2 “Brussels by night” supports nightlife actors to provide a better scene and protects Brussels club culture

Urban area: Brussels city centre.
Created after COVID restrictions, with the aim of saving clubs and nightlife.
Stigma, stereotypes and preconceived ideas about this sector and specially with sexual violence’s victims.
Associated problems with drugs intoxication (alcohol, drugs, …) and violence.

To support members to promote a safer nightlife
Prevention of sexual violence: creating the CARE TEAMS: people that care for other people.
Promote and protect Brussels’ nightlife as a cultural and economic asset.
Represent and support nightlife professionals through advocacy and services.
Improve night-time governance in collaboration with public authorities
Provide tools on harm reduction, employment, mobility, and event management.

Brussels By Night (BBN) is a socially innovative initiative that reimagines nightlife as a space not only for cultural expression but also for community safety and inclusion. Operating across the Brussels Capital Region, BBN supports nightlife professionals while addressing broader urban challenges such as public trust, safety perception, and gender-based violence. By acting as a mediator between nightlife actors and public authorities, BBN promotes collaborative governance and co-creates tools that improve the operational, social, and safety standards of nightlife venues. A key innovation is its comprehensive protocol for preventing sexual violence, which includes care zones, trained support teams, and awareness campaigns. These measures aim to shift the perception of nightlife from a high-risk environment to a space of shared responsibility and well-being. Through continuous dialogue, evaluation, and adaptation, BBN contributes to a more secure, inclusive, and culturally vibrant urban nightscape.
The main pillars of the IAP were:
Implementation of a collaborative process to promote security and safety in public spaces.
Involvement of the population in the identification of problems and intervention in the public environment. The ULG members, were asked to take part in “serious games”, during which participants were invited to discuss, identify problems, and find joint solutions to improve urban security in the city, elaborating proposals for urban planning.
Use of the method CPTED – Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

Citizens
Local and regional associations
Private companies
Public institutions.

BBN creates tools and services for well-running their activities regarding topics such as harm reduction, employment, administration, public peace, mobility, event promotion, venues, etc.
Promotes attentive, supportive behaviours in nightlife through specialized training and community-building.
Establishes onsite care points and collaborative teams linking event staff with prevention experts.
Refines continuously safety protocols and practices based on participant feedback and real-world experience.
Training and sensibilisation activities
Reporting processes
Care teams: 20 compensated volunteers (recruiting and training activities).

Encourages respectful and empathetic behaviour in nightlife settings, promoting active bystander attitudes.
Introduces care zones and helpdesks as standard features in events, embedding support into the party culture.
Establishes multidisciplinary teams and structured collaboration between event staff and harm reduction organisations.
Implements clear protocols for prevention, response, and continuous evaluation tailored to each event’s context. Including built-in evaluation and feedback loops, allowing it to evolve based on real-world experiences and stakeholder input.

The project also maintains an excellent, user-friendly website that centralises all resources, protocols, and contact points. Additionally, social media platforms, mainly Instagram is used to raise awareness, share safety tips, and engage with the community.
The project uses digital tools to improve access to support and streamline reporting. Platforms like WhatsApp Business or Telegram bots can offer discreet communication channels. Google Forms are used to collect feedback and incident reports. QR codes placed around the venue can link to maps of care zones or emergency contacts.

Positive Stakeholder Feedback: Event organisers and partner associations noted smoother coordination and a stronger culture of care and accountability.
Better understanding of all actors involved in nightlife as a key element of Brussels.
Cultural Citizen participation.
60% of intervention is related to intoxication: drugs and alcohol.
20/15% is related to transgressive behaviour, sexual violence, etc.

The education is the most important thing: Continuous training for care teams and staff is crucial for maintaining a consistent and informed response.
Visibility builds trust: Clearly marked support areas and active communication through social media and signage help normalise help-seeking behaviour.
Participation matters: Involving the public and staff in awareness and prevention efforts increases engagement and ownership of safety measures.
Methodology Must Be Flexible: Adapting protocols to the specific context of each event ensures relevance and effectiveness.

Low societal priority of leisure and wellbeing: In many contexts, the leisure and nightlife sector are not given the same importance as other industries, which can lead to underinvestment in safety, wellbeing, and prevention measures.
Social stigma: Victims may hesitate to seek help due to fear of judgement or not being believed, which reduces reporting and access to support.
Social polarisation: Discussions around gender-based violence can be polarising, making it harder to build consensus and support for prevention strategies.

The project is ongoing and continues to be applied in real event contexts. Core elements like care zones, helpdesks, and digital tools are now part of standard safety planning. Regular evaluations and collaboration with partner organisations help keep the protocol relevant and effective. Awareness is maintained through social media and the project’s website.
However, a key challenge remains: public institutions often operate in isolation from the project, unaware of volunteer training and other grassroots activities. This disconnects limits institutional support and long-term integration into public policy frameworks