BRUSSELS, Belgium — Sixteen years after its dedication on Boulevard de Waterloo, the Brussels Church of Scientology is being noted anew as a distinctive site in the capital of Europe. As the Brussels headquarters turns 16, representatives underline a broader timeline: Scientology’s presence in Belgium now spans 51 years.
The Brussels milestone is also framed within the city’s tradition of pluralism and public debate. 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 Brussels 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 people should not be prosecuted merely for their faith.
Beyond the anniversary, Scientologists in Belgium highlight ongoing social betterment work, especially 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: “Europe’s values are strengthened when citizens and institutions share responsibility for education and prevention. Anniversaries matter, but what matters more is what a building enables: dialogue, service and respect for human dignity.” More details are available here: Brussels anniversary: Scientology notes 51 years in Belgium and social betterment efforts.