About AFBE

Founded in 1945, the Alliance Française Bruxelles-Europe is a Public Utility Foundation (FUP) that promotes the French language and Francophone cultures. It operates entirely independently of any political, religious, or ideological considerations.

The Alliance Française Bruxelles-Europe has built its mission and reputation on the quality of its French language teaching and training programmes, within a multicultural environment that fosters exchange, respect, and conviviality, in order to help build a diverse and pluralistic world.

Located in Brussels, in the heart of the European quarter and just steps away from the Royal Park, the institution welcomes nearly 3,000 learners each year, representing more than 50 nationalities. Its facilities are accessible to people with reduced mobility and dedicated to the French language and the Francophonie.

AFBE is part of the world’s largest cultural network. This network brings together nearly 830 institutions in 135 countries across all continents and is coordinated by the Fondation des Alliances Françaises.

Discover AFBE !

The three core missions of the Alliance Française Bruxelles-Europe are as follows:

To provide French language education of the highest quality, for all audiences and for all types of needs. This instruction is delivered by qualified, native French-speaking teachers, using state-of-the-art facilities and multimedia teaching tools.
To promote cultural diversity and to raise awareness of Francophone cultures.
To develop partnerships with other organizations and cultural institutions that share the same values of equality and solidarity in the service of intercultural exchange.

“The Alliance is a place where our learners – many of whom are newly arrived and settled in Brussels – enjoy coming together, meeting each other, and forming connections. Here, people take French classes, but also share a coffee, plan cultural outings, and exchange useful information. Our institution is dynamic, our teams attentive, and our projects innovative, firmly oriented towards building a diverse, multicultural, and inclusive future. AFBE is not just an institution; it is a Francophone experience to be lived and values to be shared.”

Violaine Dupic

Our team is at your service every day to make your experience at the Alliance Française Bruxelles-Europe unforgettable! Around our various areas of expertise, we put our knowledge and experience into practice to deliver high-quality services.

The team consists of 70 to 80 permanent and freelance teachers, educational and cultural experts, and about a dozen administrative staff members.

Our teachers hold degrees and are specialized in teaching French as a Foreign Language (FLE) and French for Specific Purposes (FOS), with a focus on French for International Relations and Diplomacy. They are closely involved in research and innovation in the FLE field and benefit from our continuous professional development program.

Several of them collaborate in designing educational tools used by teachers worldwide through our partner TV5Monde.

The administrative team

Executive Team

Director
Violaine Dupic

Deputy Director
Romy Saint-Denis

Administrative and Financial Management

Accounting and Legal Affairs Manager
Michele Uytterschaut

Course Administration

Academic Manager
Sandrine Gassier

Administrative Manager – Internal Courses
Lucille Carette

Permanent Teachers
Angelique Launois and Florence Louis

External Courses and Partnerships

Head of Department
Julie Monbet

Client Relations Officer
Corporate and Institutional Courses
Mathilde Haubrechts

Pedagogical Coordination Officer
Corporate and Institutional Courses
Fany Bergerin

Exams & Certifications

Exams/Certifications Manager
Julien Martinez-Monniello

Exams/Certifications Administrative Manager
Julie Caron

Communication and Marketing

Communication and Marketing Manager
Charles Oudoux

Culture

Project Manager
Emma Delorme

Cultural & Communication Support Officer
Jade Henry

Support

IT and Logistics Manager, Prevention Advisor
Jimmy Paillié

Reception and Customer Relations

Reception Unit Coordinator
Christopher Rodriguez

Customer Relations and Reception Officer
Natalia Kutsenko

Its status as a Public Utility Foundation allows AFBE to benefit from the knowledge and support of an active Board of Directors, composed of volunteers committed to the values of the Francophonie.

President
Mr. Jacques de Baenst

Vice President
Mr. Georges Dal

Treasurer
Mr. Thierry Leroy

Secretary
Mr. Jean-Jacques Deleeuw

Honorary Ambassador of His Majesty the King of the Belgians
Honorary Director-General of the European Commission

While AFBE has established numerous partnerships in Belgium and France, some deserve special mention due to their ongoing annual support:

The French Embassy in Belgium is the diplomatic representation of the French Republic to the Kingdom of Belgium. It is located in Brussels, the capital of the country, and its ambassador, since 2024, is H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes.

The Fondation des Alliances Françaises is a French organization whose mission is to promote the French language and French culture abroad.

The Institut Français is the key operator of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture in implementing France’s international cultural policy.

The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie implements Francophone multilateral cooperation in service of its 88 member states and governments.

The Permanent Representation of France to the European Union is France’s diplomatic mission, serving as the liaison between French institutions and the European Union in Brussels.

In addition to being a news channel, TV5MONDE provides educational resources for French as a Foreign Language (FLE) classrooms, created from authentic materials such as reports, programs, interviews, infographics, songs, music videos, and more.

Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) is the agency responsible for the international relations of Wallonia-Brussels. It serves as the instrument of the international policy carried out by Wallonia, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, and the French Community Commission of the Brussels-Capital Region.