Over the weekend, both Upper and Lower Sixth politics students embarked on a journey to Brussels, to broaden their knowledge of the inner workings of the European parliament, European history and (of course) to indulge in some delicious Belgian chocolates and waffles!
After a swift journey on the Eurostar and a quick lunch in the Grand Place, we were taken on our first adventure to the House of European History where we took part in a workshop led by two lovely tour guides. After a brief summary video on how the EU came to be following World War Two, the Upper and Lower Sixth split into two groups and were taken to observe and comment on the artefacts held within the museum.
Following a well-deserved sleep after a long day of travelling, we embarked on our second day of adventure, starting with a visit to the Museum of the National Bank of Brussels. During our visit, we learnt about the disadvantages and advantages that the introduction of the euro brought to the European countries. We also learnt 5 (out of 50+) ways of checking our euros to ensure that they were real, how the euro has evolved over time and the upcoming plans for future designs that will be implemented in 2030.
After a long lunch where we were able to further explore Brussels, we set off on our next journey to the European Parliament. During our tour, we first had a talk during which we learnt about the intricacies of the parliament and how they adapt to accommodate the different languages and opinions of the 720 members; whether that be through translators with accuracy rates of 98%, or through the organisation of the parliament itself.
On the last day, after a brisk walk whilst battling the elements, we arrived at our last location of the trip; the Parliametarium. The multitude of interactive games and talks the museum had to offer provided an encyclopaedia of new knowledge for us to take on board, whilst also encouraging us to be curious as we could look further into political parties and agendas in the EU that were discussed during our adventures in the days before.
Overall, we had a wonderful time where we were challenged to question and learn about new compelling aspects of European politics, providing us with knowledge that will not only aid us in our studies, but also in our day to day life.
Aimee A and Luella H, Lower Sixth
