Barcam Architects’ Café #24 – Neighbours in Construction

A Comparison between the Netherlands and Belgium

Every first Thursday of the month, Arcam hosts “Barcam” (bar+arcam), a reoccurring monthly networking event tailored for professionals in architecture, urban planning, and project development. Join us for affordably priced drinks and an insightful short program centered around a topic.

At the end of September, the ARC25 Awards were presented. In the Transformation and Renovation category, Poot Architectuur won with the secondary school Groenhout, housed in a castle in Antwerp. Photo: Stijn Bollaert.

Theme 6 November 2025

Neighbours in Construction: A Comparison between the Netherlands and Belgium

There was a time of Ugly Belgian Houses and then there is now. Our southern neighbours seem to be shifting the mantra ‘it’s better to be ugly than to be boring’. Evidence? For the ARC25 awards 5 of the 9 nominated projects are Belgian. Meanwhile in the Netherlands, we can observe a shift from the glory days of the ‘Superdutch’ towards a less outspoken type of architecture.

During this Barcam, we will take a closer look at ourselves and our southern neighbours. Joining us in this reflection is Charlotte Thomas from de Architect Olivier Graeven (Partner JCAU studio BE, Jo Coenen Architects and Urbanist).

Visitor info

Date: Thursday November 6, 2025
Time: doors open from 6pm, the program starts at 7 pm.
RSVP: please sign up for this event!
Location: Arcam, Prins Hendrikkade 600
Language: English

Holy Moly Pizza
Especially for Barcam, Holy Moly Pizza brings their pizza truck to the doorstep every month to prepare fresh pizzas on the spot for you!

Affordable Comfort
Entry is free, and we keep our drinks and snacks affordable. Barcam is all about accessibility and diversity.

Prices:
Beer – €3,-
Beer 0.0% – €3,-
Wine – €4,-
Soft drinks – €2,-

Accessibility: Arcam is wheelchair accessible. All floors can be reached via the elevator and there is a modified toilet on the ground floor. If you need extra support (such as a sign language interpreter) to attend this event, please call or email Arcam at 020 620 48 78 or arcam@arcam.nl

Invited by our Barcam committee

Barcam is organised by Fallon Walton (LEVS architecten), Leonoor Hogerheijde (Sweco), Robin Beers (INBO), Jaap van den Hoogen en Juliette Zegers (de Architekten Cie.), Ammar Alhoushi (Ammodo Architecture), Dario Sposini (KAAN Architecten), Bogdan Vlădescu (Rijnboutt), Jakob Achenrainer (Allard Architecture) and Sjaan van der Tol (Arcam)

Contact

arcam