A new meeting place for young Flemings in Brussels has just opened in Dansaertstraat in the City of Brussels. Atelier TKT, short for 't inquiete’ (French for worry), is a youth centre for Dutch-speaking youngsters in the centre of Brussels. It is an initiative of Kazou, the youth division of the Christian health funds and enjoys the support of the Flemish government's Brussels Fund.
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New youth centre for young Flemings in the heart of the Flemish capital
Colin Clapson
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Atelier TKT is a place where Dutch-speaking young people can get together in the heart of Brussels, says Kazou's Kristien Van Mechelen. "There are few places for teenagers in Brussels. This is a place where they can get together without having to register or participate in organised activities. Here they can hang out, play games, do all kinds of things, like DJing, etc. We also organise workshops. My own children, who are also teenagers, hang out in the city centre, and when it rains, they go to a fast-food joint and buy a coke. Here you don't have to order anything, you really don't have to do anything."
Esma is 17 and visits Atelier TKT regularly. "I'm quite busy with school stuff, music lessons and music school, but I like coming here. Here you can just chill out with other young people. You don't have to drink or eat anything. If you don't have any money, you can still stay. You can just take something from the fridge; it's all free, including the games we play here. There’s even free food on offer and somebody to cook for us."
Emphasis on Dutch-language
The new youth centre is located in a CM building and receives support from the Flemish Brussels Fund. Flemish Minister for Brussels Cieltje Van Achter (Flemish nationalist N-VA) supports the initiative: "Thanks to Atelier TKT, we are giving young people a new extra space in the city. What makes this project very special is its strong Dutch-language focus and the active involvement of the young people themselves. Initiatives like this not only strengthen the community but also make a real difference for young people in Brussels."
The range of activities and workshops at Atelier TKT has been developed based on input from young people in Brussels. "We are always open to suggestions for fun theme nights, activities or opportunities to work together with others. Atelier TKT is also an experimental space where young people can simply “be themselves”, but where they can also discover their talents and realise their craziest ideas,‘ notes Kristien Van Mechelen.