Brussels, Belgium — Sixteen years after its dedication on Boulevard de Waterloo, the Church of Scientology in Brussels is being revisited as a distinctive site in the capital of Europe. While the building’s anniversary highlights the past 16 years, representatives underline a broader timeline: Belgium’s Scientology community marks 51 years of presence in the country.
In Brussels, the anniversary is tied to a wider message about coexistence and civic life. In a city where European policy is drafted and negotiated, the Church says its doors remain open for community engagement, including interfaith interaction and civic dialogue. The anniversary recalls a lengthy legal episode that concluded with a court decision rejecting the case, a moment supporters describe as reinforcing the principle that religious minorities deserve equal treatment and due process.
Alongside the anniversary, local Scientologists point to social reform and social betterment activities in Belgium, especially Brussels drug-prevention education and human-rights literacy initiatives. These efforts are presented as practical, non-religious educational tools used with community partners, including materials on substance risks and workshops that reference the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ivan Arjona, Scientology’s representative to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, said: “Social cohesion grows when communities invest in practical education—on rights, responsibilities and prevention—without stigma or discrimination. A building’s anniversary is meaningful when it reflects daily civic contribution—dialogue, service and respect for human dignity.” Full context and background can be read here: Brussels anniversary: Scientology notes 51 years in Belgium and social betterment efforts.