Singapore Embassy in Brussels

01/09/2026

The Embassy is pleased to share that Singaporean pianist Mikkel Myer Lee returns to the Netherlands for a special recital at the world-renowned Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam on Friday, 16 October 2026 at 8.15pm.

Now 14, Mikkel has been performing publicly since the age of nine and has presented programmes ranging from Chopin’s complete 24 Preludes and Chopin’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 to major works by Beethoven and Chopin. He has performed in Singapore and internationally.

His work with Beethoven has also included an 8-part cycle to perform all 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas. Having already presented several programmes from the cycle, following his Netherlands debut in 2025, and his recent performances at Singapore’s Esplanade Concert Hall and in Thailand in a recital presented by Steinway Thailand, Mikkel returns to Amsterdam with a programme centred on two contrasting Beethoven sonatas, alongside Chopin’s Third Piano Sonata.

Programme on Friday, 16 October 2026:
Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3 “The Hunt”
Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
Intermission
Chopin – Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58

The programme brings together Beethoven’s lively and imaginative middle-period writing with the greater introspection of his late style, before moving to Chopin’s technically demanding and deeply expressive Third Piano Sonata. Through his ongoing Beethoven sonata project, Mikkel continues to develop his interpretation of these works while sharing them with audiences in Singapore and abroad.

Concert & Ticket Information: https://www.concertgebouw.nl/concerten/46003586-jong-talent-mikkel-myer-lee-speelt-beethoven-en-chopin

Mikkel will also perform in Haarlem on 10 October 2026, ahead of his Amsterdam recital at Het Concertgebouw. You can follow his work on his website at https://www.mikkelmyerlee.com/about.

16/06/2026

Belgium has postponed the registration of biometric data for third-country nationals entering the Schengen area, till further notice (as of 30 Mar 2026).

Travellers at Brussels Airport may face significant delays especially on arrival. The delays are reportedly linked to the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which records data on non-EU travellers entering and leaving the Schengen area. Although Belgium postponed the collection of biometric data to ease pressure on border controls, other EES procedures remain in force.

Travellers are encouraged to follow local news to keep informed of further updates.

https://emnbelgium.be/news/belgium-postpones-biometric-registration-third-country-nationals-brussels-airport

15/06/2026

Along with the sunshine, it was a joy to reconnect as a community, catch up with familiar faces, and meet new friends from across the BENELUX region during our inaugural Summer Celebration in the Hague!

Guests enjoyed a delightful afternoon of conversation, laughter, and a comforting taste of home through a spread of well-loved Singaporean favourites such as chicken rice, nasi lemak, and kaya cake. There was also the smell of charcoal-grilled satay filling the air which took us all back to Lau Pa Sat. We were heartened to see everyone sharing stories, enjoying the food, and celebrating the special bonds that bring our overseas Singaporean community together.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the afternoon so memorable. We hope you had as much fun as we did, and we look forward to seeing you again at our next gathering!

For all the photos, please check out the album on our page! 🇸🇬☀️

15/06/2026

18/05/2026

The Singapore Embassy in Brussels would like to invite all fellow Singaporeans in the BENELUX region to join us for a 2026 Summer Celebration happening in the Hague on Saturday, 13 June 2026 from 12 pm onwards!

You may register https://www.gevme.com/summer-celebration-for-overseas-singaporeans-in-benelux-99233735. Do note that registration is open until all spots are filled. Please sign up by 1 June 2026.

Successful registrants will receive a confirmation email with QR code(s). Please present the QR code(s) for check-in on the event day. Guests without proof of registration will not be admitted due to security concerns.

Hope to see you there!😎🏖️☀️

03/04/2026

Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Kingdom of Belgium Mr Heng Aik Yeow presented his credentials to His Majesty The King of the Belgians on 1 April. Following the presentation, Ambassador Heng had an audience with His Majesty The King, during which Ambassador Heng reaffirmed the excellent ties between Singapore and Belgium, with our countries marking the 60th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Photo credit: The Belgian Monarchy

18/03/2026

The Singapore-Netherlands Association (SNA) recently hosted a Chinese New Year lunch in The Hague, bringing together friends and members of the Singapore community for a joyful afternoon of fellowship, festive cheer, and wonderful food.

It was a delight to reconnect with familiar faces and to welcome new friends into the community. Moments like these remind us how special it is to gather around the table and celebrate together, even far from home.

As we celebrate the Year of the Horse, may the months ahead bring renewed energy, strength, and many blessings to all. 🐎🍊

(Photo Credit: SNA)

11/03/2026

Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister-Counsellor Yasmin Ali moderated a panel event on 5 March 2026 to mark International Women’s Day 2026, on the theme “Moving the World Forward: Women as Peacemakers and Change Drivers”. The event was cohosted by Chair of the ASEAN Brussels Committee, Ambassador of Thailand H.E. Kanchana Patarachoke, UN Women (Brussels Office) and the Belgian agency for international cooperation (Enabel).

The event brought together around 100 participants from the European Commission, Belgian government, international organisations, the private sector, academia, media, and the diplomatic corps, reflecting a strong commitment to strengthening partnerships to advance gender equality and empower women as powerful agents of change.

Florence Raes, Director of the UN Women Brussels Office, emphasised the importance of remaining committed to promoting gender equality despite current global challenges and crises. Aude Maio-Coliche, EU Ambassador for Equality at the European External Action Service, highlighted the integration of gender equality into EU foreign policy to sustain and advance this mission alongside global partners.

The panel discussions brought together speakers from diplomacy, international organisations, the private sector and civil society to share perspectives on advancing gender equality and women’s leadership.

The first panel focused on women’s roles as peacemakers and mediators under the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. H.E. Maria de Lurdes Martins de Sousa Bessa, Ambassador of Timor-Leste, shared her country’s experience in promoting women’s inclusion in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Diana De Vivo, NATO Team Leader/WPS Advisor, discussed efforts to integrate gender perspectives into both the military and civilian structures of the organisation, while Cristal Downing, Project Director, Gender and Conflict, of the International Crisis Group highlighted the role of civil society organisations in supporting the implementation of the WPS agenda.

The second panel explored women’s leadership as a driver of economic and social change. Caroline Craenhals, CEO of Belgian Scrap Terminal, shared her perspective as a woman leader in the green economy. Sven Huyssen of Enabel highlighted the role of international cooperation in advancing women’s empowerment. Grace Zhu, founder of Fablette, spoke about her innovation combining artificial intelligence with storytelling to support maternal and child well-being. Jutatip Talumassawat of Oasis Belgium emphasised the role of women-led organisations in providing assistance and protection to migrant women in Belgium.

The discussions highlighted that amidst growing global uncertainty, continued commitment and partnerships remain essential to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Happy International Women’s Day!

25/02/2026

Deputy Chief of Mission Yasmin Ali participated in a dialogue hosted by the IRSA Study Association at Leiden University, joining a distinguished panel that included Ms Sunita Verlinde, Indo-Pacific Envoy for the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives from the Embassies of Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

With the ASEAN–EU relationship approaching its 50th anniversary in 2027, the discussion on “Forecasting the Path Ahead” was especially timely. Panelists and participants discussed opportunities for ASEAN and the EU to deepen cooperation in areas such as regional integration, AI, and the green transition, and how to build on the Strategic Partnership established in 2020.

Students contributed thoughtful and engaging questions, adding fresh perspectives to a rich and forward-looking conversation.

Thank you to IRSA Study Association at Leiden University for hosting this lively panel and discussion! 🌍🤝

04/12/2025

🇸🇬 14th EU–Singapore Inter-Parliamentary Meeting 🇪🇺

A delegation from the Parliament of Singapore visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, from 24 to 26 November 2025 for the 14th EU–Singapore Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM). The delegation was led by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mr Christopher de Souza, together with Members of Parliament Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Lee Hong Chuang.

The delegation had an excellent series of meetings with Members of the European Parliament. Discussions were wide-ranging and multi-faceted, covering the broad spectrum of EU–Singapore cooperation — from trade and investment ties, digital and green collaboration, to security cooperation, reaffirming both Parliaments’ commitment to deepening inter-parliamentary ties and partnership. 🌍

Over two packed days, the delegation held bilateral meetings with key Members of the European Parliament — including Mr Riho Terras, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE); Mr Iuliu Winkler, Vice-Chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA); and Ms Svenja Hahn, the INTA rapporteur for Singapore. The delegation was also honoured to be hosted to dinner by Mr Wouter Beke, Chair of the Delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN, and to lunch by European Parliament Vice-President Martin Hojsík, on behalf of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. These engagements offered valuable opportunities to exchange views on global and regional developments, and to underscore the robust partnership Singapore has forged with the EU. 🇸🇬🤝🇪🇺

Singapore deeply values our strong and enduring friendship with the EU — grounded in shared values and our mutual commitment to international law and the rules-based multilateral system. A big thank you to the European Parliament for hosting this productive and meaningful visit as Singapore and the EU continue to deepen our partnership! 🙏