Sint-Dimpnacollege
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Background information brochure
European week
Sint-Dimpnacollege Geel
Sint-Dimpnacollege
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Table of contents
SINT- DIMPNACOLLEGE 3
HISTORY 3
EUROPEAN PROJECTS 6
GEEL 8
CITY MAP GEEL 12
BRUGES 13
CITY MAP BRUGES 16
BRUSSELS 17
CITY MAP BRUSSELS 24
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SINT- DIMPNACOLLEGE
HISTORY
St Dimpna’s is a private-subsidized, mixed, catholic school,
aged 14-18. It has around 700 pupils in the sections
Economics-Modern Languages, Economics-Mathematics,
Greek-Latin, Latin-Modern Languages, Latin-Sciences, Latin-
Mathematics, Modern Languages-Sciences, Modern
Languages-Mathematics, Human Sciences and Sciences-
Mathematics.
Besides their mother tongue Dutch, our pupils follow for at
least 3 years French, English and German. Nearly all these
boys and girls will be going to universities or to other higher
education schools. The school has a staff of about 70.
It got its name from a local saint, whose cult formed the
origin of a very old, traditional method in treating the
mentally ill, as it is still practised in Geel.
The Sint-Dimpnacollege arose 1 September 2001 as the result of a reorganisation
of secondary education in Geel. Before, there was the Sint-Dimpnalyceum, a
former secondary girls school, aged 12-18, and the Sint-Aloysiuscollege, a former
secondary boys school, aged 12-18. Within the new school community KOGEKA
pupils, teachers, headmasters and names were exchanged. Result: the Sint-
Dimpnacollege now has boys and girls aged 14-18 and the Sint-Aloysiusinstituut
has boys and girls aged 12-14.
Dimpna International Inc.
Since 1992 our school has built up some experiences with international exchange
projects. In that year we invited one school of each country of the European
Community for one week in Geel. That ‘European Week’ was repeated in
Luxembourg (LU, 1995), Helsinki (FI, 1996), Kingston-upon-Hull (UK, 1997),
Athens (EL, 1998), Mainz (DE, 2000) and Neumarkt am Wallersee (AT, 2001).
Meanwhile we started projects with schools from Vejle (DK), Rethymno (EL), Porto
(PT), Xanten (DE), ‘s Hertogenbosch (NL), Cinisello Balsamo (IT), Interlaken (CH),
Vänersborg (SE), Rareny (IE), Kemi (FI), Hellinikon (EL), Rathmines (IE), Galapagar
(EL), Åkrehamn (NO), Olkusz (PL), Salo (IT), Ormilia (EL), Pompia (EL), Dijon (FR),
Mainz (DE), Kongsberg (NO), Bagno a Ripoli (IT),Cervignano (IT), Paris (FR),
Holbæk (DK), La Ville du Bois (FR), Larisa (EL), Barcs (HU), Bollnäs (SE), Gaigalava
(LV), Litvinov (CZ), Paleo Faliron (EL), Fagaras (RO), Ljubljana (Sl), Pamplona (ES),
Marsala (I), Worms (DE), Alesünd (N0), Màlaga (ES), Joensuu (FI),.. .
The reason why we do this, is simple. The aim of education at school is to prepare
our pupils for society. That society is increasingly internationalising, certainly in
the small country called Belgium. The world is becoming one big house. But do
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we feel at home in it? While physical distances are diminishing due to technical
developments, mental borders of extreme nationalism and creepy racism are
growing. While the economical Europe is unifying more and more, some fear that
the European cultures will degenerate. Therefore, if we want our pupils to become
real world citizens, we have to arrange meetings with pupils from other countries
in their own environment, so that they can experience foreign languages, habits,
cultures, countries, ... as an enrichment, not as a threat. Europe will only be truly
unified in the hearts of the Europeans, not with paper trade treaties.
Every exchange project is different, but we always try to respect some principles.
1. Exchanges are very worthwhile, although not compulsory at St. Dimpna’s.
That’s why we always work with volunteers, not with class groups! Any pupil can
participate. We do not select on the basis of the knowledge of foreign languages
or study results, eventually we take the motivation into account.
2. In principle exchanges are reserved for the pupils of our fifth form (16-17 years
old) because of educational and practical reasons. Longer lasting projects can
start with pupils of our fourth form (15-16) and end with our sixth form (17-18).
3. Because of the mixed up groups of pupils, all preparations have to be done
outside the lessons. That’s why motivation is an important feature for our
exchange pupils.
4. Exchanges are an excellent way of practising foreign languages. During the
exchanges the aim is not to speak perfectly English (or French or German), but to
dare it (as good as possible).
5. All exchange participants stay in host families, preferably one guest per host
family. This highly benefits the ready knowledge of foreign languages and the
acquaintance of the manners and customs of the host country. Besides, this is not
only the cheapest way to stay abroad, but also the most pleasant and informing.
The participants get to know the every days life, not the tourist mask.
6. Exchanges are based on reciprocity: those who have stayed in a host family,
will receive their former host in their house. Only when this is impossible for
serious reasons, we deviate from this base.
7. Exchanges are expensive. That’s why we always try to get as much financial
support as possible from e.g. the Flemish Ministry of Education or the European
Union. Also our parents committee is involved in financing actively the exchanges
and the school itself invests in the coordination and realisation of European
projects.
8. Financial problems may never be the only reason for a pupil not to participate
in an exchange project. In such cases, we considerately lighten the costs for the
pupil in one way or another.
9. Exchange projects deal with a theme. The theme and the programme are
determined in consultation with the partner school(s).
10. The exchange program usually is a tasteful cocktail of lessons, study tours,
social and cultural activities and tourist trips, dependent on the theme.
Experience told us that this is a very enjoyable recipe to widen your cultural
horizon...
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I hope you understood well: these are the principles WE hold on to, not
necessarily our partners. Every school has its own educational project and the
freedom to organise its exchange projects according to it. But it’s good to know
each other’s point of view towards exchanging pupils, to prevent
misunderstandings.
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EUROPEAN PROJECTS
Sint-Dimpnalyceum (1992-2001) & Sint-Dimpnacollege (2001-…)
Period Programme Project Partners
1992-
1995
MSP
(Multilateral
School
Partnership)
Protection Of The
Environment, Pressing
Need
Xanten (DE), Rethymno (EL),
Porto (PT)
1994-
1995
Lingua E FITAL Cinisello Balsamo (IT)
1995-
1998
Comenius 1 Pure Water, An Emergency Kemi (FI), Hellinikon (EL),
Rathmines (IE), Åkrehamn (NO),
Porto (PT), Galapagar (EL) (E)
1995-
1998
Comenius 1 SWIRBEL Vänersborg (SE), Rareny (IE)
1996-
1997
Lingua E GESALO
Salo (IT)
1997-
2000
Comenius 3.1
(now
Comenius 2)
BISEL. Biotic Index at
Secondary Education Level
Gent (B), Mol (B), Argiroupolis
(EL), Vlissingen (NL), Kongsberg
(NO)
1998-
1999
Comenius 1 From The Vineyard To The
Wine
Mainz (DE), Dijon (FR)
1998-
2001
Comenius 1 Endangered Species Hellinikon (EL), Kongsberg (NO),
Olkusz (PL), Porto (PT),
Galapagar (EL)
1998-
2001
Comenius 1 Paideia 2000 Paris (FR), Bagno a Ripoli (IT)
1999-
2002
Comenius 3 CFN. Comenius Freshwater
Network
Fresach (A), Mol (B), Nicosia
(CY),Lyon (FR), Athens(EL),Barcs
(HO),Vilnius (LT), Brasov (ROM), Settle (UK), Kingston-upon-Hull (UK)
2000-
2003
Comenius 1 Water Solidarity Holbæk (DK), La Ville du
Bois(FR),Larisa (EL),Barcs(HO),
Bagno a Ripoli (IT), Gaigalava (LV), Bollnäs (S)
2001-
2002
Comenius Accompanying Measures Water Parliaments Vienna (A), Espalion (FR), Le Puy
(FR), Strasbourg (FR), Barcs (HO)
2001-
2004
Comenius 1 The Ciconia Project
Kongsberg(NO), Olkusz(PL),
Porto (PT), Litvinov (CZ), Paleo
Faliron (EL), Fagaras (RO)
2002-
2005
Comenius 1 PILE (project intercultural
de langues européennes)
Bollate (IT), Saronno( IT), Bollate
(I) Les Ulis (FR),
Massy (FR), La Ville du Bois –(
FR), Setubal (PT), Zaragoza
(ES), Salamanca (ES), Haunetal-
Neukirchen (DE), Neuenstein
(DE), Bad Hersfeld (DE), Craiova
(RO), Jud Constanta (RO), Serres
(EL),
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2003-
2006
Minerva The Gisas Project Helsinki (FI), Ljubljana (SI), La
Ville du Bois(FR), Larisa (EL),
Barcs (HO), Bagno a Ripoli (ITT),
Gaigalava (LV), Bollnäs (SE)
2004-
2007
Comenius 1 Garden of Eden Litvinov(CZ), Kongsberg (NO),
Olkusz (PL), Cervignano (IT)
Gaigalava (LV), Le Puy en
Velay (FR)
2004-
2007
Minerva Free Your River Grenoble (FR), Cervignano(IT),
Tolmezzo (I) Ljubljana (Sl) WWF
(SW), WWF (I) Umweltbüreo Nord
E.V. (DE), Education Highway
(GmbH), WWF (Au)
2005–
2008
Comenius 1 Home Green Home Helsinki (FI) Ljubljana (SI), Barcs
(HO), Fagaras( RO), Marsala(IT)
Porto (PT),
2006-
2007
Euroklassen Nobel Kongsberg (NO)
2008-
2010
Comenius 1 Eco Energy Vänersborg (SE)
2009-
2011
Comenius Super Supper Ljubljana (SLO), Barcs (HO),
Pamplona (ES), Marsala (IT)
2009-
2011
Comenius Art nouveau Worms (DE), Malaga (ES),
Alesund (NO)
2011-
2013
Comenius Wine….not ? Marsala (IT), Pamplona (ES),
Joensuu (FI), Olkusz (PL)
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GEEL
Geel is a town with 34,000 inhabitants, in the province of Antwerp. It belongs to
the Flemish Community in federal Belgium. Until a few decades ago it was a rural
community. Because of its location near several canals, railways and the
international Motorway E313, Geel has also developed a large industrial area
recently.
For ages it has been known for the treatment of the mentally ill, who are not
taken up in an institution, but in families.
Geel is also a school centre: nearly 10,000 students and pupils attend secondary,
technical and higher education schools.
Psychiatric Family Care in Geel
Geel is known far beyond its boundaries for putting out its psychiatric patients to
board in families. This kind of ‘care’ means that psychiatric and mentally ill
patients stay in a foster family and participate in family life. This is a unique
feature in psychiatry, the basis of which lies in the legend of St Dimpna.
This legend, written down by Petrus van Kamerijk in about 1250, tells how an
Irish princess, Dimpna, died as a martyr in Geel in the year 600. According to this
document, Dimpna was the daughter of a heathen king of Ireland. Her mother,
the queen, had become a catholic and raised her daughter in the same belief.
After the death of his wife the king was inconsolable and nothing or nobody could
make him happy. His courtiers suggested that he remarried a woman who would
be as beautiful as his former wife. The messengers who were sent out all came
back without results because such a woman was not to be found. They then
advised the king to marry... his own daughter Dimpna. So the king, caught by a
devilish lust, asked his daughter in marriage. This proposal gave the deeply
religious Dimpna a great shock and she firmly refused.
With a few faithful servants, among whom her confessor Gerebernus and the
courtjester with his wife, she crossed the North Sea and reached shore at the port
of Antwerp. Upon fleeing further inland she found herself at Zammel, a hamlet of
Geel (near Westerlo), where she settled in a little hut.
Her father traced her with the help of an innkeeper from nearby Westerlo (the inn
was called ‘The Kettle’) who recognised the coins with which Dimpna had
previously paid her. The tradition added that the hostess, unaware of her
unintentional betrayal, pointed out the direction with her stretched arm, and this
was suddenly immobilized.
So this is how the king caught up with his daughter. But still Dimpna obstinately
refused to accept her father’s impossible proposal. Mad with fury the king fled
into a demented rage and beheaded his daughter. Gerebernus was also murdered,
and the inhabitants piously buried both martyrs.
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The people started to honour them as holy martyrs. Miraculous healings followed
and in time the tomb became a place of pilgrimage in honour of Dimpna. This is
where the legend ends.
Can this folk legend historically be justified? This is hard to find out because we
are short of source material. Since the end of the Middle Ages Dimpna’s death has
traditionally been placed on May 30th of 600 AD. But this date cannot be proved
historically. The only evidence we can cling to are the remains of the white stone
coffins dating from the 8th or 9th centuries.
Then there is the so-called ‘Red Stone’, which may have been found in one of the
coffins and in which the name Dimpna is engraved. This ‘Red Stone’ might date
from the 9th century. The oldest wooden relic coffin of St Dimpna, which is still
preserved in the St Dimpna Church, could possibly go back as far as the 10th or
11th century. We know for certain that Dimpna was already being adored in Geel
then. Originally people venerated her as ‘martyr of purity’, and she was called
upon for the healing of all kinds of diseases. Some fragments out of her life story
stirred the imagination of the primitive medieval people.
Dimpna had resisted a father who was possessed by the devil. The image of a
possessed father and the fact that Dimpna, his daugther, had resisted him and
consequently the devil... all this made the medieval people believe that the ‘Saint’
Dimpna also had power over other persons who were possessed by the devil. In
short, after some time Dimpna grew into a ‘patron of insanity’.
The place of pilgrimage had a certain aura even before. In his ‘De vita Sanctae
Dimpnae’ Petrus Van Kamerijk relates how the inhabitants of the German city
‘Xanten by the Rhine’ attempted to rob the relics of the ‘Saints of Geel’. Some
historians place this event in the 10th century. Two papal letters (1329 and 1412)
confirm that during that period Dimpna’s fame as ‘patron of insanity’ had become
strong and was widely spread. Naturally there were other such holy figures
abroad, but Geel’s fame was wider spread due to the great number of ‘miraculous
healings’ that occurred ‘at the intervention’ of Dimpna.
At first the patients were housed in the church. Later on special buildings were
established for them. The present ‘Sick Chamber’ dates from 1687; the first
might have been finished in the 15th century. Chronicles from this period teach
that - just as everywhere else in Europe - methods of admission and treatment
demonstrated anything but a human approach. The treatment always consisted of
‘exorcism’-techniques. They always used medical prescriptions, not to forget the
importance of Dimpna’s relics, which were believed to have a ‘supernatural’
healing power. The patient in Geel had to confess and communicate (consecrated
wafer) as often as possible. Every three days he had to creep barefoot under St
Dimpna’s reliquary, among such other things as staying within the Sick Chamber
for nine days and drinking from the ‘ablution water’ (= water to clean the chalice)
after the daily mass. The patient was also weighed and had to sacrifice his weight
in corn to Dimpna. These were the various penances during a ‘noveen’ and they
were written down in the Liber Innocenticum.
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We are not well informed about the number of pilgrims reaching Geel each year
but the names of foreign pilgrims, especially Dutchmen, Irishmen and Spaniards
frequently occur in the archives of the St Dimpna Church.
It is very likely that family care developed in the late Middle Ages. Some
psychiatric patients were put out by their own relatives with citizens who lived
near the St Dimpna Church. Later on family care expanded to the whole territory
of Geel.
The putting out of patients in foster families was carried out by clergymen until
the end of the 18th century. In 1797 the French revolution put an end to this first
religious phase of family care in Geel. The priests were driven away, and the
church was closed. Until the 19th century the St Dimpna Church kept being a
church for pilgrims rather than a parish church. It was part of the centre parish St
Amands till 1874, the year in which the St Dimpna Parish was founded. The
families who took in patients were financially paid for by the patients’ relatives.
The year 1850 meant a definite break with the past: family care in Geel was put
under the supervision of the State by a national law. In this way, the State - in the
form of the Ministry of Justice - took family care under its authority as a ‘State
Colony’. In 1862 the State built an ‘infirmary’, a central hospital, developed by the
architect Pauly, according to the progressive ideas of Professor Guislain from
Ghand.
The Geel State Colony soon became renowned throughout the world for its
system and it was followed in a lot of places. The number of patients increased
rapidly and reached its climax in 1938 with 3,726 patients in a total number of
20,000 inhabitants in Geel. By then Geel had become a rural municipality with an
urbanised centre. The patients came from home and abroad.
The group of the Netherlands have always led a ‘different’ life. Especially for them
the vicar Elie Van Dissel from Bladel (the Netherlands) set up a special association
which was called ‘The Association for the Benefit of Suffering Inhabitants of Geel,
Cared for in Geel’. Though protestant originally, this association addressed its
services to all patients, liberal, jewish or catholic. The protestant temple built in
1901 in Geel (Stationstraat (Station Street)) functioned both as church and club-
room. Part of the St Dimpna Church yard was reserved for protestant Dutchmen.
Patients were sent to Geel not only from the Netherlands but also form France,
Germany and even non-European countries. Worth noticing is that the Irish have
disseminated the cult of Dimpna throughout the world.
After the second world war the number of Dutchmen fell sharply. The State
Colony was reduced to an institution of national importance. At this moment a
thousand patients (in a totality of 34,000 inhabitants in Geel - 2001) still live in
Geel. The main reason for this decrease is undoubtedly a financial one (the cost
which has to be paid by the patients’ relatives or by the State).
Yet family care in Geel has not lost any of its vitality. Since the sixties an
international and multi-disciplinary project has been set up under the name ‘Geel,
Family Care Research Project’. The objectives were to examine whether the Geel
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family care system could provide an alternative for the traditional institutional
psychiatric care in
hospitals. The Geel system symbolizes this unique and more human alternative.
Today, in the context of regional formation, family care in Geel comes under the
Ministry of Public Health of the Flemish Community and it received its present
title: Public Psychiatric Centre. (Recently the value of the family care system has
been officially acknowledged in a new decree - by the Federal Flemish
government.)
The cult of St Dimpna had stopped a few decades ago, but since 1975 the 15th of
May has been celebrated as ‘St Dimpna’s Day’ and every five years the St Dimpna
procession marches through the centre of Geel. The St Dimpna Museum and
‘Gasthuismuseum’ (Hospital Museum) opened a section exclusively dealing with
family care of insane people.
A final remark.
After the second worl war the Geel tourist services launched a new slogan: ‘Geel,
City of Charity’. It is up to you to find out this week if it deserves this honourable
title...
CITY MAP GEEL
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BRUGES
BRUGES
History
Written historical records situate the origin of Bruges at about 850 A.D. The
origin of Bruges as a centre of commerce is closely connected with a sequence of
inundations, called the Dunkerque Floods, during wich the actual Zwin, a direct
outlet to the sea, was formed by a storm in 1134.
To defend the Flemish coast against the increasing Viking incursions, the early
counts of Flanders built a series of strongholds wich gave rise to cities. That is
how Bruges became a military fortress in Western Europe. At the same time, it will
become the centre of a settlement, around wich the coastal area of Flanders will
develop. The name “Brugge” could be a derivate of the Norwegian “bryggja” which
means “landing-place”. With direct access of the sea, Bruges became a commercial
centre with relations, not only with the neighbouring countries, but also with
regions in North, East and South Europe. So the city reached its most flourishing
period in the 13th century. In the 13th century, the prosperous Country of
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Flanders was incorporated into the French crown-land, but already in 1302 a
revolt in Bruges led to municipal independence.
In the 15th century Bruges became the art centre of the Low Countries. The end
of the 15th century will mean the definite decline of the medieval splendour of
Bruges. The outlet to the sea had been constantly threatened by the silting up of
the Zwin. Flanders rose up against Maximilian of Austria in 1485. This caused
political instability and most foreign merchants emigrated.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the city obtained a new access to the sea
with the harbour Zeebrugge and the Baldwin Canal.
The museums of Bruges contain a unique collection of world famous paintings of
the Flemish Primitives.
Lovers of tapestry, lace, ceramics, pewter and wrought iron work find what suits
them in the churches and the municipal museum.
City of Art
Halles and Belfry
The Belfry is the symbol of freedom of a medieval city. The original edifice was
probably replaced by a brick belfry about 1240. Since then the tower has been
altered more than once. The tower has a famous carillon composed of 47 bells.
From the top, you have a panorama of the city.
The Halles date back from the same period as the tower. The ground flour was
used as a covered market.
The Burg Square
For nearly thousand years the Burg Square has been the centre of religious,
judicial and administrative activities. Of the original stronghold nothing is left but
its name. The edifice represents the different styles of nine centuries history.
Opposite the Town Hall, a scale model represents the Carolingian Chapel, built in
the 9th century.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood
This renowned place of pilgrimage consists of two superimposed oratories.
Every year on Ascension Day the celebrated procession of the Holy Blood goes
trough the streets of the city. In the museum the reliquary of the Holy Blood is to
be admired.
The Town Hall
This monument is one of the most beautiful Gothic town halls in Flanders. Of
special interest inside the Town Hall is the Gothic Hall.
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The Old Recorders’ House
This edifice is one of the most remarkable monuments with Renaissance style
elements in Bruges.
The Former Court of Justice
This building (dating from 1727) is housing the Tourist Information Service and
the City Record Office.
Church of Our Lady
This church was built in the Middle Ages. The imposing brick tower dominates the
city. It’s 375 feet high.
We also notice the beautiful beguinage, the Minnewater,.... and the Reien. There
are also a lot of typical houses and squares.
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BRUSSELS
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BRUSSELS
City
Here is thus a summary of figures about the City of Brussels:
1 national and European capital
165.090 inhabitants (calculated by National Register on 1st January 2011)
surface of 32,61 km2
population density of 5062,5 habitants / km2
163 nationalities
296 km of public road network
4.324 municipal agents working in 338 public buildings
2.300 workers of the CPAS - OCMW (Public Welfare Centre)
2.359 policemen and employees of the Zone Bruxelles-CAPITALE-Ixelles and
495 police vehicles
350.000 commuters each day
650 demonstrations a year
42 green spaces of which 4 cemeteries
39 public playgrounds and 4 cemeteries
Population of the City of Brussels
The number of inhabitants of the City of Brussels (centre, Laeken, Neder-Over-
Heembeek and Haren):
Year Number of inhabitants
2000 136.673
2010 161.771
The Belgian capital may not be large, but it nevertheless has great ambitions, and
- as a truly world-class city - it is a veritable Mecca for encounters at every level.
Brussels today is home to more international organizations than London, Paris or
Geneva. It has become a centre of gravity for all currents of ideas and activity.
N.A.T.O. and many of the European Union‘s decision-making and administrative
institutions have long been established in Brussels, and many more Community
organizations are presently being installed here.
Brussels is a place where people feel at home, and while the city may be humming
with activity, calm and refreshing nature is never more than a stone’s throw away
- sometimes even in the heart of the city’s most lively quarters - with an
abundance of ponds, forests and bridle paths for those who love to stroll and
dream.
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An open city, Brussels welcomes its visitors with the wide range of attractions it
has wisely preserved. With its rich tradition, its imposing facades and stately
parks, proud of its success, its present and its future, Brussels is a city of striking
contrasts: ... between the majestic architecture of the Grand-Place (Grote Markt),
and the futuristic Atomium, ... between a simple meal beneath the cherry trees,
and restaurants which are among the most sophisticated in all of Europe, ...
between the early morning “flea” market, and the Antiques market held in the
shadow of the Gothic tracery of Notre-Dame of the Sablon, ... between the calm of
the suburbs, and the hustle and bustle of the city centre’s commercial streets ...
the heart of the city - a pedestrian’s kingdom and a veritable feast for the eyes -
remains lively until hours of the morning. Restaurants, pubs, street artists, ...
everything contributes to produce a captivating atmosphere. At every turn,
visitors encounter traces of history, that of the European dream as old as Brussels
itself. The city’s many museums display priceless collections which are the envy
of the world: from works by the greatest painters of the Courts of Europe, such as
Rubens and Rembrandt, to the iguanodons discovered by coal miners in the 19th
century.
Appealing, seductive, Brussels delights its visitors, revealing to them its most
precious treasure: its humanity.
European Institutions
The European Union has its main base of operation in Brussels – the European
Parliament sometimes sits in Strasbourg, France and institutions can also be
found in Luxembourg. The build up of European activity has resulted in
development of the European Quarter on the east side of the city, located in the
area between metro Arts-Loi, metro Trone, Place Jourdan and metro Schuman. In
this rectangle you will find street after street of glass covered buildings, which
serve different branches of the European Union.
the European Union institutions that make up European Brussels include the
European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council
of Ministers and the European Council. Many countries also have
their embassies based in Brussels to take advantage of proximity to the European
Union institutions.
1 European Union
The European Union is a supranational organisation of
countries given power by European treaties to create
legislation that supersedes all national legislation in
areas including, but not limited to, trade, border
control, foreign policy, agriculture, defence and
industry. The spirit of the cooperation between
European countries is to gain strength in unity. Since
its inception in 1951, European countries within the
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union have not experienced a war between member countries; it has established
its own currency and its own internal borders.
The European Union today has 27 member states, 7 candidate states, an anthem
and its own flag. Its international significance has become important and the CIA
World Factbook has recently created a separate entry for the European Union
alongside other country records. Here are some basic facts about the European
Union.
The European Union was the result of a successful industrial alliance between six
founding countries in Europe in 1951 that has now grown to become a mammoth
economic and political force creating policies that affect almost 500 million
people each year. The work of the European Union is carried out by different
European institutions based in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg, France.
Each European institution plays a unique role to generate a democratic process
for law and policy development for member countries.
2 European Commission
The European Commission (EC) comprises of commissioners who are nominated
by member states to draft proposals for new laws and policies. As well as 27
commissions (one per state) there are more than 25,000 civil servants carrying
out the work of policy drafting and implementation.
Sources for legislative proposals come from European treaties, recommendations
by the European Parliament and the European Council. Draft proposals are
debated on by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament before they
can be passed as EU laws and policies. Once legislation is passed, the European
Commission also ensures individual member countries put in the place measures
to implement the legislation.
3 European Parliament Brussels
Similar to a national parliament, the European Parliament (EP or Europarl) consists
of an elected group of representatives called Members of the European Parliament
(MEPs), there are 785 MEPs after the 2004 elections. The role of the European
Parliament is to amend, delay or reject new laws.
In terms of hierarchy, they are traditionally less powerful that
the Council of Ministers who are able to pass certain laws
without the co-decision of the European Parliament. Areas of
legislation include justice and citizenship, external
relationship, agriculture and fisheries, budget, culture and
education, economic and monetary affairs, employment and
social affairs, internal market and industry, regions and
transport and health and environment.
Elections have been held once every five years since 1979
and the European Union is trying to increase voter turn out at
these elections. There are 7 political parties vying for seats.
Parliament plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg (France) 12 times per year and
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all other committee meetings and the official seat of the parliament is in Brussels
(Belgium).
4 Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers is officially called the ‘Council of the European Union’ or
Consilium in Latin. It is the main decision-making body of the European Union,
working in partnership with the European Parliament to pass new laws for
the European Union member states. Ministers for particular areas such as foreign
policy, transport, finance, agriculture or trade, will represent their member state
depending on the issue discussed.
Draft law proposals are written by the European Commission and used as input
into meetings where these draft laws are voted on and passed into legislation. As
at 2009, 345 votes are divided amongst 27 member countries. These are
distributed according to agreements in the European treaties. Depending on the
clauses set out by the treaties a law may need a simple majority, qualified
majority or a unanimous vote.
After new laws are passed, the Council of Ministers takes upon itself to co-
ordinate any laws which involve security and foreign policy, and police and
judicial co-operation in criminal matters.
5 European Council
The European Council is not literally an institution; it is a summit of
representatives of each member state (usually the head of state, such as the
President and/or Prime Minister). These meetings are held 4 times a year at the
Justus Lipsius building in Brussels. The European Council’s role is to issue
declarations or resolutions at the end of each meeting.
Before 2002, all meetings were held in the country of the presiding Presidency by
rotation, but due to concerns about cost to the environment and budget, this was
gradually changed.
This Council differs from the Council of Ministers in that it does not pass
legislation or have powers to co-ordinate activities within the
European Union. However, it is considered a steering committee that
drives the direction of the European Union on topical issues of the
day – climate change, financial crisis and admission of new member
states for example.
The President of the Council is also the chair of these quarterly
meetings. The President has no voting rights but he/she is
responsible for organising the meeting. Herman Van Rompuys (B) is
the president since 2010.
International institutions in Brussels
Embassies in Brussels
On last count there are about 210 foreign embassies and consulates in Brussels –
some countries have a consulate and an embassy office in Brussels. These
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embassies and consulates, ranging from A to Z (Afghanistan – Zimbabwe),
represent their countries within Belgium. Embassies are spread all over Brussels
city but the highest concentration is along Avenue Louise (the high class
shopping area) and downtown by the Royal Park.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NATO is a military alliance of European and North American countries, established
after the signing of the treaty in 1949. The purpose of the alliance is the
enhancement of security of and military cooperation in the North Atlantic region
and the regions surrounding member states and partner states. NATO’s
headquarters in Brussels is the political headquarters of the organization and the
seat of the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s political decision-making body. It is
home to national delegations from the member countries and among others, to
liaison offices or diplomatic missions of partner countries. They are supported by
NATO’s International Staff and International Military Staff, which are also located
within the headquarters.
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Notes
Brussels, a capital city
Brussels is a little bit of everything: an agglomeration of 19 communes forming one of the three Regions of
the federal Belgian state; the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium; the headquarters of the French and Flemish
Communities. Hence it is officially a bilingual territory. Brussels is also the home of the European
Commission and the Council of the European Union. Furthermore, geographically speaking, Brussels is
located in the middle of the 15 member states of Europe.
Its origin
Where does the name ‘Brussels’ come from? Brussels dates back to the Dutch word ‘broek’, which means
‘marsh’. In Celtic, ‘bruoc’ was the word designating the vegetation of marshes, heather; and ‘sella’ meant
‘chapel’. When the city was born, around 977, in the depths of the valley, the Senne, an impetuous and
variable body of water and its frequent floods led to the formation of marshes. (Its history dating back to
medieval times explains for a rather chaotic street-map.)
Language(s)
Brussels being the official bi-lingual capital of Belgium implies that practically all the official indications like
names of streets and traffic indications, fire exits etc.. are given in two languages: French and Dutch. The
majority of the people in Brussels speak French. English however is rapidly becoming an important language
in Brussels because of the numerous international political organizations. In restaurants, cafés, hotels one
should not have too many problems getting around in English. The Dutch-speakers in Brussels will easier
communicate in English than French-speakers.
Souvenirs
Much bought souvenirs are :
1. chocolates : Everywhere in the city you will find chocolate shops. Those around the ‘Grand Place’ stay
open until 9 or 10 p.m.
2. beer: Belgium is the best (we try to be objective) beer country in the world. There are nowadays numerous
beer shops around the ‘Grand Place’ where you can buy most of the Belgian beers. New are the cardboard
boxes which contain a few bottles of one specific kind of beer together with the matching beer glass. (Note:
in Belgium every beer has its own specially designed glass.) Typical for Brussels are the fruit beers (cherry,
raspberry, peach…).Or what about a wonderful Trappist beer, made in one of the Abbeys of Belgium? Be
careful when drinking a Trappist beer. These beers tend to be very strong (between 8 and 11.5 percent of
alcohol!).
3. lace : still the most bought souvenir of Brussels. Plenty of lace shops sell our different kinds of lace and
tapestries.
4. comic strips : In Belgium comic strips have become something like the 7th art, thanks to the popularity of
comic strip characters like Tintin. In the shop of the Comic Strip museum you can buy comic strip albums in
different languages, as well as different items with comic strip heroes in it (ties, T-shirts, beakers, key-
hangers, towels, underwear etc….)