In partnership with
Brussels, it’s my birthday today!
34 years around the sun, 6 of them in Brussels! So this issue will be a little lighter than usual, I hope you’ll forgive me 😇 Also, a huge thanks to all who have filled in the survey! It’s truly such an important piece of feedback for me, and some really interesting ideas came out of it!
As you know from my last week’s email, some big things are coming for this newsletter this year. The next issue will be a special one, as I take on board one of the organisations in Brussels, one that is featured in every single issue. And our content will be linked to International Women’s Day. If you think you have a good addition related to this topic, reply to this email!
Today’s partner is Morning Brew, your daily go-to source for quick business news. A click on their ad doesn’t cost you anything, but it directly supports this newsletter. Thank you so much in advance ❤️.
In this issue:
🚶 7 group walk activities around Brussels and beyond
🔍 My recent restaurant and café finds
🗓️ Upcoming events in Brussels (18 February-3 March)
When it all clicks.
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Brussels news you may have missed
BRUSSELS HAS A NEW GOVERNMENT: After 613 days since the local elections, Brussels finally agreed on a government. What can we expect from it?
METRO LINE 1 INTERRUPTION: On 8 and 15 March, metro line 1 will be interrupted between Merode and Stockel. You can take an M-bus instead.
NEW IN TOWN: Ratz, the largest food hall in Belgium, and a sibling to Wolf, is officially opening its doors to the public on 19 February.
BUDDY BUDDY TAKES ON THE BIG APPLE. The beloved nut butter coffee bar (first in the world), located between Porte de Namur and Louise, opened its first branch in New York City. This is their third location, after the French-New Zealand duo launched their second bar in Paris in 2023.
PUKKELPOP BREAKS A RECORD. Combi tickets for Pukkelpop, one of the largest music festivals in Belgium, sold out in 30 min. Daily tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are still available.
7 group walk activities around Brussels and beyond
My timing of writing this specific bit couldn’t be better, as it’s Sunday night, and it’s snowing and freezing 😂. But for those who don’t like running (including yours truly), walking is the next best activity to keep yourself healthy. And what if you could connect it with meeting new people?
Le Walk’in Club: taking place on Sundays at 3 pm and starting at the Fox Food Market in Auderghem, the slogan of this initiative is simple: we walk, we connect, we eat. While most of the communication on this channel is in French, I’m sure you will meet English-speaking folks as well. I personally plan to attend one of these walks in the future.
Netwalking Brussels: if you’re not a fan of typical Bubble networking events, and prefer to meet people more naturally (pun intended), then head to this early Monday morning activity in Parc du Cinquantenaire.
Walking in Brussels: This Meetup group has 4,000+ members and was originally founded to organise relaxed walks up to 15 kilometres. But since then, it has also expanded to more demanding walks, and also hikes beyond Brussels and Belgium.
Brussels Hiking Group: Another Meetup group, comprising even more members. This group focuses on one-day walks in Belgium, with places easily accessible by public transport.
Expat Hiking Brussels: For those still using Facebook, this group meets every Sunday to discover Belgium’s beautiful nature.
Walking History Brussels: Saim, a history nerd and a journalist (he shared his story on the Middle Ground podcast), organises tours around Belgium’s colonial history.
Brussels By Foot: This is a great activity if you feel like playing a tourist in this city. Individual tours are organised every weekend in French, Dutch, and English, and are free (with voluntary contribution) or paid. Some of the tours on their list include Brussels Crime Tour, Brussels Urban Legends Tour, Celebrity Brussels or Art in the Brussels Metro.
My recent restaurant and café finds
Since I’m self-employed, I’m spending a lot of time meeting people in cafés and/or restaurants. Here’s a list of the ones I’ve been to most recently!
🍴 Restaurants:
Caffè Batavia (De Brouckère) - one visit made it one of my favourite restaurants in Brussels. Run by Indonesians offering traditional Indonesian meals or fusion, this place has a great ambience, absolutely delicious food, yummy drinks (try the Pandan latte), and really nice staff.
Senraku (Madou) - very easy to just walk by, this small Japanese restaurant does short shifts during lunch and dinner. Every dish is accompanied by a miso soup and small plates of veggie appetisers. The lady taking your order, who I suppose is part of the ownership, is just one of the sweetest souls you will meet in Brussels.
TADAO Poke Bar (Matonge) - one of the many poke bars around town, this small restaurant offers you a selection of their own bowls or allows you to create your own.
☕ Cafés (all matcha-approved):
Grain d’Amour (Schuman) - if you’re tired of always ending up at Papillon, To Meli, or the bars in Rue Archimède, walk a bit up north of Le Botaniste, and you’ll find yourself in a cosy corner café, which also serves brunch.
Ondo (Place de Londres) - a small and cute Korean café, just off Place de Londres, offers savoury and sweet snacks as well as very interesting signature drinks. Their Jujube matcha is absolutely delicious.
Upcoming events
📅 20 February-1 March: Anima Festival @Flagey (link)
📅 21 February: Destination Bruxelles - International Drag Show @The Agenda (link)
📅 21-11 February: Japan Con/Brussels Manga @Tour and Taxis (link)
📅 22 February: Design your rug @Wolf (link)
📅 24 February: Next Level EU Public Affairs: Forging Connections for 2026 @Holland House (link) - I will be speaking here, come say hi!
📅 24 February: Thriving in the Brussels Bubble: Mentorship, Resilience, and Building Meaningful Networks @The Nine (link)
📅 25 February: Clay & Womanhood: Make Your Own Ceramic Object @The Nine (link)
📅 25 February: Climate Coffee Brussels @Norrsken House (link)
📅 26 February: Open Mic Comedy Night: Comedy, Truth, and the Myths We Live By @The Nine (link)
📅 27-28 February: Surround XL by Brussels Philharmonic @Maison de la Poste (link)
📅 27 February-4 March: Myanmar Pre-Thingyan, Food and Culture Week @Wolf (link)
📅 28 February: Fast Friending: Make new friends! (21-40) @The Sneakers Café (link)
📅 28 February: Microbrewery Experience @Wolf (link)
📅 28 February: Sardinia Wine Tasting and Dinner Pairing @Entre Nous (link)
📅 3 March: Monthly Full Moon Sound Ceremony @Aki Sound Studio (link)
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