Our story

The City before the City

"La Cité des Associations", the first association house in Brussels, was born out of two observations and a health crisis...

  • The observation that as association managers, a significant amount of time that should be dedicated to the realization of the statutory purpose is lost in administrative tasks.
  • The observation that the management of associations is becoming increasingly complex.
  • A health crisis that showed us how fragile the associative world was... A crisis that put our activities on hold, drove away our volunteers, and depleted our finances.

 

One of our administrators, a lawyer, was in charge of monitoring subsidized non-profit organizations in a Brussels municipality.

He met many association directors, some of whom are now administrators of the City of Associations.

They all expressed the same difficulties and wishes. Association directors often feel abandoned when faced with technical questions regarding association management, accounting or financial management, and personnel management.

 

Faced with these questions, non-profit organization managers try to manage on their own or turn to various actors: lawyers, accountants, consulting firms, notaries, social secretariats, federations, and sometimes even other non-profit organizations.

The cost is prohibitive for small organizations. The information provided is sometimes very theoretical and does not always meet the practical needs of non-profit organizations. Association federations often have other noble and more essential concerns: defending collective interests.

The founders looked to France, a country with a long tradition of associations, where 68 association houses cover the territory and assist a very dynamic associative world.

They also looked to Geneva, another international city, where the Maison des Associations has been assisting countless international associations for nearly a century.

After this reflection, the need to create an Association House in Brussels became evident. While the creation of such a house was not planned before 2022, as the preparation work was tedious, the health crisis and its impact turned the need into an emergency.

The City of Associations was created in October 2020, initially under the name Brussels Association Center (BAC), to address this crisis.

After a few months of existence, the BAC was already assisting several dozen associations and helping Brussels municipalities ensure compliance with their non-profit organizations, whether municipal or not.

This rapid adoption is proof of the need for such an Association House !

Our path to the City

Birth of BAC

The creation of our non-profit organization, initial under the name Brussels Association Center: the BAC is born !

 

Discovery of the place

Love at first sight during the first visit to the Tailor's Factory, a former spinning mill completely renovated into office space. The challenge of acquisition is launched !

 

50th member

Reaching the milestone of the fiftieth nonprofit organization joining the BAC. The importance of our mission to support nonprofits in their various endeavors is being confirmed at a rapid pace !

 

Bank approval

Belfius Bank demonstrates its interest and, above all, its confidence in the project, by signing a preliminary agreement for a loan of several zeros.

 

Birth of the city

Acquisition of a building of approximately 9000 m? to accommodate the offices and activities of around fifty nonprofits. Name change: we are now "La Cité Des Associations ASBL" !

About us

La Cité Des Associations, community center of Brussels. Easily reserve one or more work places in our coworking or one of our meeting rooms.

Contact us

+32 (0)2 123 45 67

info@citedesassociations.be

Rue Émile Féron 153

1060 Saint-Gilles

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