Black Tie Dinner at Château Sainte-Anne

The Pioneers' Club, a special club within the American Club of Brussels for long-standing members having long-term interests in the Brussels community, kindly invites you to their annual Black Tie dinner on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.

The guest speaker will be Mr. Richard Graber, Former Ambassador of the United States of America to the Czech Republic.

The event, as is the custom, will be black tie.

Dinner participation costs € 70 pp. Funds may be transferred to the American Club of Brussels account (427-9195881-44). Please also contact the ACB’s administrative office to reserve by telephone at 02/219.58.08 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, September 27.

Cobb Rogers,
Chairman of the ACB Pioneers’ Club

Thursday, July 7

Once again, the ACB offers members and guests a unique opportunity to view the Ommegang procession on the Grand’Place while dining in one of the most elegant restaurants in Brussels.

La Maison du Cygne is housed in a former 17th century guild house that overlooks the Grand’Place. From the balcony and windows of a large private dining room, we will have an unparalleled view of the Ommegang as the pageant unfolds on one of the most beautiful squares in the world.

Menu “Made in Brussels”
(includes wine and water)
Terrine de Foie Gras de Canard et Filet d’Anvers
(Terrine of Duck Liver and Smoked Ham)
* * *
Waterzooi de Coucou de Malines au Légumes Croquants
(Chicken Waterzooi with Crispy Vegetables)
* * *
Gaufre de Bruxelles et Crème au Speculoos
(Brussels Waffle with Speculoos-flavored Cream)
* * *
Le Moka et ses Mignardises
(coffee and sweets)

The Ommegang takes place each year on the first Thursday in July and the preceding Tuesday (this year, Tuesday, July 5 and Thursday, July 7). Ommegang (literally “walk-around”) is a faithful recreation of a splendid pageant that was first performed in 1549 for Emperor Charles V, his son Philip II, and the knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Staged at night on the illuminated Grand’Place, the two-hour extravaganza includes flag-throwers, folk dancers, archers, acrobats, jesters, jugglers, fire-eaters, falcon-trainers, folkloric giants, stilt-walkers, and the famous Gilles of Binche. Descendents of the nobility of the time play the roles and wear the coats of arms and sumptuous costumes of their ancestors.

This is a spectacular affair, and one of the biggest festivals in the country. Our dinner evening at La Maison du Cygne offers, literally and figuratively, a window on this amazing event. Make sure to bring your camera!

Event Details
Date: Thursday, July 7
Time: Open cash bar: 7:00 p.m., Dinner: 8:00 p.m.
Place: La Maison du Cygne, Grand’Place (entrance: Rue Charles Buls 2), 1000 Brussels
Price: €75 for ACB and AWCB members; €85 for non-members
Dress code: Coat and tie requested

Reservations are due by noon on Monday, July 4 by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), online at www.americanclubbrussels.org, or by telephone to the ACB Office Manager (02/219.58.08). Payment to ACB at 427-9195881-44 will confirm your reservation. Be sure to mention “Ommegang” in the communications section of the virement. Cancellations are possible until noon on Monday, July 4. Participants canceling after this time, as well as no-shows, are charged the full cost of the event.

Sunday, July 3

This year’s Independence Day celebration takes place on Sunday, July 3 at the American Women’s Club of Brussels’ clubhouse at Avenue des Erables 1, 1640 Rhode-St.-Genèse. Jointly sponsored by the ACB and the AWCB, the event includes a co-ed softball tournament (at St.-John’s International School in Waterloo), a patriotic ceremony, live entertainment, games for kids, a family-style picnic with hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks for purchase, potluck salads, assorted side dishes, and desserts. All proceeds will be donated to the American Overseas Memorial Day Association (www.aomda.org).

Volunteers are needed to help organize games and sporting events, so please let ACB President Maggie Nicholson know if you can lend a hand. Volunteers are also needed to help with the barbecue.

Reserve by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), online at www.americanclubbrussels.org, or by telephone to the ACB Office Manager (02/219.58.08), and also to volunteer to bring a dessert and/or to help out at the softball game or picnic. There is no entry fee, but please reserve with the ACB by noon on Tuesday, June 28.

Saturday, June 18

Join the American Club of Brussels for a guided tour of the Horta Museum in St.-Gilles on Saturday, June 18. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the acclaimed Belgian architect, Victor Horta, and a visit to his home and adjoining studio is an ideal way to celebrate Horta’s genius and the importance of his heritage.

Baron Victor Horta is the father of Art Nouveau architecture in Belgium, and the man who shaped so much of its capital city. Art Nouveau is famous for its use of natural light, organic forms suggesting growth and movement, ironwork, gorgeous cabinetry, mosaic floors, stained glass windows, and impressive stairwells.

We will see all this and more during our visit to the two buildings that comprise the museum. Built in 1898 and completed in 1901, and now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Horta Museum is at once a museum of architecture and a monument to Art Nouveau. It is an excellent starting point for visits by those who wish to expand their knowledge of this fascinating and important architectural movement.

After the tour, which will take about an hour, those who are interested can continue on for a coffee in the neighborhood.

This event is limited to a maximum of 30 participants.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 18
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Musée Horta, Rue Américaine 25, 1060 Brussels (trams 81, 82, 91, 92, bus 54: Janson or Ma Campagne stop)
Price: €15 for FAAB, ACB and AWCB members; €20 for non-members

Reservations are due by noon on Wednesday, June 15 by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), online at www.americanclubbrussels.org, or by telephone to the ACB Office Manager (02/219.58.08). Payment to ACB at 427-9195881-44 will confirm your reservation. Be sure to mention “Horta” in the communications section of the virement. Cancellations are possible until noon on Wednesday, June 15. Participants canceling after this time, as well as no-shows, are charged the full cost of the event.