In 2005, a small team of eager volunteers led their first Big Volunteer Week in Brussels, and Serve the City was born.
Now Serve the City teams are active or starting in cities all over the world – in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
The International Forum is like a family reunion! We come together for friendship, for inspiration, to share what we are learning, and to help teams in new cities get started.
The Brussels team is ready to welcome you with smiles, stories, and Belgian fun. Come to the International Forum in the city where Serve the City first began!
Programme
Thursday 16 October
14:00 – 22:00
- Registration / Check-in
- FOCUS Training (optional)
- Welcome Dinner
- Pub Quiz
Friday 17 October
9:00 – 22:00
- Welcome / Social
- Vision 2030 – Part I
- Global Movement
- Community Lunch
- Breakout Sessions
- Environment
- Fundraising
- FOCUS training (optional)
- More TBA
- Plenary Session
- Family Dinner
- Global City Exchange
Saturday 18 October
9:00 – 22:00
- Welcome / Social
- Vision 2030 – Part II
- Shared Social Concerns
- Community Lunch
- Anniversary Celebrations
- Volunteering Activities
- Family Day and Concerts
- Awards and Highlights
- Podcast Live
- Vision 2030 Reveal
- Concerts
- Food Trucks available*
Sunday 19 October
9:00 – 15:00
- Welcome / Social
- Vision 2030 – Part III
- City Leaders Roundtable
- Community Lunch
* Not included in the entrance fee.
All sessions, activities, and meals mentioned above — all covered by the forum fee of just 90 €
Location
Thursday – Sunday
UrSquare transforms the former Gendarmerie’s barracks in Ixelles into a vibrant, open urban district. This innovative project fosters collaboration between citizens, the city, and academia, featuring family and student housing, university facilities, public spaces, and a sustainable food hall, all while preserving the site’s rich heritage.
Avenue de la Couronne 227
1050 Brussels
Register
Transportation
What are my transport options for getting to and from Brussels airport?
Below are the simplest way to reach to the city center from the airport and back.
STIB Bus Line 12 (Airport line)
Duration: circa 30 minutes
Destination: Brussels Luxembourg and Bruxelles Schuman
Location: Level 0 Platform C
Frequency: Up to 4 an hour
Cost: 4,50 € (purchase ticket at GO ticket machine)
De Lijn Bus Line 272
Duration: circa 45 minutes
Destination: Brussels Nord
Location: Level 0 Platform B
Frequency: Once an hour (check timetable)
Cost: 3,00 € (purchase ticket in bus with exact change)
SNCB train to North Station or Central Station
Duration: circa 20 minutes
Destination: Brussels Nord and Brussels Central
Location: Level -1
Frequency: Up to 6 times an hour
Cost: 8,90 €
Taxi or Uber
Trip is about 20 minutes in normal traffic (depending of your exact destination and traffic this can increase by a lot)
What are my transport options for getting around Brussels?
There are multiple options to get around Brussels during your stay. The best option would be walking as the center of Brussels is small and everything is fairly close to each other. However, if you choose to use the public transport, you can either purchase a 48 hour tickets, or a ticket with 10 jumps (you will need a Mobib card that costs 5 €). Please click here to get more information about prices and to consult your best options.
The city also offers a variety of other means of transportation, from electric bikes and scooters to taxis and what not.
Transportation
What are my transport options for getting to and from Brussels airport?
Below are the simplest way to reach to the city center from the airport and back.
STIB Bus
More information coming soon
De Lijn Bus
More information coming soon
SNCB train
More information coming soon
Taxi or Uber
Trip is about 20 minutes in normal traffic (depending of your exact destination and traffic this can increase by a lot)
What are my transport options for getting around Brussels?
There are multiple options to get around Brussels during your stay. The best option would be walking as the center of Brussels is small and everything is fairly close to each other. However, if you choose to use the public transport, you can either purchase a 48 hour tickets, or a ticket with 10 jumps (you will need a Mobib card that costs 5 €). Please click here to get more information about prices and to consult your best options.
The city also offers a variety of other means of transportation, from electric bikes and scooters to taxis and what not.
Accommodation
Participants are responsible for securing their own accommodation.
Brussels has lots of accommodation options to suit every budget, but we recommend that you book your accommodation as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
The cheapest option is to stay in a hostel. There is a wide variety available in Brussels city centre, see here https://www.hostelworld.com/
If you are going to book a hotel, please remember that the cheapest rates are usually available if you book directly on the hotel website.
If you prefer self-catering Airbnb have a wide range of options available to suit every budget.
A limited amount of accommodation in host homes may be available, please contact us at IF25@servethecity.net if you wish to request this.
Travel Documents
What travel documents do I need to travel to Belgium?
It is the responsibility of those travelling from overseas to ensure that they have the correct documentation necessary to enter to Brussels.
Those who require a visa will need a Schengen Visa to visit to Belgium. For further information please check out the following link: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/belgium-visa/
We are happy to provide an invitation letter if required.
Contact
If you have any further questions or queries about Serve the City’s 20th Anniversary International Forum or about applying for financial assistance to attend the event, please email IF25@servethecity.net.
