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Brussels Explained: Join our online sessions in November to better understand the city

10:14 13/10/2020

How can we improve quality of life and accessibility in Brussels? What are the consequences of Brexit for Brits in Brussels? And have you ever wondered why there are so many parakeets in the city?

Those are some of the questions that experts will try to answer in the next series of Brussels Explained - an eye-opening and interactive set of online talks every Tuesday evening in November, that aim to help us better understand the city in which we live.

Four experts will deliver a short presentation on a different aspect of city life - followed by plenty of opportunity for questions and answers. Each session takes place on Tuesday evenings, on Facebook Live, and lasts about half an hour.

Brussels Explained is jointly organised by The Bulletin, Flemish-Dutch culture house De Buren, the non-profit Curieus vzw and freelance journalist Selma Franssen.

After the event, each explainer will be published as a podcast and you can also hear extracts from the talks on The Bulletin's Sunday lunchtime radio programme on Bruzz.

3 November: What are the consequences of Brexit for Brits in Brussels?
As the UK prepares to exit the EU, Britons in Brussels are wondering how Brexit will impact their right to live, work and obtain social security in Belgium. How will Brexit affect Brussels? Journalist Saffina Rana explains.

10 November: How can we make Brussels more inclusive and accessible?
In this edition you'll hear gender equality and public space expert Vesna Jusup explain how inclusive and accessible the city of Brussels is. What are some good practices and where can the city do better?

17 November: Where do all the exotic ring-necked parakeets in Brussels come from?
The Brussels-Capital Region has seen a rising number of exotic ring-necked parakeets in the city, currently estimated at around 12,000. But Brussels is not the only city in the Low Countries where the numbers of these bird species has increased over the last couple of years. Where do these parakeets come from and what is their natural habitat? How do they live and why do they prefer cities? Do they have enemies and are these parakeets a threat to indigenous birds? A presentation by Dutch ornithologist Camilla Dreef, followed by a conversation with Selma Franssen.

24 November: How can we improve health and quality of life in Brussels?
During the lockdown, the City of Brussels decided to transform all the streets in the pentagon-shaped city centre into residential areas, which entailed the prioritisation of pedestrians and cyclists and a speed limitation for cars of 20kph. After a few months, this decision was partly revoked. What is the opinion of Annekatrien Verdickt, founder of Filter-Café-Filtré, with regard to these developments? What is the current situation concerning the air quality in Brussels? Do politicians come up with enough innovative solutions? Annekatrien Verdickt will give a presentation on liveability in Brussels, with a focus on the improvement of air quality and the promotion of soft mobility.

Brussels Explained, Tuesday evenings from 3-24 November, 19.30-20.00, on Facebook Live

Written by The Bulletin