Brussels is the unofficial capital of Europe. But it can be a confusing place to get to know and a difficult city to understand.
My introduction to living in Brussels was rather alarming and slightly complicated, to say the least. As our furniture arrived (a day late, but that's another story) and the removers opened up the van, out jumped 3 stowaways, blinking in the early morning greyness, wide-eyed and slightly bemused that they were in Brussels and not, presumably, Dover.
One protracted phone call to the local police, several cars with a variety of sirens blaring and a small army of police officers later, and the 3 individuals were taken away to become part of the process which greets so many arrivals in Brussels now, and which the longer you live here, the more you become aware is an increasing part of the political discourse in the city and country.
It's complicated
I am almost certain your introduction to Brussels will be less dramatic, but I can't guarantee it will be less complicated. Brussels is a difficult city to navigate. Belgium equally so. Not least because of the language issue, which is not just a practical consideration to navigate, but also as you will become aware, a political minefield to traverse.
Language is so tightly bound up in history and identity in Belgium and specifically Brussels, and the language and identity issue is at the root of many impasses and conflicts within the country.
It is something which we at The Brussels Times report on regularly and try to explain to you through our journalism and through contributions from experts in the field. And in case you didn't already know it, there are in fact three official languages of Belgium, as the title of this article suggests.
New beginnings
History looms large over Belgium, but Brussels is also a city of new beginnings; a place where every September up to 100,000 people arrive fresh off the plane or train, full of a mixture of ambition and desire, excitement and trepidation, knowledge and ignorance. It is a place where you can reinvent yourself, just as the city reinvents itself each year; where questions are asked but not always answered.
The fresh influx of non-Belgians, together with its local residents, injects the city with vibrancy and new ideas, which are badly needed, given the lack of any strategy or even a plan on a regional government level. Nearly a year and a half after the elections, the Capital Region's government situation is not just stagnant, it's at loggerheads.
It's important to understand why, because that's how you and we can hopefully help break this deadlock. We will report regularly on these issues, challenging decision makers, because we know our readers want to be involved and help shape and build a better Brussels together with our Belgian hosts and friends. We also know that people are increasingly frustrated with the status quo.
This is a frustration born not out of despair but out of the knowledge that the city we call home has so much potential, because of its diverse population, if only those in power would actually do the jobs they have been elected to do, and are (still) paid to.
Our mission
Indeed, The Brussels Times' mission is founded on old-fashioned journalistic values. To explain and report accurately, truthfully, objectively and without bias, set developments in their proper context and to hold people to account.
This last value – holding people to account – is particularly pertinent in Brussels and Belgium at the moment, where there is a distinct lack of accountability from those in power.
Above all else, though, our mission at The Brussels Times is to try to connect the large expat community to the city and country in which they live; to be a bridge. We want to explain the expats to the Belgians, and importantly, vice versa. In doing that, we also want to show the best of Belgium.
There are so many great and unique things about the country and people that host us, and we want to showcase that and celebrate it in our content, and hopefully, through that, bring the two communities closer together and get them involved in each other's lives more.
A multi-layered approach
As I have said, Belgium is a complicated place, so we hope to help make it less complicated for you. You, our readers, are always foremost in our thoughts when we are deciding what to write about and how to report it.
With this in mind, over the next few weeks, we will be writing a special selection of articles and reporting on specific issues which hopefully will help you to navigate your life here if you are a new arrival, or help you get more involved in the local community if you are more settled.
It will range from major concerns or developments in society here to purely practical help for daily living, or suggestions for things to do in your spare time. We are confident you will find it engaging, relevant, and informative. We are also confident that you will find our daily news reporting and our longer form journalism and features authoritative, accurate and trustworthy.
Brussels is multi-layered, and it can often be difficult to find your place; and when you do find it, it's often easier to stay there. But speaking from experience, Brussels is so much more enjoyable and enthralling if you get out of your bubble. The city will reward you for your effort in the most surprising ways.
The media landscape in Brussels is also increasingly multi-layered and competitive – but we serve a unique purpose in reporting on Europe, Belgium and Brussels not purely through the EU policy lens; to improve and expand this, we need your help through subscriptions. We are also keen to meet and talk to more of you, and to that end will be holding events throughout the year to connect with you, hear your stories and bring our reader community together.
Think of The Brussels Times as your helping hand as you start your new Belgian adventure.
Like any good parents, the team here will feel a sense of pride when we see you make your way in this new challenging but rewarding world; and we will be even happier, when you still continue to reach out your hand for ours – even if for some of you it's only to ask what rubbish to put out on what day, or where you can buy the best frites in Brussels.
To slightly mangle something someone once said, I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
