Fuse becomes latest nightclub to introduce no-phone policy

Brussels' historic nightclub Fuse has introduced a no-phone policy on the dancefloor, joining other venues in Brussels seeking to limit smartphone use during club nights.

The initiative, which follows similar measures at clubs such as C12 and UMI, aims to encourage visitors to disconnect from their devices and focus on the music and atmosphere.

In a post on Facebook, Fuse explained the reasoning behind the move. "People who come to our club do so to escape the outside world for a while," the club said. "When smartphones appear on the dancefloor, it breaks the intimacy of the moment for many people."

Fuse director Steven Van Belle said the policy was less about strict enforcement and more about changing behaviour in the nightlife scene.

"It certainly helps people feel freer and more open," he said. "For us, it's primarily about mindfulness, you really don't have to be available all the time.

"I find that a relief. With big artists or commercial genres, you used to see dozens of mobile phone screens light up simultaneously to video a well-known song. That's a real mood killer."

Van Belle stressed that staff will not confiscate phones at the door or in the club. “We"re not going to take phones out of people"s hands,” he said. “We mainly want to raise awareness and see it as a call to live more in the moment.”

By encouraging attendees to put their phones away, the club hopes to preserve what it sees as the essence of nightlife in Brussels such as shared moments on the dancefloor, away from the pressures of the outside world. With other clubs having the same mission, it may become a staple of the Brussels nightlife scene.