About N22
VGC stands for Flemish Community Commission. It is a government body governed by the Law on Brussels. It has close ties with the Brussels Capital Region and the Flemish Community. The Flemish Community Commission is the base and hub of the Flemish community in the Brussels Capital Region and for those who wish to be connected to it.
What are the powers of the VGC, from a Dutch-speaking perspective:
- culture, youth and sport (including the community centres)
- well-being, health and family
- education and training
The Flemish Community Commission is pro-active, open and self-assured. It has a strong presence in the Brussels Capital Region and contributes to developing the city into a liveable place.
The VGC is the governing authority of the community centres. It makes a building, staff and operating funds available to each of them and provides support services. The staff of the Community Centres Service, which is the support service, works from within the VGC administration.
More information is available on www.vgc.be.
N22 bundelt de krachten van de 22 Brusselse gemeenschapscentra verspreid over het hele gewest. De naam staat voor het netwerk van de 22 centra én de ondersteunende staf van de Entiteit Gemeenschapscentra. Samen met talloze vrijwilligers zetten zij dagelijks in op gemeenschapsvorming. Lees meer over N22.
A community centre has one core task: community building. That means bringing people together who might otherwise never meet each other. This objective is at the heart of the Brussels community centres in three working areas:
- communication, reception and service provision
- cultural participation, entertainment and dissemination
- education and continuous training
The centres are first and foremost places of encounter: of people, associations, citizens’ collectives, ideas, commitments. Young Brussels residents are a special focus of attention, via school activities and the identification and development of talents.
Each community centre is a shared project. It is a non-profit association where volunteers from the board of directors help direct operations. In addition, the general meeting and a wide range of other opportunities for participation offer a comprehensive sounding board for the community around the centre.
Each person can make use of the centre’s shared infrastructure. The space is available for you to use
Would you like to contact the staff of the Community Centres Service, the support service for the 22 centres? Phone 02 563 05 78, send an email to N22@vgc.be or check out the individual staff contact details.
Are you looking for the contact details of one specific community centre? If so, go to this contact page.
Jobs and internships
Each community centre has a team. Maintenance staff, cleaning staff, a theatre technician, reception staff, a socio-cultural worker, communication staff, a head of the centre, etc. Everyone plays an important role in the smooth operation of a community centre. In addition, the centre could not run without the commitment of volunteers.
Check out our Jobs page. Or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you don't need to go through a selection process ;-).
Send in your application via jobs@vgc.be, contact the community centre where you would like an internship, or check out the VGC website to find out if there are any internship openings.
There are many different ways to commit yourself as a volunteer at a community centre. You can roll up your sleeves and get right in: accompany conversation tables or children’s workshops, help organize events or distribute publications, write articles for a magazine or take photos of a celebration or party, etc. These kinds of contributions can also serve as a good opportunity to practice your Dutch.
You can also help steer the working of a centre as a member of the board of directors. Or give input in a different way: open dialogue tables, discuss your ideas or projects with a staff member, etc. The centres are there for you, not the other way round.
The best idea is to contact the community centre in your neighbourhood to find out what is possible.
Hall usage
Anyone. There is, of course, a cost, the amount of which depends on whether you are renting the space for a non-profit or a commercial initiative, whether your organization has close ties with the centre, etc. Discuss this with the reception staff to find out which price category your request falls within.
There is no central room booking service. So the best idea is to contact the community centre where you would like to rent space. Each centre has an overview of its own schedule and can tell you when each space is free.
The prices vary from room to room and depending on your request: is it for a commercial activity, is your organization represented on the general assembly of the community centre, etc. Discuss your specific request with the reception staff of the community centre where you wish to rent space. They will also provide you with a copy of the user’s regulations and give you information about possibilities for ordering drinks, use of equipment, etc.
Activities
The activities of the centres are incredible diverse. They range from tango lessons to creative weeks for children. From alternative films to a theatre performance by local young artists. From neighbourhood breakfasts to family festivals. Check out all the activities and projects of the centres, or surf on over to the website of the centre in your neighbourhood for more specific info.
Can you see a gap in the market? Something missing from the offer (that you would like to take on)? As a Brussels resident, you can help shape the operations of your centre. So feel free to pass along your ideas locally.
Take a look at all activities for families. You can also choose activities specifically for your children: filter by age, location, etc. There’s something for everyone!
Not finding what you are looking for? Make your suggestions to the centre in your neighbourhood, or take a look at Jong in Brussel, a website with many more Dutch-language programmes for youth in Brussels.
All activities indicated with a language icon are suitable for practising your Dutch. At the bottom left, you can filter according to your level. Any questions? Please contact the centre.
See more opportunities to learn or practice Dutch.