The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has started construction on the Martial Arts Expertise Center (VEC) on its Main Campus in Etterbeek. In addition to serving academic purposes for education and research, the VEC will, thanks to funding from Flemish sports and Brussels policy, become a hub where Brussels-based martial arts organizations can train and receive guidance from VUB experts to create social impact for Brussels youth. The Flemish Boxing League is also a partner in this project and will organize its elite sports operations at the VEC.
Martial Arts as a Social Lever for Youth
The umbrella term “martial arts” encompasses many disciplines, with the more intense variants being especially popular among youth. These sports often attract young people from vulnerable backgrounds. In Brussels, various youth organizations use martial arts as a means to achieve broader social goals.
Research shows that martial arts can be an effective way to reach young people in socially vulnerable situations and support their personal and social development across various domains, such as leisure, school, and work. However, achieving this social added value requires targeted methods and approaches.
The VUB research group "Sport & Society" has been studying the social benefits of sports for many years and exploring ways to optimize these impacts. Together with other VUB scientists, they will provide tailored guidance and training programs for the organizations operating at the VEC to better support and empower youth.
VEC Addresses the Shortage of Quality Martial Arts Infrastructure in Brussels
A study by Perspective Brussels and VGC Sport revealed a shortage of quality martial arts facilities in Brussels. Many martial arts organizations are forced to train in small school gymnasiums or other unsuitable spaces.
The VEC will address this issue by providing two martial arts halls that can be used separately or together, along with a small tribune. One space will feature a fixed and mobile boxing ring and punching bags, while the other will be equipped with mats for martial arts like judo, karate, and taekwondo. The bright and pleasant training spaces will be constructed adjacent to the existing sports infrastructure at the VUB, allowing shared use of parking, showers, changing rooms, and reception areas.
Construction will begin shortly after finalizing the design, with the goal of opening the Martial Arts Expertise Center by the summer of 2025.
Significant Financial Contributions from Flemish and VGC Governments and the Flemish Boxing League
The total budget for the Martial Arts Expertise Center is €4 million. The Flemish government is contributing €725,000 through the decree on Supra-local Sports Infrastructure, aiming to improve access to quality sports facilities close to home as part of the Sportspurt initiative.
The VEC will also receive a €700,000 grant from the Flemish Brussels Fund, ensuring that martial arts organizations can train in suitable facilities while being guided by VUB experts to achieve their social objectives for and with Brussels youth.
Additionally, the Flemish Community Commission recently granted a €100,000 investment subsidy for sports equipment.
The Flemish Boxing League, a key partner in the project, is contributing €250,000. They will use the VEC for national training sessions and to train elite and youth teams. The proximity to other sports facilities and sports science expertise on the VUB campus is a major advantage for them.
As the VEC will also serve as an educational space and an interdisciplinary living lab for research, the VUB will provide the remaining funding through academic resources and contributions from its Sports Management Department.
The VEC becomes one of many VUB projects where academic expertise is leveraged to strengthen ties with Brussels.
© Pictures David Plas