Brussels isn’t just the bureaucratic heart of Europe—it’s a living, breathing hub of human connection. Beneath the layers of policy and protocol lies a vibrant social scene where ideas spark, alliances form, and strangers become collaborators.

Yes, the city has its stereotypes: ambitious, overpaid expats and endless meetings. But Brussels also has charm, and expats are part of it. With its mix of nationalities and cultures, it’s a place where people come and go, but leave behind networks that ripple far beyond the city.

A few years ago, I met Frank Schwalba-Hoth, “the Brussels white wolf,” as he calls himself. Picture Clint Eastwood on a folding bike. Frank knows everyone. A friend suggested I meet him when I was still finding my way through this European Babel. I expected a formal chat. Instead, he memorised in a second my phone number, sketched an energy strategy on a napkin, and explained why the EU is a brilliant idea.

Over lunch at his favorite spot near the European Parliament, Frank shared stories that left me speechless. His advice? Don’t just look for a job, create one. Go out. Meet people. Even those who seem unrelated to your path might shift your perspective. Or your future.

So I did.

Michal Mlcousek from TIME FOR WORDS (family-owned business with expertise in film, TV and media production) produced a lovely video story about Frank's Soirée International. @Time for Words

I joined Soirée Internationale, Frank’s monthly networking event that’s been running since 1989. It’s invitation-only, with precise instructions and a guest list that reads like a mini-UN. Forty participants, at least 25 nationalities. Frank introduces each person with a quirky anecdote; funny, awkward, or oddly insightful. You grab food, rotate tables, and dive into conversations that matter.

One evening, Professor Philippe De Bruycker spoke about the Odysseus 2017 conference on EU immigration and asylum law. Half the room signed up on the spot.

The crowd? A Chinese chocolate entrepreneur, opera singers, NGO leaders, a Palestinian human rights advisor, a Belgian realtor, a German yoga teacher, a British MEP, a Hungarian lawyer, and many more. The diversity was electric.

“Hi, may I join you? First time here? What do you do?” And just like that, another business card changes hands. Another story begins.

Maybe it’s time to dig out those business cards—not just to reconnect, but to retrace the invisible map they sketch across this city. In Brussels, where languages collide and alliances shift like the weather, people are your compass. And sometimes, the shortest path through the Babel isn’t a straight-line interview. It's a conversation with a stranger that opens a door you didn’t know existed.