Dear courageous commoners
The Commons Hub is a common. Very often, people ask us, but what exactly is a common? Who are the commoners and why did we choose to … common? What is it really, that you are doing in that building?
For the February newsletter, we decided to take a dive into some of our foundations ...
In this newsletter, you’ll learn
all about commons, and we hope you will be inspired to join us on our adventure ... 👀
about upcoming events at the Commons Hub Brussels (so much happening on so many topics!! )
What is a common?
For a good definition of a common, we can turn to a knowledge common (aka ChatGPT) for some help:
A common (or the commons) refers to a resource that is collectively managed and shared by a community, rather than owned privately (market driven) or controlled solely by the government (public good). The shared resource can be
natural (e.g a fishpond, forest or piece of land, …),
digital (e.g. open source software, Wikipedia, …),
🎭 social or cultural (local traditions, community spaces, …)
urban (public gardens, co-housing projects, community driven infrastructure)
Key aspect is that commons rely on collective stewardship, with shared responsibilities rather than market-driven ownership. The difference between a common and a public good, which are government owned, is that commons have a committed community of caretakers, often membership based. Unlike the public park in the city, not everyone has access to the common at any time and, nobody will do the maintenance for you. As in, self-organise the work that needs to be done.
This collective stewardship requires a lot of coordination and a healthy culture to thrive. We refer to this as commoning, it requires quite some practice for a group of commoners to get organised. Since we also like to have fun, and keep it light, we coordinate in a weekly heartbeat meeting during lunch. 👇🏾
The Commons Hub is both a social and urban common. Our common (or shared resource) is space, more precisely 2 floors in a big building in the city center. Our community, our courageous commoners, are the people that use the space and contribute to the wellbeing of the space and of each other. These are the questions that we ask ourselves every day:
how can we move from transactions to relationships?
how can we move from private to collective ownership?
how can we move from a monoculture to healthy permaculture and ecosystem?
Who are the commoners?
You can become part of our commons in three different ways:
As a member (€10/month): Members love the project and the space, enjoy attending our events and community lunches, and occasionally lend a hand (and receive tokens for that). Many also organize regular meetups with other communities they’re involved in. 🙂
As a shifter (€100 + 10 tokens/month): Shifters need a regular coworking space to do their work (often as freelancers) and dedicate time each week to contribute to the Commons Hub.
As a coworker (€250 + 3 tokens/month): Coworkers use the space regularly and need dedicated time to focus on their own projects. At the same time, they value community and lively conversations over lunch. They contribute once a month by doing a shift.
Currently, we have about 40 members and 15 shifters/coworkers. While we can welcome as many members as we like, our space can accommodate around 25-30 coworkers.
If this resonates with you, feel free to join us on Fridays for our open community lunches (at 12:30pm)! You can also check our calendar for free coworking days to experience the space.
Why do we common?
The short answer: because we believe in community. We believe that physical communities have positives effects on our wellbeing. We have access to help, to fun, and to a shared living room and space where we can have the conversations that we need to have, and the events that we believe in. A place to meet, dream and work.
The longer answer: The digital age allows us to connect with people globally and build and maintain friendships across continents. Yet, it is within physical spaces like the Commons Hub that we can truly embody the spirit of shared ownership and collective responsibility. It is here, in the tangible world, that we build trust, nurture empathy, and create lasting impact. Organising ourselves around a project, having fun together, contributing and helping each other out. It is not rocket science, it actually makes you happier.
Two people have found jobs via the community already, numerous members have found a space where they feel at home and where they can give to the world what they are passionate about. We believe deeply in our common, in our community. #communityisimmunity
Upcoming events
We publish all events on this calendar. If you register, you will receive an e-mail notification for every upcoming event.
Feel very welcome to become a member and enjoy priority access for using the space and receive discounts on the events happening at the Commons Hub.
The Open Source Community is coming together in Brussels for the FOSDEM, one of the largest open source developers conference in the world with more than 8,000 attendees that takes place every year at the Free University of Brussels. At the occasion, 3 events are happening at the Commons Hub:
🐥 Nostr FOSDEM meetup
📆 Friday Jan 31st - 20:00 RSVP
Nostr, an open alternative to Twitter that started in the Bitcoin community, is gathering at the Commons Hub.
🕸 Open Collective FOSDEM meetup
📆 Saturday Feb 1st - 19:00 RSVP
The Open Collective Community is coming together at the Commons Hub during FOSDEM 2025 to share about creating open source organizations (like the Commons Hub!)
🪪 The Future of Digital Identity
📆 Sunday Feb 2th - 19:00 RSVP
Which direction we want to go with our digital identity? A top down approach building on national interests instead of a new fully European one, or a more open source, citizen centric & community driven one (and how to get there)? How to unite … or balance … privacy and accountability?
🥂 Block 2025 New Year Reception
📆 Wednesday Feb 5th -20:00 RSVP (limited capacity)
The various crypto communities of Belgium are coming together to celebrate the new year.
🍻 New Year Drink of the Commons
📆 Wednesday Feb 12th - 19:00 RSVP
Let's start the year by coming together with fellow citizens building the commons in Brussels this Wednesday February 12th from 6pm at the "Commons Hub Brussels". As true commoners, we are organizing this gathering as a common event, so please contribute what you can (apero potluck style), and take what you need.
Workshop/training: Et si c'était possible de ... contribuer à changer de monde sans changer de travail?
📆 Friday Feb 14th - 8:30 - 17:30 More info + register (Français)
Rêvons un peu… que votre travail et votre organisation aient un impact positif ! Chaque jour, vous et vos collègues êtes heureux.ses de contribuer, en sachant que vous soutenez un monde plus vivant et juste, quelle que soit votre activité. Vous vous sentez aligné.e et engagé.e ! ✨
Ce rêve vous appelle? Alors, vous êtes au bon endroit ! Bienvenue à une journée d’exploration pour inspirer votre vie professionnelle et votre organisation face aux enjeux sociétaux.
🌙 Regenerative Fridays: Le Cercle de la Gardienne de 13 Lunes
📆 Friday Feb 14th -19:30 - 22:00 More info + register (French)
New moon ritual, with dance and meditation by facilitator Isabel Duarte
Voice initiation workshop with Maria Mega
📆 Saturday Feb 15th - 10:00-14:00 More info + register (English/French/Portuguese)
Unique voice initiation workshop. This transformative experience will focus on opening the throat chakra and unlocking your vocal and emotional expression.
Invitation to Rebel official Kick Off party
📆 Feb 20th- 18:00-22:00 RSVP
The Rebel Kick-Off Party brings together a vibrant community of tech and social entrepreneurs to launch bold ideas, showcase innovative projects, and foster meaningful collaboration. Whether you’re an aspiring changemaker, a seasoned entrepreneur, or simply curious about driving impact, this event is for you.
Introduction to Authentic Relating
📆 Monday Feb 24th -18:00 - 19:30 More info + register
We live in an age of paradoxes. Thanks to technology, we're all connected more than ever, but most of us feel unsatisfied with the depth of our connections with the people around us. In this workshop, you will get an overview of Authentic Relating, a relational practice that brings people into deeper connection with themselves and others.
📋FR: Formation au Business Resilience Game
📆 Tuesday Feb 25th 9:30 - 19:30 More info + register
📆 Wednesday Feb 26th 9:30 - 12:30
Un “serious game” puissant et engageant pour aider les entreprises à comprendre collectivement comment anticiper les défis et instabilités à venir. Plus qu’un simple jeu, le Business Resilience Game est un initiateur de changement, que ce soit pour prendre conscience de la fragilité des entreprises face aux risques environnementaux, sociaux ou techniques ou comprendre la résilience.
Regenerative Fridays: Connecting your ideals
📆 Friday 28th 19:30 -22:00 More info + register
Join us for a powerful Drum Meditation as part of Regenerative Fridays, where we will explore our deepest ideals and how to bring them into reality in the astrological year of 2025. This guided journey will help you connect with your vision and align your energy for the new astrological cycle, which begins with the Spring Equinox in March.
How to support the Commons Hub?
Join us at our space – whether you're a freelancer, a team, or an organization!
Interested in a community-driven co-working space? We’d love to welcome you! Come by to try it out for a day or join us for our Friday potluck community lunch. More info about memberships here.
Need a meeting room for your team or an event venue? We’re here to make your gathering a great experience, offering the support you need to make it memorable for you and your guests. More info about our spaces.
Wishing you all well and looking forward to meeting you in the space! 🧡
Connect with us via email hello@commonshub.brussels to continue the conversation! To stay up-to-date on our latest news and events, make sure to follow us on Lu.ma, LinkedIn, Facebook and Discord.
