Despite growing up in a small village in West Flanders, Anne Cruyt ended up in Brussels several years ago and is not planning on leaving it. With her book, #expatsofbrussels, she explores why so many others also fell in love with the city.
After working with internationals her entire career, Cruyt decided she wanted to shine a light on the Brussels expat community which she had come to love. She teamed up with photographer Cemali Bas, a true Bruxellois raised by expat parents. Together, they made #expatsofbrussels: a rich compilation of 50 portraits of people from across the globe who, either by chance or on purpose, are making a life in Brussels.
"Belgians often see Brussels not just as the capital city, but as a completely different world," Cruyt told The Brussels Times. "And within Brussels, the divide between Belgians and the expat community is very clear as well – it seems as if they are two separate worlds. They are always complaining about each other."
Credit: Anne Cruyt / Living in Brussels
However, if you talk to people – Belgians and expats alike – they are open to forging connections, she found out. "For many, Brussels is hard to love. But for those who do, the love seems unconditional. Despite the negativity and the constant complaining, people do like living here."
What started as an idea for a 'Humans of New York' style Instagram account about Brussels' expat community quickly turned into a coffee table book, detailing the stories of 50 people from all over the world whose lives brought them to the European capital.
"I am quite happy with the variety of the people we found: diversity in gender, citizenship, background and age. While we have people from all continents, there are a lot of Europeans in the book – but that is to be expected, with Brussels being the European capital," Cruyt said.
Accidental Brusselers
The book is part of a larger project that she started at the end of 2020, during Belgium's second Covid-19 lockdown: 'Living in Brussels', the city's first online expat agency.
"It is still in the making, but I wanted to get to know the target audience in a different way. I called Cem to organise portrait photo sessions, set against different backdrops of Brussels."
The majority were strangers until they showed up for the interview. "I was surprised at how easily people opened op. After just ten minutes, they told us their entire life stories."
A few particularly stood out: "Lyuba talked about living here while her country suddenly ended up at war with Russia and how helpless she felt. Ilaria, too, was very open about her feelings when moving to Brussels, right after her younger brother suddenly passed away. She explained how angry she was at the city for being the background to her grief."
Credit: Cemali Bas / #expatsofbrussels
Others, however, Cruyt already knew, such as her neighbour, the exchange student she hosted and even her closest friend. "My best friend, Sabrina, is Dutch with Morocccan roots. We live together and I know her so well, but I learned so much about her, just because I asked her questions that I had never asked her before."
She started every interview with the question: "How did you end up in Brussels?" She stressed that only one person corrected her and said that they actively chose to move to the city.
"Everyone else was here for work or study, or they married a Belgian or were only supposed to be here for a short period, but ended up staying."
While expats often seem to be much more vocal with their complaints about Brussels administration, safety, the inefficient waste collection system and the 'Belgian way' of doing things, Cruyt stressed that they are also the ones praising the city's broad cultural offer, social life and café culture.
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"The most surprising thing for me was how positive everyone was about the city – it really warmed my heart. I love Brussels for all its good and its bad sides, but I always have to defend it to family and friends," she said. "It was nice to hear another side."
For many people, Brussels is a small part of their lives. "They come and they go, but the city feels like a keepsake of a happy part of their life, career or studies," Cruyt said. "Brussels is always surprising, and it has a way of working its way into people's hearts. The book is a real love letter to the city."
