Brussels: A Safe Haven?

People from 184 nationalities share Brussels as home. What are the actual stories of all these immigrants? And what led to this intense cosmopolitan existence? Many people think that it is a recent development, driven by such factors as the creation of the EU. But actually, since 1830 there have been waves of immigration that over 200 years have transformed Brussels into a world-city. For instance, scores of Chinese came to Brussels at the turn of the 20th century to study and many stayed, founding the Chinese community of Belgium. Why did these people leave their original homes and how did Brussels greet them? The new exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Brussels: A Safe Haven? presents a historical perspective, a contemporary view and an artistic interpretation. Curator Pascale Falek-Alhadef tells us about it. https://www.brusselsmuseums.be/en/museums/jewish-museum-of-belgium