INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL DAYS IN BRUSSELS
The historic capital of Belgium provided a cultural feast, with extraordinary treasures at every turn. Participants also had the opportunity to visit three of Flanders' great cities—Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent. Accompanied by knowledgeable local guides, we strolled through cobbled streets lined with architectural masterpieces ranging from Gothic to Art Deco, cruised along picturesque canals that offered unique perspectives of the cities, wandered past lively cafés and restaurants, sampled local culinary delights, and admired an abundance of remarkable art.
A half-day walking tour through one of four selected districts of Brussels offered further insight into the city's development, particularly since Belgium gained its independence in 1830. During the free afternoon, some of us visited the Magritte Museum in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, the Horta Museum, St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, or the famous Manneken Pis. More epicurean members indulged in a chocolate tour, sampling some of Brussels' finest chocolates, while others opted for a leisurely stroll or a Belgian beer tasting.
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The two-day Cultural Programme concluded with a Gala Dinner at the prestigious neo-classical Egmont Palace in the Sablon district. The event was presided over by the President of the International Association of Lyceum Clubs, Madeleine van der Vlist, and the President of the Belgian Lyceum Club, Thérèse de Jamblinne. In this magnificent setting, members and guests shared a memorable evening celebrating international friendship and cultural exchange. During the dinner, Maria-Niki Thomaides, President of the Cyprus Federation of Lyceum Clubs, officially announced that her country will host the 2027 International Cultural Days.
The programme was thoughtfully prepared by the Brussels Lyceum Club and featured many memorable highlights. Above all, however, what made the event so special was the opportunity to meet members from Lyceum Clubs across the world—including as far afield as New Zealand—and to reconnect with friends met at previous international gatherings. We enjoyed several dinners together, including inviting members of the Brisbane Club to join us, further strengthening the friendships that are at the heart of the Lyceum movement. Some of us also extended our stay to take part in additional excursions to cities we had not yet visited.
We returned home with wonderful memories, a deeper appreciation of Belgium's rich history and culture, new international friendships and, for those who still had room in their luggage, several bars of delicious Belgian chocolate!
Thank you to Thérèse de Jamblinne, President of the International Lyceum Club of Brussels and the members of her Committee for creating this wonderful programme. We extend our thanks to all the members of the Belgium Club for their warm hospitality.
For more photographs and reports on the event, please visit the website of the International Association of Lyceum Clubs.