Seniors in Brussels – activities & services

Senior citizens in Brussels get many advantages when it comes to services which are offered by the regional government and the local administrations/communes. Regional government has created a specialized page where benefits and activities tailored for seniors in Brussels are listed.

In case you didn’t know, Brussels is the first city in Belgium that was named as Age-friendly City by the World Health Organization. The city aims to invite seniors from around the world to come and visit the city’s culture and heritage and enjoy in the age-friendly environment. At the same time, senior citizens who live in Brussels area are offered a very diverse program of activities.

Mobility benefits

In Brussels, the over-65s can use all tram, bus and metro services at a low price. On the STIB network (except the NATO-Brussels Airport stretch of services 12 and 21) with the 65+ season ticket, on the TEC network with the ‘Horizon+65+’ season ticket (FR) and on the network of De Lijn with the ‘Omnipas 65+’ pass.

Culture
Most of the Brussels attractions and museums give reductions to senior citizens (60 and over, sometimes 65 and over).

Clubs and activities for seniors

Different communes in Brussels run dedicated services for senior citizens. They can help in taking care of administrative formalities and often run special activities.

• A few examples: Ganshoren (FR/NL), City of Brussels and Forest (FR/NL).

Bruxelles Social en ligne (FR/NL) publishes a list of all senior citizens clubs in the Region. You can also search by sector (choose “Senior”), and filter the results by language and commune. Like most cultural matters, activities for senior citizens are also language-specific.

For French speakers

Coordination des Associations de Seniors (CAS) is a body of several senior citizens organisations and pensioner clubs (FR). Most of these organisations have branches in Brussels that arrange cultural, social and sporting activities for their members.

For Dutch speakers

Senior citizens who speak Dutch can contact Brussels Ouderenplatform (BOp) (NL). This senior citizens centre provides practical help (social services, paperwork and so on) and organises social and cultural activities, courses and excursions.

• Every year Brussels Ouderenplatform publishes ‘Brussel briljant, Brussel plezant‘, a brochure in Dutch packed with ideas and suggestions for day trips or group visits in Brussels (NL), including a detailed guide for senior citizens.

There are several other senior citizens clubs in Brussels for Dutch speakers (NL).
To find sports activities for senior citizens in your favourite discipline (NL), select “Seniorensport” under “Sporttak”.

More services for senior citizens

If you are over sixty and you live in the Brussels-Capital Region you will find practical information on the dedicated page for seniors of the Brussels region.

• Pensions
• Special advantages only for senior citizens
• Activities, work and leisure
• Assistance to senior citizens
• Rest homes

If you are interested to explore more ideas about healthy active aging and seniors in the city, check some of our related posts.