Although travel often encourages us to focus on monuments, landmarks, and the curated image of each city, the place where one wakes up and ends the day can reveal far more about the realities that shape a society. During our stay in Brussels as part of the CAP a l’Europa Inclusiva project, accommodation was not merely a logistical detail, but it became an integral part of our learning experience. Our hotel was located in Molenbeek, a neighbourhood frequently described as an “invisible border” between the affluent metropolitan centre and an area characterised by its diverse, predominantly migrant population.

This geographical juxtaposition, separated only by a river's canal, offered a tangible introduction to one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: the coexistence of starkly different social realities within a single urban landscape. What tourists might overlook at first glance became, for us, an immediate reminder of why projects rooted in inclusion remain essential. Even in the political heart of Europe, one can observe the persistence of structural inequalities and the distance that still exists between communities and institutions.

During a short group walk on our first day, we were introduced to the complex history of Molenbeek. It was in this district that several individuals involved in the Brussels terrorist attacks were radicalised, which is an uncomfortable but crucial piece of information that invites deeper reflection. Rather than reducing the neighbourhood to a narrative of extremism, this context raised broader questions about marginalisation, social fragmentation, and the psychological impact of exclusion on individuals and communities. It reminded us that processes of radicalisation rarely emerge in isolation. They are often rooted in accumulated experiences of disconnection, lack of opportunity, and societal misperception.

What became evident during our stay is that the project’s essence was mirrored in the very environment surrounding us. The neighbourhood itself became a source of insight, prompting us to consider how inclusion must be addressed not only through policy but through sustained social investment, recognition, and the building of trust between institutions and residents. Each step taken in Molenbeek added nuance to our understanding of Europe’s challenges and reaffirmed the urgency of constructing a Union capable of acknowledging and responding to the complexities within its own cities.

Project co-funded by the European Union.

Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.