Brussels Fosters Association Community Empowerment

The Association Place

An initiative of the Convention and Association Bureau of visit.brussels, The Association Place has been instrumental in uniting various activities aimed at international associations within Brussels throughout its entire first year of operation.

Streamlined through the monthly Association Connect networking series, tailored for association professionals, these events are designed to empower and inspire by addressing key topics such as branding, influence, networking strategies, and management. With a focus on active participation and limited to 35 attendees, the sessions allowed speakers to engage the audience using various formats, covering EU affairs, communications, and association management across the two meeting rooms of TAP.

In September, The Association Place hosted its Welcome Days, where various information sessions allowed attendees to learn more about practical and urban developments in Brussels. The event featured sessions on meeting and event organisation, the evolution of the European Quarter, and practical aspects of living in Brussels, delivered by the Expats Welcome Desk. Additionally, a special session on association management, focusing on game design and association strategy, was presented by Association by Design.

The premises were also available for associations, its affiliates and partners. Among others the Association Leader’s Toolkit was launched by the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) in autumn, while the Rainbow Map Europe was presented to the media in spring.

The Association Place will continue to strengthen its role as the first point of contact for associations based abroad, serving as the primary gateway for both Brussels-based and visiting professionals to become part of the city’s vibrant association community. Brussels aims to further develop its unique, welcoming, and secure environment where international associations can convene, connect, and collaborate amid an ever-evolving local and global landscape.

Brussels & the International Associations Community

Today, Brussels’ long-standing relationship with the international association community enters a new phase. Changes within the city and the associations themselves have led to a mutual recognition of needs and opportunities, fostering ongoing dialogue and active engagement across various fields for all stakeholders.

The capital of Europe consistently scores high in the Union of International Associations (UIA) rankings. In 2024 a dedicated city report was released by UIA on Brussels showing the evolution in number and types of associations present in the city, as well as those organising events on its territory.

In the last twenty years, from 2004 to 2023, the number of associations with headquarters in Brussels has grown by 28%. While a wide range of sectors are represented, no single sector dominates the city’s association landscape. However, trade federations and regional representations make up a significant portion, with active involvement in areas such as agriculture and food, communications, medicine, law, social sciences, technology, and commerce.

In relation to association meetings, Brussels has been ranked #1 for association meetings for over a decade and has retained its top spot for 15 years. This position is probably influenced by the high number of association headquarters located in Brussels, the presence of a well-established meetings business, and the specificity of a legal status for international non-profit organisations present in the Belgian law.

The International Associations Community & the European Quarter

Most international associations are based in the European Quarter, a district that recently introduced its own brand. This branding is visible throughout the area and helps create a connection between museums, shops, and both private and public entities operating there.

A dedicated network for the European quarter regularly organises information sessions on its development and summaries are also shared within the programme of The Association Place. Moreover, international associations may also be involved and move forward together in pushing the brand to an international audience.

Significant urban changes are set to occur, including the redevelopment of the Schuman roundabout, the office park, and the Cinquantenaire Park area. These transformations offer associations the opportunity to actively participate in the reshaping of an entire urban district—something quite unique on a global scale.

Empowering the community through knowledge, active participation, and involvement in The Association Place program, while also showcasing the city through other projects, goes beyond simple networking—it’s about sharing the future of a destination with all who visit or are based there. Brussels is renowned for its diverse architectural styles and the unique character they create, much like the lasting connections international associations can build over time.

To learn more about what The Association Place visit this website.