- We ask that you be a paid-up member of the NATO International Club when participating in any of our Activities.
In some NIC Activities, there may be a small fee to cover the cost of materials. - NIC Health Statement:
While the Covid virus is still active, we ask all NIC members to be considerate of each other’s health by staying home if you are ill.
— If you have a cough, fever, or cold symptoms stay home, rest and please come back when you are better.
— If you, a guest, or a child participating in any NIC activities are exhibiting any of these symptoms of illness, you may be asked to leave by a member of the Committee or by the activity leader.
COFFEE MORNINGS
Coffee Mornings are informal gatherings, held once each month, starting at 10:00 and finishing around 12:00. We ask for a contribution of 5 Euros per adult to cover the costs.
Each month, we try to present a seasonal theme and speaker. There is also a Tombola (raffle) at every Coffee Morning! Please see our GALLERY for a sample of themes we have had.
More information about upcoming NIC Coffee Mornings is provided directly to members.
CREATIVE WRITING – *new*
NEW ACTIVITY!
Writing is a very intensive way to experience different locations and you just need paper and a pen!
We will meet at different places in the Brussels region to get inspired by the surroundings and write down our texts.
There will be small exercises for those who are not familiar with writing and might need structure and for those, who are curious enough to get involved with new challenges.
We are a multilingual group! If you don’t write in English or French, we can still share our experience. Don’t be afraid!
ARTS & CRAFTS THEMED ACTIVITIES
Creative Circle: The Creative Circle is a casual gathering of embroiderers, knitters, crafters, stitchers, textile artists and people who love to create. The group meets weekly for a relaxing few hours of creative needle arts, good conversation and a cup of tea (and cake). We share tips and techniques, information on local yarn stores, and other crafting sources. Members work on projects of their choice; beginners to seasoned crafters are welcome!
Craft with Me: is a group for all NIC members who enjoy DIY crafting. There have been Craft with Me sessions covering everything from beading to painting & paper arts, ceramics & clay, sewing, knitting as well as fiber & textile arts, including seasonal sessions (crocheted Christmas decorations, for example) — any craft ideas are welcome! The Activity Leader coordinates Craft with Me sessions offered by different NIC members, who teach a craft to the group.
BOOKS & GAMES THEMED ACTIVITIES
Book Club: The Book Club meets monthly to discuss a selected book. We generally meet for about two hours and usually have coffee and light refreshments. We order our own books in whatever language we choose but our discussions are held in English. A list of what we are reading can be found under the Book Club Titles section on the menu bar HERE.
Burraco: This is a very popular Italian card game! It comes from the “pinnacola” (pinochle) family – which is much like Rummy or Canasta. Burraco is easy to learn and great fun!
LANGUAGE CONVERSATION GROUPS
English Conversation Group – Basic English Conversation
Basic English Conversation is for members with very little knowledge of English. Join us to increase your confidence speaking in social situations. The primary goal is to communicate. The group meets two times per month on Thursday.
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English Conversation Group – Intermediate English Conversation (formerly “English Made Easy”)
This group is for:
- Those who can speak and understand English for matters related to their daily routine.
- Those who can be fairly descriptive about daily life and experiences.
- Those who can talk (using relatively simple terms) about more abstract or subjective topics, like aspirations, dreams, or opinions.
This level is common among adults who have been continuously studying English for more than one year or those who have the opportunity to practice English on a semi-regular basis.
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French Conversation
This group is led by a native French speaker and focuses on improving confidence in speaking, while practicing together in a friendly setting.
CULINARY THEMED ACTIVITIES
Cook with Me: In this awesome group, we’re all about sharing our passion for cooking and indulging in delicious food. While we do have cooking classes lined up, the real heart of this Club lies in sharing our unique culinary traditions and the recipes we adore from different cultures.
Get ready to dive into a world of flavors and techniques as we come together to exchange our cooking secrets and cherished dishes. So, roll up your sleeves, bring your appetite, and let’s create a melting pot of culinary delights!
To ensure the smooth continuity of our meetings, since only some of us have a big kitchen to participate in, I would like each member to cooperate in providing their home for various activities. Depending on the size of the kitchen, these activities may include:
— cooking your recipes alongside the group in your kitchen
— allowing someone else to cook in your kitchen
— cooking for the members hosting the sessions (with reimbursement for expenses)
— or hosting a lunch where each person brings a dish from their culinary tradition.
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NIC for Foodies: This is an electronic recipe exchange group, sharing all kinds of Belgian grocery store finds, as well as “what’s for dinner” in various homes.
NIC Out to Lunch: In this very popular activity group, we each take turns choosing a restaurant and making the reservations.
The organizer for each lunch also brings a small wrapped gift (~10 euros) as a Tombola prize. The person who receives the prize chooses the next restaurant, time and date and makes the reservation.
PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP
The goal of the group is to share an interest in photography. Which camera you use is up to you: smart phone, point and shoot, mirrorless or DSLR. There is a saying in photography that “the camera in your hands is the best one”. We go on photo walks depending on the interest of the members.
DOGGIE WALKS
🐾 Are you looking for new friends for you & your dog?
🐾 Would you like to meet other dog owners for nice walks in different places in & around Brussels? We may end up for a coffee somewhere!
🐾 Do you want to share your best dog places with other dog owners & have fun together?
Don’t hesitate — join the group!
HIKE WITH ME
The routes have been chosen to experience the very best of the Belgian countryside, with the occasional historic or architectural site which offers something for nature lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike.
WALK WITH ME IN BRUSSELS
Walking is the most natural and healthy kind of travel.
We will travel the city that is hosting us by foot, with an active pace but without stress, to have fun, take pictures and share information about hidden gems to visit, restaurants to try and experiences to live.
Brussels has beautiful corners that deserve to be explored and lived. Be prepared to get to know the city contrasts: the elegance of its architectural facades and the colors of its ethnic markets. The aim of the walking group is to share the enthusiasm for this city, to show hidden corners to the newcomers and last but not least to stay fit in a fun way.
We will walk main boulevards passing by places of interest as well as secondary streets far from the crowd, looking for new spots and inspirations.
CULTURAL TOURS
Welcome to the NIC Cultural Activities. We enjoy guided visits in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia. Would you like to know more about history, architecture, the arts? Do you like specialty Belgian food and beverages such as chocolates, beer and cheese pairings and wines? Would you like to attend one of the permanent or temporary museum exhibits? Belgium has so much to offer. We look forward to discovering it, together.
Previous Activity groups in the NATO International Club
The NIC membership has always been full of talent, which has given the club a rich history of Activity Groups. There is room for new Activity Leaders in the NIC – either to revive a previous group or to begin a new one!
ADVANCED ENGLISH CONVERSATION – available to a new Activity Leader
Advanced English Conversation was an English Conversation group for those who have a good knowledge of English but would like to develop their conversational skills further.
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BEGINNER’S FRENCH CONVERSATION – available to a new Activity Leader
Beginner’s French Conversation was a group dedicated to those members who are at a zero level and cannot attend classes yet.
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BIKE WITH ME – available to a new Activity Leader
Bike with Me was a group of NIC members who loved to cycle together – on both paved bike paths, as well as paths through woods and fields.
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BUNCO – available to a new Activity Leader
Bunco is a game involving dice and is very social.
The previous NIC Bunco group was organized circa once a month and took place during the day, with a communal lunch for the participants.
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COLLECTORS CLUB – available to a new Activity Leader
Collectors Club was for those who enjoy collecting – from badges or postage stamps to typewriters, clocks or Christmas ornaments, vintage or new. In this group we shared our stories, experiences, places to look for collectibles, advice and tips on how to arrange the collection.
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DRAWING/SKETCHING – available to a new Activity Leader
Drawing/Sketching was offered by a NIC member who taught others how to begin the process of drawing and sketching the world around us.
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MAH JONG – available to a new Activity Leader
Maj Jong is a game of strategy using Chinese character tiles.
This NIC Activity Group group met to learn more about the game and enjoy playing together.
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NIC CHOIR – available to a new Activity Leader
The NIC Choir was a vibrant group of NIC members who love music and singing. If you play the piano, enjoy arranging music or leading a choir with periodic opportunities to perform, please consider reviving the NIC Choir.
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NIC PLAYGROUP – available to a new Activity Leader
NIC Playgroup was led by a member who opened her home to other members with small children twice a month for some sharing of songs, stories and play while building multi-national community through nurturing our little ones!
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NORDIC WALKING – available to a new Activity Leader
Nordic Walking was available to those NIC members who enjoyed a brisk and social walk (with or without poles!) through the many wooded paths available to us in the Brussels region.
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TREASURE HUNTING – available to a new Activity Leader
Treasure Hunting was an online group, sharing ideas and locations for where to discover Brocantes and Vintage Markets all around Belgium.
Occasionally, “field trips” were organized for shopping in different locations. In the words of the founding Coordinator for Treasure Hunting: “We live in antique heaven! Belgium and our surrounding countries have incredible treasure hunting opportunities!”
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SCRIPT READING – available to a new Activity Leader
Script Reading was a group led by a NIC member with experience in theater and the stage. This group was very popular among the NIC members, as the scripts chosen (poetry, text, dramatic scenes) offered a chance to focus on pronunciation of the words and rhythm of the sentences in that language. The Script Reading group performed from time to time at NIC Coffee Mornings to show what they had been practicing.
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