“Belgian Cultural Evening”

On April 24th, 2013 ICD Interns hosted a Belgian Cultural Evening in the ICD House of Arts & Culture. The event, which was organized and executed by  four Belgian ICD interns, took place within the framework of the "Europe Meets Russia Conference: A Forum for Young Leaders."

The event began with a film screening of "Belgium, the Movie," which gave an overview of the country and what it has to offer, while providing an interesting insight into Belgian life and culture. The film briefly touched upon Belgium’s interesting history and development into a modern state, particularly thanks to important trade routes that date as far back as the Roman times. The film also showcased many of Belgium’s key attractions, including its beautiful cities, picturesque landscape, rich history, and interesting religious and cultural past. Additionally, Belgium’s major industries were explored, which ranged from ports, to construction, to agriculture. The film furthermore focused on the country's capital city, and highlighted Brussels as a center for European and international politics, and the home of a diverse mixture of arts and cultures. The film provided an interesting overview of the country and highlighted the natural, cultural, architectural and industrial diversity present in the country.

The film was followed by a chance for the conference participants and ICD Team to experience a taste of Belgian delicacies, including Belgian beer, chocolates, and waffles. Amongst the traditional chocolates and beers, were more unusual Belgian specialties including banana chocolate and fruit beers. The tasting provided a perfect opportunity for those in attendance to network and discuss the evening's activities in a more relaxed environment.