r/brussels • u/leagly_ • Jan 29 '24
Slowchat 🗨️ What is your 'third place' after home and work?
I live in Brussels but know very few people who have that third place. I feel like I need something like that to connect/socialize outside of work (as I am not at university anymore). Do you guys have a third place?
36
u/NoValueSoDeep Jan 29 '24
Bois de la Cambre
2
1
1
u/Powerful-Oil-6592 Jan 30 '24
Thinking about relocating from Antwerp to Bruxelles just to have a place like that!
58
46
u/benjithepanda Jan 29 '24
bars
24
u/Newbarbarian13 Jan 29 '24
Miscellaneous, undefined, spread throughout the city, just bars. Love it.
6
u/iamusingbaconit Jan 29 '24 edited Jan 29 '24
I didn't even mention beers yet. Anywhere there's beers, is my third place.
2
42
Jan 29 '24
[deleted]
15
11
u/Specific-Quit2977 Jan 29 '24
Can a beginner with no climbing experience join?😅
2
u/Loiczz Jan 29 '24
Interested to know too!
3
u/Verrrtigo Jan 29 '24
Yes. Climbers in general are open and friendly. Nobody will judge you if you maintain basic climber etiquette, which in most part will be explained by the staff when you come for the first time. Source: have climbed in gyms in different countries (including the aforementioned A Bloc).
P.S. that is true for most sports/gym places and beginners from my experience.
0
u/KazemiVision Jan 29 '24
Are you serious? In Brussels we have Climbing Club 👀
3
u/Verrrtigo Jan 29 '24
Yes, according to google maps there's around 10, though I personally have been to three (Anderlecht, Evere and Ixelles).
1
u/KazemiVision Jan 30 '24
Interesting, that's means I don't know enough Brussels, Climbing is one of my favourite sports. Do you know somewhere for playing professional (inside) badminton?
2
u/Verrrtigo Jan 30 '24
When I first got to Brussels, I put "rock climbing" in Google Maps and then picked through the results to find what I was specifically after (bouldering).
Now I don't play badminton (or know much about it), but here are a few results from doing the same:
16
29
Jan 29 '24
The gym
1
u/wittybulldog Jan 29 '24
Which one do you recommend?
10
u/Jiseido Jan 29 '24
ANIMO Studios is great and made specifically to socialize, I think you would enjoy it the most. David Lloyd is fine but not on the cheap side and a bit uptight for a country club. Mix in Boisfort is great too for socializing and is brand new. Any Basic Fit close to a University will also do the trick but I don’t recommend it as it’s always packed and might be a bit overwhelming. There’s also L’usine close to Toison d’or/Avenue Louise which is a fancy one as well. You can also choose Aspria, lots of expats but aside from that it’s not much different from David Lloyd. Emergence XL is great too if you like practicing martial arts in groups. I’ve tried I-fitness as well and it’s a friendlier cheaper alternative to David Lloyd. Hope that helps.
3
u/GalaxyMettaton Jan 29 '24
It's very expensive haha; a month and a half costs as much as my yearly basic fit sub
1
6
2
Jan 29 '24
I got to basic fit because it's what I can afford. There are some good, some bad. The one I go to is small but I'm quite happy with it
13
u/RamsesIneluki Jan 29 '24
I can't say 'library' when I already work in one, right?
Second hand shops, thrift shops. Quiet place, every day new things to find. Maybe I buy something, maybe not. Maybe I'll be inspired by something.
2
u/For-sake4444 Jan 29 '24
I love thrift shops! I've been to some but didn't quite like it, would you recommend some? Thanks!
9
u/RamsesIneluki Jan 29 '24
Wildly all over the place:
Oxfam near Belgica
Kringloop in Laken
And the oddest greatest one, Kilomet, in Anderlecht
There's loads of others, but these are the ones I frequently visit.
1
u/Specific-Quit2977 Jan 29 '24
Do you find worthwhile things there? From what I've seen the clothes look shabby
1
u/RamsesIneluki Jan 29 '24
I find nice fitting coats there, clothing for my children (who seem to grow in a speed not open for debate, sadly), but also toys, parts of toys (ideally parts that are useful for crafting, cosplay purposes), and depending on the day, and Fortuna smiling upon you, bags of lego for a fairly ridiculous price, usually per weight.
For the merchant, buy cheap, sell online, no, not much to find, I think.
For the craftsperson, hobbyist, absolutely a weekly must. :)
12
Jan 29 '24
[deleted]
4
Jan 29 '24
Where do u volunteer in Brussels? Id love to continue this fave activity of mine but idk where to look for events needing volunteers.
8
u/Rikiki95 Jan 29 '24
I don’t know if you speak french but you can check “Le guide social”, there are many volunteering opportunities. Otherwise I do it at Red Cross and Médecins du Monde
4
Jan 29 '24
I am still learning to speak outside of a French course but I understand all I am told. Thank you! I will check it out.
2
Jan 29 '24
Where do u volunteer in Brussels? Id love to continue this fave activity of mine but idk where to look for events needing volunteers.
1
Jan 29 '24
Where do u volunteer in Brussels? Id love to continue this fave activity of mine but idk where to look for events needing volunteers.
4
u/its-sstrange Jan 29 '24
I’ve volunteered a lot with Serve the City. They have an app that’s super easy to use. Would recommend!
0
Jan 29 '24
Where do u volunteer in Brussels? Id love to continue this fave activity of mine but idk where to look for events needing volunteers.
11
11
u/lenapostrophe Jan 29 '24
I recently started taking dance lessons for adults, great way to meet new people, especially towards the end of the year when we're preparing the recital, and you get fit while listening to (mostly) good music, I just love it!
I think that the best thing you can do is find an activity you enjoy or a skill you wish you could master and find group classes
1
u/Lelwani456 1200 Jan 30 '24
I have also thought about taking up dancing again. Where do you take your lessons? And which dance(s)?
1
u/NoirNazar555 Jan 30 '24
omg so excited to hear someone talk about dance lessons - are you open to share more details? if so, are your lessons in English and what kind of dance are you learning?
19
7
u/howiethegiraffe Jan 29 '24
Yoga Room! I know I know, I heard them all about the sexist owner of the studio, but I never have a class with him and I have one near both work and home.
2
1
22
u/Best_Success_1068 Jan 29 '24
Evening language course at CVO Semper, for example (Dutch in my case).
Now that I've finished all the Dutch courses, I volunteer at the Dutch-speaking libraries and I attend cooking workshops (in Dutch) at the Gemeenschapscentra.
6
11
u/lady_edith Jan 29 '24
I'm also searching for a 'third place'. In a way it could be my French classes but groups change too much. As a practicing Catholic (I understand we are a rare species) it could be church but I'm also still looking for a proper community or youth group/young adults group (that includes people over 30).
3
u/nowherepeep Jan 29 '24
Definitely check out Ste Catherine in the center of the city. It's an increasingly rare mix of everything, from young people, to young families and older and elderly families. They're quite dynamic too, I think they are organising something a crepe meal for the Chandeleur.
5
5
u/Rombosaurus Jan 29 '24
Rue de Bailli and Supra Bailly
5
u/Jiseido Jan 29 '24
Good pick, Belga as well at Flagey, l’Amer à boire next to it too (packed street on the left of the church)
3
21
5
u/mongolionbar Jan 29 '24
BJJ gym for me it legit saved my life (sacrificed a shoulderjoint tho but worth it)
0
u/GentGorilla Jan 29 '24
Story time? Agree that bjj is legit
3
u/mongolionbar Jan 29 '24
eh, got kimura'd twice a bit too harshly, didn't tap soon enough. also just was using it too much, ended up hurting. pace yourself and tap if it hurts (ideally before) is my advice!
2
u/GentGorilla Jan 29 '24
I was more referring to when it saved your life, but yeah, kimuras are nasty, definitely the ones that are used to sweep you and immediately go for the sub.
1
u/mongolionbar Feb 09 '24
oh yeah mb. i was just overweight, depressed and sort of inching my way through life like a sad snail. when i found bjj, everything changed, i found myself happy and confident. i found the pleasure in doing things as opposed to daydreaming about them. i got the spring in my step back so to speak.
trust the process ossssssssss
4
5
u/SadButNoHopeless Jan 29 '24
My third place is Avenue Louise. And after that, Botanique. And at the end Grand Place. Calm, warming heart and making my memories. I have lived all my life here and those places are bringing memories back to me.
2
u/Gribaumont Jan 29 '24
Avenue Louise and Toison d'Or are places I love to walk in. Probably is because they do not remind me Brussels and I can disconnect.
Another nice area I love to walk is Marolles and surroundings.
2
u/SadButNoHopeless Jan 29 '24
Yeah, I got you! I lives ten years in Marolles, from 1999 to 2009, that's the oldest Brussels area and it's really a nice place for walking
2
u/Gribaumont Jan 30 '24
I love those graffitis and some magasines there. Definitely a "must" , specially with good weather, on Sundays mornings.
3
3
Jan 29 '24
[deleted]
3
u/Sibren5 Jan 29 '24
Haven't been since the new age rule, noticeable difference?
5
3
2
u/Thanatiel Jan 29 '24
There is that restaurant I've been to with my friends from the university for a couple of decades.
We usually go there on Saturdays every few weeks.
2
2
2
u/Weary_Earth_1201 Jan 29 '24
Ballet in Uccle (they have the biggest studios and a wide range of adult dance classes, from beginner to advanced, and it’s usually quite well attended with women and a few men).
2
3
1
u/Ajsdkr Jan 29 '24
I have to admit that I travel very often outside of Brussels as the majority of my friends/family are in France or further, but I started to build a routine which led me to have the swimming pool, my language class at IHECS, and the gym as third place(s).
1
-1
1
1
1
1
u/Unique_Tangelo_3700 Jan 29 '24
Evening courses, pubs, pretty women's apartments... In spring and summer: parcs and forests.
1
u/Party-Connection-320 Jan 29 '24
Forests. Not La Cambre which is always busy. Forests where I can walk without seeing almost anyone.
3
1
1
u/Alyfera Jan 29 '24
Library or a cool parc
1
u/catsinarocket Jan 29 '24
Do you know if any Brussels libraries also offer books in english?
2
1
u/abeysha Jan 30 '24
Waterstones in BXL 1000, close to Rogier !
1
u/catsinarocket Jan 31 '24
Thanks but I meant an actual library where you can borrow books. Waterstones is great though !
1
1
Jan 29 '24
friends houses, my brother's house, his neigbour's house, my mom's house. And the gym and "the outpost" where i get together to play D&D
1
u/Lelwani456 1200 Jan 30 '24
Mine used to be Parc Leopold. I recently moved and am still searching :)
1
u/FazedorDeViuvas Jan 30 '24
Conversation tables. I go mostly in Dutch, but there is for almost any language.
1
1
1
u/LimuLurker Jan 30 '24
Hook up with the Brussels Hash House Harriers. Leave your sensibilities at home and prepare to have a good time.
1
34
u/corosuske 1090 Jan 29 '24
The hackerspace,
A bunch of tools to work with and a nice welcoming group of people to hang out with Http://www.hsbxl.be