Camporee 2025: Viking scouting in Merkenveld

This past weekend, Expat Scouts and Scouters from across Belgium gathered at Merkenveld for our 2025 Camporee—and what an incredible weekend it was – this time with the theme of VIKINGS!

We were blessed with fantastic weather throughout the event, with clear skies and sunshine providing the perfect backdrop for a full program of Scouting activities. The site at Merkenveld received high praise, offering a beautiful setting, excellent facilities, and convenient access for all attendees.

Our activity lineup—including cooking, pioneering, and orienteering—ran smoothly and kept everyone fully engaged. It was wonderful to see Scouts from various member organizations, such as 1st Brussels (British), Scouting America (325G), Danish Scouts of Brussels, Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris, Finnish Scouts - Tuulihaukat, Swedish Scouts in Brussels, Polish, Italian, Spanish Catholic Scouts - Saint-Benoit, Czech, Slovak Scouts - BRUSK, 1st SHAPE Sea Scouts (British), and Sonian Explorers (British), working together, learning new skills, and, most importantly, having fun. 

One of the weekend’s highlights was witnessing youth from different countries connect, collaborate, and build lasting friendships.​  A special thank you to Flemish (FOS) Open Scouting for their continued support in our annual Camporee, helping to bring together youth from so many national backgrounds here in Belgium!

And of course, the campfire didn’t disappoint! Songs, skits, and shared laughter made for a truly memorable night under the stars.

We’d love to hear from those of you who attended—what worked well, what could be improved, and what you’d like to see next time. Please take a moment to fill out our quick Camporee Feedback Survey. (https://forms.office.com/e/n9B0b7UZZu)

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and helped make this event a success. We can’t wait to welcome you back for our next Camporee, happening 25–26 April 2026. Mark your calendars!

Launch of our 2025 Camporee!

Expat Scouting in Belgium is organising its 2025 Camporee in Merkenveld on 5-6 April 2025. This beautiful youth centre in West Flanders includes 20 hectares of play forest, 10 hectares of camping meadow and is surrounded by 70 hectares of nature.The site lies in a quiet and wooded area, has a cozy courtyard, and an adventure pond.

We can reveal now that this year the theme of the Camporee will be Vikings! The Camporee sub-commission, spearheaded by British Scouting Overseas, are planning lots of fun activities linked to this theme so be prepared! There will also be a competition beforehand – ask your group leader for more information about that.

The official camporee will start Saturday at noon and end Sunday at lunchtime but the camp site is booked from Friday to Sunday, so it is possible to arrive already Friday, e.g., to drop off equipment and food or just to enjoy the site since some of the organisers will be present from Friday, and fridges and outside kitchens are available. 

The Merkenveld site is within walking distance from the station of Zedelgem, which can be reached by train from Bruges, see https://www.ns.nl/reisplanner/ . It is also not far from the E40 for those who need to bring equipment. Each group will organize its own travel (i.e. booking of the train).

For more information check out https://www.hopper.be/en/jeugdverblijf/merkenveld, contact your group leader for registration and more details, and watch this space!

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible for a fun weekend together!

Yours in scouting,

Joe Monk and Koen Schamp, on behalf of the organisers.

Expat Scouts join forces in autumn training

 This autumn the expat scouts in Belgium have been bettering their skills in several fields.

 

In September and October the British Scouts Overseas welcomed other expatriate scouts to two first aid courses, spearheaded by Helen Williamson and Jos Wittevrongel.

 

Anne-Mette Foreman thanking Julien Bamps of Les Scouts

Then, on 30 November our External Relations Commissioner, Henrik Söderman, arranged a training at the headquarters of Les Scouts in Brussels, on rights and obligations associated with expat scouting. This inspiring course - which led to a lively debate - was given by Julien Bamps of Les Scouts with whom we already have a fruitful dialogue.

 

Many thanks to both Les Scouts and the British Scouts for hosting!

 

Anne-Mette Foreman

Convenor, Expat Scouts in Belgium 

Meet other Scouts at the Danish Christmas Market!

Hungry for marcipan, mulled wine and carols?

Join the Danish Christmas market on 23-24 November, on rue Washington 27 in Ixelles.

The Danish Scouts are assisting at the event, and there will be a bonfire with ‘snobrød’ for kids, rolls baked over open fire.

Thank you for sharing the brochures with friends and colleagues.

And hope to see many of you there in a festive mood.

Anne-Mette, on behalf of the Danish Scouts

Invitation to join Danish Midsummer celebration

Have you ever joined a Scandinavian Midsummer celebration? The Danish Scouts in Brussels are assisting at a traditional summer solstice celebration organised by the Danish Church on rue Washington 27, Ixelles on 22 June 2024 - and you are welcome to join!

The doors open at 17:00 and there will be food and drinks to purchase, music, a bonfire and a playground for the kids. Dogs are not allowed.

Free entrance. 

ESB meeting agenda 10 June 2024

Please contact ESB for a zoom link

Expat Council Meeting

Online on zoom at 20:00hrs on 10 Jun 2024

- - - AGENDA - - -

1. Welcome, approval of agenda, and the minutes of the General Meeting

(Convener)

2. Action points from the General Meeting

a. Confirmation of the new Meeting Convener

b. Approval of the roles, contact- and distribution list from the minutes of

the General meeting

3. General updates

a. Camporee

- feedback from the last and plans for the 2025 camp

b. External Relations

- Status on the collaboration between GSB and ESB, and the

- “Doing scouting in Belgium - Benefits and Obligations” training

c. Communications

- Status on ordering Scarfs, and use on the ESB blogspot site (expat-

scouting-in-belgium.blogspot.com)

d. Training

- Plans for the questionnaire on training needs

- First Aid training opportunities

e. Treasurer;

- financial status, member contributions for 2023 and 2024.

4. Any other business

- Next Proposed ESB Council Meetings:

- 09 Sep 2024 at 20hrs - online

- 23 Nov 2024 GSB training on Rights and Obligations - Physical

presence, date pending feedback from GSB

- 03 Feb 2025 at 20hrs - online

Saint Benoit - Togo camp fundraiser

The older section of the Saint Benoit (Italian, Spanish, Polish scouting group in ESB) is holding a fundraiser 27 April at 20:00 for a camp they are planning in Togo. The concert will take place on Rue du Cornet 51, 1040 Etterbeek (near Schuman and Merode metro stations), and tickets are available here TOGO 2024 - Concert de Giacomo Lariccia (google.com)