REGISTRATION POINT KLEIN KASTEELTJE At ‘Het klein kasteeltje’ you find the registration point which used to be located at the WTC tower. They are specialized in requests regarding international protection in Belgium. This location has various functions: establishing the identity of the applicant and monitoring security risks, evaluation of the right to material assistance and initial reception, the first observation of the applicant's situation and assignment to appropriate shelter, provide all applicants with a more uniform and humane arrival route. When you arrive at the administration point, you can stay there for a couple of days. Besides registration there is also a dispatching point for housing where they try to find you a household that will take you in for a
INFORMATION POINT FEDALIS Fedasil guarantees equal services and integrated counseling attuned to the specific characteristics of the various target groups. The protection of personal integrity and the provision of a realistic image of the future are important points of attention in this regard. IMMIGRATION OFFICE Here you can apply for your visa. Boulevard du Neuvième de Ligne 27 1000 Bruxelles
CATERING KITCHEN BELGIUM KITCHEN SOLIDARITY
With an extra warm welcome to people who migrated to Brussels
The solidarity kitchen provides warm meals for those in need. You can find your meal at one of the different HUBs around the north quarter. Working together with initiatives like Parckfarm, the meals are cooked with fresh, local ingredients. If you want to volunteer as a cook or work in one of the city gardens, don’t hesitate to ask for more information from one of our colleagues! 40 Rue Ulens, 1080 Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
HUMANITARIAN HUB HAVENLAAN At the humanitarian HUB at the Havenlaan, an initiative from ‘dokters van de wereld’, you can find medical care, mental health care, clothes distribution, social-legal assistance and they help you to re-establishing contact with your family. They also provide the possibility to shower, charge your electrical devices, and a wifi connection.
Hi! We are Khatereh and Tosca, two architecture students studying in Brussels, presenting you this map as your guide through Brussels. Before we explain our map, we briefly want to introduce ourselves. “My name is Khatereh Zarei. I was born in Shiraz, Iran. My family migrated to Belgium twenty years ago and since then I’ve been living in Antwerp.” “And my name is Tosca Van Reymenant. I am born and raised in Belgium, Leuven, and for my education, I moved to Brussels.” Even though we have very different backgrounds, we saw out of our personal experiences the necessity to provide something to make the people migrating to Brussel feel included and welcome. We came up with the idea of a map. On one hand, it shows you the already existing services in a clear manner. Making it easy to find them and it reveals possible connections. On the other hand, we introduce new initiatives. Some are already existing, but not in the North Quarter, others are introduced by us because we feel that their presence is missing/necessary. Brussels, as a truly multicultural city, has the potential of becoming an ‘active’ host towards migrants. So migrants can be included and integrated in the city on different levels. Upon arrival, migrants who ask for asylum in Brussels will register themselves in CGRS, the office of the commissioner general for refugees and stateless persons. It is an independent federal administration and the central asylum authority in Belgium. After the registration, they are sent to a refugee center where they are provided with basic help from Fedasil. Here they get help with legal matters, they get some basic language courses, etc. At this point, the migrant has become a citizen. What we feel is missing for them, is their connection INto the city and fellow citizens. Introducing this map, we want to make the host city as welcoming as possible by showing the different facilities around the neighborhood, in this case, the North Quarter. On the ‘activity map’, we attempt to introduce all kinds of services which would benefit the life of the migrants. By pointing out and making activities available, we hope that we can give the migrant the feeling that there are actually things to do. Learning new skills in a workshop, a new language, gardening, etc. What makes our map extra special is that we don’t only provide learning opportunities but also bonding opportunities. For example, migrants can teach cooking classes for interested neighbors which can be a great experience for both parties. The ‘basics map’ shows the absolute basic infrastructure: different shelters, public toilets, drinking fountains, etc. We hope that our map will also be used by the transit migrants because this information is mostly directed to them. We hope that by seeing this map for shelters they will also become active in other activities that we provide. Because we feel that it is not because they don’t want to stay here, that they can’t be treated like normal people. With this map, we want to work on opening up their living environment which is now mostly limited to their assigned shelter. It’s important to understand that this group has a very heavy emotional baggage and are confronted with their very difficult journey every moment of every day. What they need, besides all the help they get for their migration procedure, is to take their mind off all those issues and remind them that they are still people with common needs in a city. All the activities are free of charge and accessible to all the migrants. With today’s technology, exploring the city is absolutely not difficult. It’s the emotional part of making migrants feel welcome in your city that is the true challenge. We have the infrastructure, we have the potential. They are just not yet connected or widely introduced to migrants upon their arrival. It takes a lot of time for them to search for these opportunities. So why not provide them with this map which shows our goodwill for integrating and welcoming them in our society? Let this map be a symbol of this
Havenlaan 100, 1000 Brussels
DISPATCHING FOR HOUSING A moment of being thankful this afternoon. My two young guests, inexperienced cooks - 16 and 18 years old - proposed to cook for me, probably because they saw how tired I was. They called their mother in Eritrea, who explained the recipe patiently and followed the whole process. https://dewereldinhuis.be
PARK ROI ALBERT II In between the skyscrapers of the Manhatten quarter you find the linear park Roi Albert II. A green path that brings you from the little ring around Brussels to the Gaucheret park. When you walk here, you feel like you are in New York.
INFORMATION POINT VLUCHTELINGENWERK VLAANDEREN This non-governmental organization defends the interests of the refugee and asylum seeker. They provide help in various ways and fields: education, asylum, hospitality, returns to the country of origin, shelter (also for little children), integration in the community, housing, and providing the right information at your arrival. Rue Botanique 75 1210 Bruxelles
PARK GAUCHERET PARK The Gaucheretpark is located in the middle of the dense urban fabric of the neighborhood. It is meant as a social intermediary between the older residents and the newcomers of different nationalities and with different social backgrounds. The park is not very large but it still offers a lot of recreational possibilities: two playgrounds, a large playful fountain, grass lawns, and numerous benches. It is a large multipurpose room with a stone base that functions as a place for sports and games.
MEDICAL CENTRE / HOSPITAL SAINT - JEAN Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 32 1000 Bruxelles
PARK TOUR & TAXI’S At the tour and taxi’s site, you can find a lovely park. It is a cultural meeting place, with many activities organized by the local initiatives Parckfarm and Jardin Collectif. Also, the park allows us to walk or cycle along paths and enjoy well-maintained grass fields, wooded areas, sports facilities, petanque grounds, a large picnic table, etc.
HUMANITARIAN HUB PORTE D’ULYSSE This center in Evere provides a warm, dry, and safe place for homeless migrants to stay each night. Each morning, seven days a week, they serve breakfast to those staying at the center. They also collect clothes that they donate to those in need. There are also showers, charging points, telephones, and a wifi connection available. When needed, there is also a team that will help you if you need any kind of information. Rue Drootbeek 1020 Bruxelles
MEDICAL HELP CENTER MEDIMMIGRANT The Medimmigrant center is here to support people without legal residence or with a precarious residence status with their medical needs. They provide legal information about how to access health care, urgent medical assistance, and social rights. They also advise on opportunities for residence in Belgium via 9ter or help with the return to the country of origin. Monitoring every individual situation they show you the way to the legal services by detecting and following up problem situations. It is their goal to make the information available by providing different tools such as brochures, in several languages, with information about all kinds of important topics. Rue Gaucheret 164 1030 Bruxelles
MEDIBUS
TRAIN-, BUS-, METROSTATION NORTH STATION The North Station is a very important feature of the North Quarter. Thanks to its large infrastructures it connects the neighborhood with almost whole Belgium and other parts of the world. You can take the train, the bus or the metro here. For more information about the connectivity, you can look at the back of this map for a detailed travel guide through Brussels and even Belgium.
!!!EXTRA INFORMATION!!!
For more important information you can always go to: https://survivinginbrussels.be/app/fr/ - computers are available at the different HUBs
A NEW LINK BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS SUZAN DANIEL BRIDGE
We introduce a legal initiative to provide work opportunities for migrants. People from the neighborhood can come to ask help for their household chores and we will find the right person to help out. It is a way to integrate migrants into the community through a safe network. It is a win-win operation. The migrants get integrated into the community, they have something (useful) to do and they can make some money. The neighbors get fast service, for smaller prices and they will come positively into contact with the migrants. This will hopefully help the negative preconceptions out of the way.
Thanks to this new bridge, there is an improved connection between both sides of the canal. It makes it easier for the migrants to reach the shelters on the other sides and the humanitarian hubs. The bridge is only for pedestrians, bikes and the new tramline.
Boulevard d’Ypres 1000 Brussels
MULTIPURPUSE ROOMS TOUR & TAXI’S “It is Extensa’s vision to develop Tour & Taxis into an attractive and inclusive multipurpose environment; one that offers diverse accommodation, next-generation workspaces, and state-of-the-art venues for conferences, seminars, and events. All will be complemented by retail and leisure facilities, as well as publicly accessible open and green spaces.” There must be room for the migrant population in these new developments. That is why we propose to provide multi-purpose spaces were all kinds of classes and activities can take place for migrants. We also want to provide a restaurant where migrants can be the cook and learn the inhabitants about their culture. The products for this restaurant can be grown in the urban city garden in the Tour & Taxi’s park. Together with all these amazing services, it is important to also provide the basic infrastructure like phones, wifi, donation points, ... The tour and taxi’s site can become a wonderful project in which migrants can play an important role.
The ‘Rue de Brabant’ is one of the oldest shopping streets in Europe. The shops supply goods from all over the world. The price-quality ratio is what attracts thousands of people every day. Brussels is a very multicultural city and Brabantstreet as a perfect example of how all these different cultures can function so well together.
The integration of migrants is very important in the north quarter. That is why we decided to make this map. The starting point of this initiative was the ZIN building and figuring out how we can provide qualitative space back to the community. The meeting center of ZIN is the perfect place to integrate services that can help te migrants. It has a great location, in the middle of the quarter, and is next to the famous Maximiliaan park. We want to integrate spaces where it is possible to host classes for the migrants. Language, math, art, history, ... Anything they are interested in. We also feel like they need space to learn real skills, like in a workshop space/fab lab where they can create things. Other services that would be perfect in the ZIN project are an information point, donation point, catering/ cooking activities. This last one can also become an opportunity to share their culture with the neighborhood. Introducing cooking classes taught by migrants who want to share their favorite traditional dishes. Who better to learn from? There could also be a catering service, where people can ask these traditional chefs for dinner parties at their house. The ZIN project could bring both worlds together in a positive way. And at the roof of the meeting center we can install an urban city garden to provide the kitchens with fresh, local products.
This linear park twists and turns between the urban fabric of the Masui neighborhood. It is designed with a broth diversity of functions. The park is not only a road for active modes like biking but also a place to walk and meet.
SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES Being active is very important so the neighborhoods provides different possibilities to participate in sports activities. Parks are the perfect place to do some sports. But also the sports halls are providing inclusive sports programs in which you can participate.
LOTTO STREET SOCCER TOURNAMENT “It's great to play soccer with friends on the street, just a little bit more fun even than field soccer." Two top footballers with immigrant roots are the godfathers of an amazing initiative that organizes street soccer competitions. For the Bruges midfielder Odjidja, street football is a love he has never lost. We want to promote the social integration of young people from different cultures. We do this by bringing them to the origins of football: street football. The tournament is an excellent opportunity for young people from different backgrounds and all walks of life to meet each other in a sporty way. That's why we find it so important that participation is free. Sport brings together many positive social values, such as teamwork, perseverance, ambition, and acceptance of setbacks.
HUMANITARIAN HUB SERVICES LEGEND Charging point for electrical devices Clothing donation and pick-up point Dontation point for other stuff Showers Phones Wifi connection Information point/legal and social help
“The objective of Parckfarm T&T vzw is to promote ecological practices in an urban area and to strengthen the social relations of the different communities around the site of Tour and Taxis. The association is supported by and made for local residents, to animate the public space and support citizens in setting up projects, workshops, neighborhood parties, and other citizens' initiatives. In terms of the environment, the aim is to promote sustainable food, urban agriculture, and sustainable economic models. Parckfarm is not only an ecological lab but also a social laboratory, a place to mix cultures. Making a crucible of different cultures is not that easy, it has to be a special place, and Parckfarm did the trick. This is an exercise in globalization, in 'super-diversity' and ecological transition! There is a pizza/bread oven which can be used for neighborhood parties. Migrant participation in initiatives like this would benefit their life. It will have a positive impact on their integration, they will learn and work with healthy products and they can provide some food for themselves.
POOL IS COOL Every major city in Europe has one or many public-open air pools, the capital of Europe has none. POOL IS COOL takes up the challenge to change this, believing strongly in the contribution of outdoor swimming to the living quality of our city.
With all the improved services for the migrants, the Maximiliaan park can revive as a nice public park. People from the offices can have a lunch picnic, children can play here after school, neighborhood residents can enjoy the park as a public garden. It will become a place where people meet each other again. They will also integrate a children's farm, which will be amazing for the children in the neighborhood.
MULTIPURPUSE ROOMS ZIN BUILDING
PARK ZENNEPARK
URBAN CITY GARDENING PARCKFARM
PARK MAXIMILIAANPARK
MULTICULTURAL SHOPPING STREET RUE DE BRABANT
Free first-aid help for small wounds. This mobile medical bus is at this location every day from 15h - 18h. Place Stainctlette 1000 Bruxelles
THE ACTIVE MAP
HELPING OUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IEPERSTRAAT
(https://brussels-express.eu/h ouse-house-refugees-brussels /?fbclid=IwAR2xg7JWmfYcD3 6yfIOq6RpV4yOiUhUgTriLQXq _8LxnQw5zpCPRkUZh6t4)
FOOD BRINGS TOGETHER ‘OUR HOUSE INITIATIVE’ Refugees and asylum seekers are here now with talents, skills, and with open minds. They stand ready to make friends, learn languages and introduce the best of their culture to us” underlined Barbara Winn-Hagelstam, Founder and CEO at Our House Project. Created in January this year, Our House Project is a non-profit organization enabling effective refugee integration, including the respectful exchange of cultural awareness between both the arriving and receiving cultures. Preparing and sharing food can be a warm and intimate exchange. Our House has many ways to make this possible with their refugees. From cooking workshops to professional catering. The menus are developed by the new Our House chefs: for instance the “meze buffet” was developed by Mohammad and his wife, who are from Syria. How about hosting a refugee dinner party at your home? That’s another creative idea. You can invite your friends and neighbors to experience a cultural exchange with refugees. They will come to your home to cook and get to know you.
ACTIVE STREET SIMON BOLIVAR RAMBLAS With the new Kanalplan, they finally decided to change the occupation of the Simon Bolivar Boulevard. This street has been captured by cars, killing all the atmosphere in the area. Now they eliminated the cars from this street to create a connection between the two parks and a safe connection to the new bridge. And what a success it has been! The old street has risen from the dead and transformed into a social activator between all its actors. On Friday night the streets transform into one big after-work meets neighborhood inhabitant's party. It has become the new place to see and to be seen. During the summer months, a food truck festival could take place where you can taste delicious dishes from all over the world. With the help of the migrants it would introduce the most authentic dishes.
FOOD DONATIONS SUPERMARKETS/HOTELS/RESTAURNANTS Lots of restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets throw away so much food because it didn’t sell. It is a shame when you are located in a neighborhood with so many people who don’t have the resources to buy food when they are hungry. We want to encourage every hotel, restaurant, and supermarket to work together with our organizations to think of ways we can give this food a better destination. For example, the hotels can provide leftover foods from the breakfast buffet. Supermarkets can give away the ‘old’ products instead of throwing them away while they are still edible.
HUMANITARIAN HUB SERVICES LEGEND Catering service Important classes like learning language
Urban city garden Workshops