take the train to Beersel at 12:12 with a connection in Hal, arriving in Beersel at 12:48 where we start hiking during about an hour before lunch in a shaded place along a forest stream. After lunch we stroll through Parc de la Sauvagere and Kauwberg back to Calevoet station with possible exit at Uccle St Job station. From Calevoet station l suggest a trip back to central with a last 10 minutes stroll through Royal Parc up to glacier Bargello or Caberdouche terrace for an ice cream or drink to hopefully celebrate the Red Devils qualification🥂 And for those in vibe there is afterwards a free evening party at Terrace O2 on Meetup. !!! As usual rule in respect of participants and organisers, please only register if you are committed to really attend. Bring 2 liters of water, sun cream, cap, glasses and lunch…

We will follow the GR 126 from Lustin to Namur, a route along the Meuse Valley, packed with steep forested climbs, stunning river viewpoints, and a historical finish passing Namur's Citadel - and maybe a stop for a drink or ice-cream, depending on the train schedule. There is rain forecasted for the afternoon, but that should not stop us from hiking :) The number of participants is limited to 15, so please manage your registration responsibly: only sign up if you really intend to come and cancel as soon as you know you can’t (this also goes for people on the waiting list!). We will try to keep close to an average moving speed of 5km/h. We will walk both on paved and unpaved roads. I’ve not tested this track beforehand, so it’s possible that there are some mistakes in the planning (i.e. it may become longer ;-). ●●You can find the gpx track here: https://loc.wiki/t/270911426?wa=sc ●●Meeting point: We meet at 8.10 in Brussels Central station next to the main stairs. Our train (IC 2108 to Luxembourg) leaves from platform 3 at 08.20. We have a connecting train in Namur and arrive to Lustin at 10.05. ●● Trains back to Brussels: direct trains from Namur are every hour at XX.16. ●● Train ticket: One way ticket to Lustin is 9.60€ or 5.80€ with train+. One way ticket from Namur is 8.00€ or 4.80€ with train+. Return ticket to Lustin should also be ok. ●● Specifics: Distance: ± 22 km Elevation gain: 400 m Net walking time: ± 5 h Weather forecast: sunny and hot, with some rain forecasted in the afternoon. In the unlikely case of too bad weather, I may cancel a hike, even few hours before the event. If this must happen, I will of course update the Meetup website and send out an email to those registered. So it is important to have access to either the Meetup website and/or your emails. ●● What to bring: * Plenty of water for the heat + pack your own lunch/snacks * Comfortable hiking shoes and clothes * Sun and bug protection (Sunscreen, hat, tick repellent, etc) * Raingear * Small money for drinks/ice-cream ●● Basic rules: Please RSVP only if you really intend to come. And if your plans change, update your RSVP asap, even hours before the walk. This is basic courtesy towards others. Repeated late cancellations are not well considered (at all). No-shows are even worse. Do not show up for a hike unless you are on the “going” list. ●● Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability: You are responsible for yourself and should be fit enough if you want to take part. As the participation in the events is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves. By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organisers from any responsibility and liability.

* 42km loop from Jette to [Londerzeel](https://maps.app.goo.gl/YbDwZo2serhATP1VA). Estimated moving time 2h40 not including lunch and some brief stops. Elevation 220m. * Coffee 11h00 \| leaving 11h30\. * Lunch at the halfway point in Londerzeel. Bring your own. * Meet at [Guinguette Fabiola](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kLTGZUybywAfZ6M5A), also called Zomerbar Fabiola, in Parc Roi Baudouin. * View the route or download the GPX from [here](https://loc.wiki/t/270139371?wa=sc). * If bad weather is forecast this will be cancelled so check the event page before start time. * See more general information on the [What we're about](https://www.meetup.com/brussels-cycling-group/) page. * Tel: 04 86 40 6816. **Start** Please note the later than usual start time of 11h30 since Fabiola doesn't open till 11h00.

**Hike #5** You are invited to join this short hike by the Meetup group "**Walking, Talking, maybe a Picknick**". This is a great opportunity to flee the high temperature and cool down in the forest. 😊 **When** Sunday 28/06 21:30 Assembly 23:30 Ending **Intro** We're going to hike \~8**km** in the Uccle/Ukkel part of the **Forêt de Soigne/Zoniënwoud**, just before twilight until complete darkness. **Start and assembly location** Drohme park. Chau. de la Hulpe 53A, Uccle Assembly on the race track of the Drohme park near the tribune, which is the far end of the picture. Please be on time as we will leave at 21:35 **By car** Why would you? **Dogs, cats, other animal** This time no pets allowed. **The hike and your preparation** This 8km hike will take approx 2 hours, without breaks. If you have, bring your head lamp, although using it will spoil the whole thing. Just let your eyes adapt to the darkness. That will also make it easier to detect any Firefly. The weather forecast suggests blue sky, around 27 °C. There is no mention of rain. Anyway make sure to carry water. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To cover my costs as a Meetup organiser I'm going to ask for a voluntary calendar year contribution. **Community contribution:** €5 for non members What is included: \*Event organisation - Group coordination *Guided community hiking experience Not included - Public transport ticket *Any insurance - Food & drink *Personal expenses ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Join us on Sunday, June 28th, for our weekly morning run to get your day started on the right foot! We are gathering at our regular haunt, Café Belga, and we can't wait to see you there—whether you're a first-timer with the Brussels Runners Meetup or a familiar face. What to Expect: Distance: \~13 km Pace: \~6 min/km Mixed Terrain: A great combination of dirt paths, forest trails, and some road sections. Scenic Views: Enjoy the local beauty as we traverse diverse landscapes starting right from Place Flagey. Good Company: Run with like-minded individuals and make new friends. Post-Run Coffee: We'll wrap things up right where we started for an optional gathering, refreshments, and camaraderie at Café Belga. Bag drop : No See you all on June 28th outside Belga! Let's hit the trails.

Join the Introverts of Columbus at Quarry Trails Metro Park for an afternoon walk in the Park. We'll meet near the parking lot area for about 15 minutes before heading out to chat and hike through the metro park. This will be a casually paced walk to allow people to get to know each other, and enjoy nature at the same time. 🚨🚨 Please note that there are multiple parking areas for the Quarry Trails Park, and please note the address in the event to get to the correct starting area! 🚨🚨

Hi ladies. We will meet in front of the Nature Center and head to the two Observation decks. We will then hike Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook and Sugarbush trails to get approximately four miles total distance. We will walk approximately a 18 minute mile pace. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes.