The articles and legal documents of your non-profit might not be the most dynamic and joyful read, yet when you look at them clearly, they are one of the deepest design choices an organisation ever makes. These words are the bones of your projects. They encode who holds power, who gets a voice, what the organisation exists for, and what happens when it goes wrong.

So when we began reviewing the statutes of the legal entity behind the Commons Hub Brussels (Citizen Spring ASBL), we knew we weren't just doing admin. We were doing a deep community search on the question: does our legal structure, actually reflect who we are, our values and what we want to do?

Diving deeper, the real question was not about the law being an obstacle — Belgian non-profit law is actually more flexible than it first appears. The ideas and examples of top down, ivory tower boards is a more cultural habit than enforced by the law. An ASBL can define multiple classes of members with different rights, tie voting power to active contribution, and create dynamic, and deeply democratic internal decision making structures well beyond a board and a yearly assembly. The bones are bendable, and fit for weaving in the democratic values that you have. The harder question was: where do we actually want responsibility to sit? And even more so, how do we activate the community members towards an active role, in a sustainable way?

That search led us to something more interesting than a legal workaround. Since the very beginning we have been mapping contributions of all members — who shows up, who carries shifts, who tends relationships, who holds the space — and asking what it would mean to give those people genuine decision-making power. Not symbolically, but structurally. Our token system, already in use to reward and recognise active participation, became a thread in that thinking: what if the ones earning tokens are also the ones with a real voice? What if stewardship — earned through contribution over time — is what unlocks governance rights? 

The result is a leaner, more honest design. A small board that holds the very important legal responsibility and guards the purpose, and an active member community whose contribution is recognised, rewarded, and — crucially — reflected in how decisions get made. Not power flowing down from a board, but responsibility held clearly, at every level, by those who are actually in it. Hands in the mud. 

The land belongs to the people who work it.

This led us into some genuinely interesting territory. What does it mean to earn membership — not by paying a fee, but by contributing? How do you write a governance clause that protects the commons from being hijacked by a future board or a future majority — while keeping real power within the community? How do you give a board guardian powers without accidentally recreating the very hierarchy you are trying to dismantle? And how do you protect the soul of our place — its warmth, its decentralisation attempts, its search for anti-extractive ways of doing things and especially its purpose — in a legal document.

We leaned hard on the work of Elinor Ostrom, whose eight guidelines for governing the commons still feel startlingly alive. We drew inspiration from steward ownership, with its two principles of self governance and profit for purpose, from sociocracy, from fair share commons, from the growing movement of people asking what it would look like to build organisations that are genuinely purpose-driven and built to last. We are incredibly grateful to all the thinkers, practitioners and communities who have walked this path before us and left their wisdom lying around like seeds. 

What emerged is a set of revised statutes — and a new name — that we will bring to our General Assembly on May 25th. It is not a perfect document. No document ever is. But it is an honest one, shaped by community, and we think it holds something worth protecting. 

We will walk through the key changes together at the General Assembly. We hope in the meantime you'll hold the question with us: how do we nurture a community of stewards that take responsibility for stewarding the commons?

Feel very invited to the party on May 25th.

We publish all events on this calendar. As we build our calendar, we always look for balance and connection — between the Tech Lab’s creative use of technology, the Inner Lab’s focus on sharing and belonging, and the Systems Lab’s exploration of new ways of organising a society together. Each space feeds the others, bringing diversity, exchange, and cross-pollination into our shared community.

Our events circle around
🌀INNER LAB: inner development, connection, rituals and intimate workshops
🌎 SYSTEMS LAB: system change, democracy, building a regenerative society & economy
🤖TECH LAB: tech & tooling, coding, software development
FUN LAB: standup comedy, board games, concerts and other fun

Feel warmly invited to reach out if you'd like to organise an event at the Commons Hub. 👉🏼 hello@commonshub.brussels

When you become a member you enjoy priority access for using the space and receive discounts on the events happening at the Commons Hub.

📅 Thursday 14:30 - 18:30 | Register here
Book a 30- or 60-minute session of Access Bars®️ or Reiki in our cosy Angel Room. A gentle, hands-on practice to release stress, overthinking, and tension. With Mara Regina D'Gaia

📅 Friday 12:30 - 13:30 | RSVP
Each Friday, the community of the Commons Hub Brussels comes together for an open potluck lunch. 🗣 Open to non-members!

📅 Saturday 09:30 - 11:00 | RSVP
A running club for founders and community builders — combine movement with good conversation.

📆 Woensdag 3 juni, 12:00 - 14:00 — Lunch 1: Het framework
📆 Woensdag 10 juni, 12:00 - 14:00 — Lunch 2: Zenuwstelsel
📆 Woensdag 17 juni, 12:00 - 14:00 — Lunch 3: Community & gedeelde taal
📆 Woensdag 24 juni, 12:00 - 14:00 — Lunch 4: De domeinen

Register
Vier dinsdag-lunches in juni. Kleine groep. Echt gesprek.
🥣 Soep, brood, water en thee 👥 Maximum 12 deelnemers
Inge Wiame neemt je mee in het gedachtegoed van Nate Hagens — geen lezing, maar een gedeeld onderzoek tijdens een gezellige lunch aan de Commons Hub. Elk gesprek bouwt verder op het vorige, elke keer een laag dieper: van het grote kader naar je eigen lichaam, je gemeenschap, je concrete handelen.

📅 Wednesday May 6th, 10:00 - 19:00 | RSVP
📅 Wednesday June 3th, 10:00 - 19:00 | RSVP
A free coworking day for openclaw bot builders and tinkerers, side by side for a full day. Overlaps with the monthly Crypto Wednesday gathering — there's a dedicated pod exploring the AI/web3 intersection. Pizzas and presentations in the evening.

📅 Wednesday May 6th, 10:00 - 22:00 | RSVP
📅 Wednesday June 3th, 10:00 - 22:00 | RSVP
Free coworking during the day for people working in crypto, followed by a happy hour meetup. Doors open at 10am, pizzas at 7pm, presentations at 8pm. Unconference-style: co-create the programme on the day.

📅 Monday May 11th, 14:00 - 18:00 | RSVP

A 3-hour interactive crash course on financing steward-owned companies: principles, valuation, capped returns, investor protections, and real cases from Belgium and beyond. For all types of financiers. In English, limited spots. Full registration via steward-owned.be.

📅 Monday May 11th, 18:00 - 20:00 | RSVP

The Social Innovation Mission Facility, together with Commons Hub Brussels and Strategic Design Scenarios, is bringing together funders and investors from across Europe for an honest, forward-looking conversation about exactly that. Expect a dynamic panel, peer-to-peer connection, and fresh thinking on how to direct more capital toward EU Mission-aligned social innovation.

If you're already in this space — or curious about where it's heading — this is a room worth being in.

📅 Friday May 15th, 10:00 - 14:00 | RSVP
Plural Event happening simultaneously in multiple cities worldwide. At Commons Hub, participants will take a concrete local activity — cleaning the public space in front of the building — and use it as a springboard to explore democratic coordination, privacy, and collective action. Insights feed into a panel at Web3Privacy. Now Summit in Berlin on June 14. Co-hosted with RadicalXChange, Hubs Network, and others.

📅 Wednesday May 20th, 17:00 - 19:00 | RSVP
A community walk through the Notre Dame Aux Neiges neighbourhood, starting from Commons Hub after work. A lovely way to explore the city together. By member Alain Vereecke.

📅 Thursday May 21st, 18:00 - 21:00 | RSVP
A gathering for developers and enthusiasts building with Langchain and LLM tooling. Hosted by member Manuel Pueyo.

📅 Monday May 25th, 16:00 - 20:30 | RSVP
Commons Hub Brussels turns two! The general assembly will include important updates on the ASBL's articles, voting in new board members, and a proper celebration of the second anniversary.

📅 Friday May 29th, 09:00 - 17:00 | RSVP
A structured coworking day in the opale style — self-management and teal organisation principles in practice. Hosted by Alain Vereecke.

📅 Friday May 29th, 09:00 - 12:00 | RSVP

Belgium-based founders and directors are invited for a structured coworking session focused on finance, accounting, and admin — the things that get neglected. After a brunch and quick intros, 2 hours of uninterrupted work. Experts from Stripe, hrmano, and SPF Finances will be on hand.

📅 Friday May 29th, 18:30 - 21:00 | RSVP

An evening ritual held in community, woven together through breath, sound, movement, and the gentle medicine of cacao. We'll move through a grounded flow — from somatic settling and a guided cacao ceremony, into drum meditation and conscious dance — creating space to reconnect with what matters, clarify intentions, and feel love not as a concept, but as something lived in the body.

The cacao used is 100% pure, ritual-grade, and ethically sourced. It is not a psychedelic — its effects are subtle, heart-opening, and grounding. No prior experience with cacao ceremonies, meditation, or dance needed. Just come as you are. By Mara Regina D'Gaia

📅 Tuesday June 9th, 18:00 - 21:00 | RSVP
What if Europe measured success not by how much we consume, but by how well we live? Commons Hub Brussels welcomes economist Paul Schenderling (Europe: Continent of Quality) and designer-researcher Babette Porcelijn (The Hidden Impact, Trias Economica) for an evening that touches head, heart, and hands — moderated by Lara Sibbing and Jeroen Janss of the Inner Green Deal.

📅 Wednesday June 10th, 18:00 - 21:00 | RSVP | FR
Rejoignez-nous pour un cercle de réflexion sur la façon dont chaque parcours entrepreneurial se nourrit des personnes qui nous accompagnent — mentors, soutiens et compagnons de route. Avec Patrick Somerhausen (Funds for Good) et Céline Lejeune (Réseau Entreprendre), animé par Vincent De Coninck (INNERPRENEURS), ce moment invite à parler de mentorat, de la capacité à demander et à recevoir de l'aide — bien au-delà de l'ego. Ce cercle se déroulera en français.

📅 Wednesday June 17th, 17:00 - 19:00 | RSVP
Discover Brussels through the incredible story of Union Saint-Gilloise — from working-class roots to football legend — on a 6 km walk ending at the iconic Stade Marien, where history, culture, and passion still collide. The path will feature historic info,  anecdotes and opportunities for sharing. Guided by Alain Vereecke.

📅 Thursday June 18th - June 20th | RSVP - Apply to join
Sonian Forest & Commons Hub Brussels

A curated 2.5-day gathering for entrepreneurs, leaders, creatives, and changemakers who sense that something new is wanting to emerge — through honest dialogue, relational depth, and authentic encounter.

Co-created by Voices of Emergence and Samantha Sweetwater of True Human, The Invitation moves between the stillness of the Sonian Forest and the community of Commons Hub Brussels. It is designed as a living field: not a conference, not a retreat, but a space to step out of the noise and into real connection — with yourself, with others, and with what this moment in time is asking of us.

Weaving Wolves — the collective of CHB members Leen, Inge, and Catherine — are launching a five-month journey for leaders, founders, and change-makers who want to live and work differently. Living & Leading from Lifeforce blends living systems thinking, nature connection, and real companionship into a structured program anchored to the Celtic calendar. 16 places. Starting 26 September 2026. If you're tired of navigating change alone, this might be for you. → weavingwolves.earth

Golden tip for people wandering often in the Marolles, on Rue Haute 253, there is a small and warm hearted art gallery run by Line Callaert, who recently became a member of the hub. We warmly recommend her podcast Radio Marolles, Archive of Living Voices. Pass by if you can! 🐙

Join us at our space – whether you're a freelancer, a team, or an organization!

• Interested in a community-led 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! 🧡 written by Leen with help of Xavier

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. Or join us on Discord.