Happy rentrée, Brussels!
I’m so happy you are all back (or like 99% of you, I assume). I went to my first Brussels bubble event of the season last week, and not gonna lie, it felt pretty great. And my next few weeks are looking quite busy already. If you want to know which Bubble events to attend and how to approach networking, two of my subscribers got you. Lisa started a newsletter called The Bubble, which informs you every Monday morning about policy events happening that week. And if networking makes you nervous and you’re still not quite sure how to approach it, then get this free audio guide from Christina.
Also, this newsletter is turning 1 year next week ❤. Thank you all so much for your continued support. Don’t forget that you’re always very welcome to suggest ideas for the next issues! The best birthday gift that you can give me is to keep reading and tell your friends to subscribe 😉
In this issue:
🥳 5 event initiatives in Brussels
🏋 5 new studios/gyms opening in Brussels
🗓️ Upcoming events in Brussels (3-16 September)
Get stage ready!
I’m super excited to host this FREE webinar with my friend and a moderator extraordinaire, Anna Gumbau. If you’re scheduled to speak on stage this autumn, you know it’s coming, or you want to make it happen, keep reading. Anna and I will walk you through how to prepare for the D-Day, how to stay calm during your performance, and how to turn it into online content that will bring you more opportunities like this. Register for the webinar here.
5 event initiatives in Brussels
I don’t know about you, my dear readers, but it seems that suddenly, everyone started organising different kinds of events in Brussels 😅 That’s obviously a good thing and gives a strong argument to people who complain that there’s nothing to do in this city (if you’re reading this newsletter, I’m sure you’re not one of those people). Let’s have a look at what those initiatives are!
The Day Club - as you can guess, this initiative organises afterwork/early-clubbing parties. They’re usually held between 18 and 22h, during the week or on weekends, and take place in different clubs/venues around Brussels. My friends and I went to one in the middle of August and had a fun dance night. You’ll see people in their 30s as well as their 50s rocking to international hits. Next event: 9 September, Early clubbing - The Day Club @Barabar.
Bloom - this is a Brussels-based community creating out-of-the-ordinary experiences that bring people together IRL. Now nearly a year in, Bloom has brought people together around farm-to-table picnics in the park, contemporary movement classes in nature, or Sunday morning coffee and DJ sessions. Bloom is still evolving with more experiences and trips to come.
EventSocial - this is a brand new initiative that’s only launching this month. EventSocial brings people together through carefully selected experiences, with the motto “Come for the experience. Stay for the people.” Next event: 18 September, Welcome and Back to the Campus @Café Luxembourg.
Bruxelles sans tel - If you’re anything like me and really dislike when people are on their phones instead of socialising, then this initiative is for you. Their offline events aim for afternoons of conversations, silence, and new encounters. Next event: 5 September, Le premier samedi @Boob’s Bar.
Nooba - And if my newsletter is not enough for you and you’re always on the lookout for even more events, and preferably on your phone…or if you’re a social event organiser yourself, this is the app you may want to check out. The team behind this app, a fully bootstrapped start-up team of three, firstly built it just for nightlife, but it has expanded to all kinds of events in Brussels, and currently counts 14,000 users.
5 new studios/gyms opening in Brussels
Another trend that I keep seeing in Brussels is a rising number of new gym and studio openings, especially for reformer Pilates. They’re popping up like mushrooms after rain (as we say in Czech). Let’s look at the ones that are opening soon.
ONE PULS (Forest) - for those living near the border with Flanders, this new luxury gym opens its doors on 5 September. It’s built on five worlds: Reformer, Hyrox/Cross Burn, Boost Room, Bike and Open Gym.
Inner (Watermael-Boitsfort) - inner is a studio opening in the south of Brussels this month. It offers Pilates reformer, mat Pilates, barre, and yoga. I only wish it was closer to me, as one of my favourite teachers from Yoga Room, Marie B., is a co-founder and teacher here (and therefore has left YR).
Bonsai (Montgomery) - is a social wellness club opening this month. It will consist of a gym, group classes, a lounge, and a wellness suite with a Finnish sauna, cold plunge, and sun shower. It looks like a true oasis on the website.
COCŌN (Montgomery) - is opening in October, with the motto “where movement becomes intention”. They will offer a hybrid workout method - coached sessions with instructors, and self-led sessions with the digital guidance of KioskPro.
MOVA Studio (Schuman) - this studio is located between Place des Gueux and Schuman, but the exact opening date is not disclosed. As the name suggests, it focuses strictly on Pilates (reformer, to be precise). The rendering on their website looks really cosy and cute, and will also include a coffee space.
Upcoming events
🤝 = networking/meeting new people; 🎨 = crafts and workshops; 👚 = fashion; 🎸= music; 🎉= parties and festivals; 🎭= theatre, musicals and performing arts; 🚶 = walking and hiking; 🏀 = sport; 🎥 = film festivals and screenings; 🏋️ = fitness; 🎤 = talks; 🍔= food and drinks; 🖼️ = exhibitions; 😂 = comedy; 🛒= shopping and markets; 🎮 = games and quizzes
🎨 3 September: Painting in the Dark @Wolf (link)
🏀 4-5 September: Allianz Memorial Van Damme @King Baudouin Stadium (link)
🛒 4-6 September: Grande Vente de Plantes @Halles Saint-Géry (link)
🍔 4-6 September: Belgian Beer Weekend @Grand-Place (link)
🎥 4-12 September: Brussels International Film Festival @various locations (link)
🚶 5 September: Mental Fitness Walk - coffee & conversation @Bois de la Cambre (link)
🎉 5 September: Uckel’Air Festival @Rue de Stalle 77 (link)
🎨 6 September: Brussels Collage Collective Meetup #12 @Continental (link)
🍔 9 September: The Spirit of Fine Pairing, in Partnership with oriGin EU @Bump - Policy Experience Space (link)
🤝 10 September: WAT (pitch pitchback) @WAT (link)
🎉 10 September: Booma Club x Jeux d’Hiver @Jeux d’Hiver (link)
🖼️ 10-13 September: RendezVous 2026 - Brussels Art Week @various locations (link)
🎸 10-19 September: Marni Jazz Festival @Le Marni (link)
🎉 11 September: Tea Rave Vol 002 by Chá Qi @Cháshi (link)
🤝 11 September: Season 14 Launch @Full Circle (link)
🏀 11-13 September: Brussels Urban Sessions @Parc du Cinquantenaire (link)
🛒 11-13 September: Sablon Design Market @Place du Grand Sablon (link)
🍔 11-13 September: Brussels Food Festival @Auderghem (link)
🎉 12 September: Brussels Open Air Festival 2026 @various locations (link)
🏀 12 September: Climate Classic Belgium (Cycle or Run for Climate!) @Sonian Forest Sports Centre (link)
🤝 12 September: Cafe Compute Meetup: Brussels @BeCentral (link)
🛒 12 September: Second Hand English Book Sale @UR Square (link)
🎉 12-13 September: Wanderlust by Brussels Beer Project @Place du Marché au Poisson (link)
🖼️ 12 September-25 October: Genesis @Église Notre Dame du Sablon (link)
🏋️ 13 September: Breakfast run @Parc du Cinquantenaire (link)
🏋️ 13 September: Wellness Morning @Wolf (link)
🎨 16 September: Feminist Rage & Creativity Evening @Taylor’s Café (link)
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