INVITATION

The Belgian Neurological Society (BNS) is proud and greatly honoured to invite you to participate in the 11th Congress of the EFNS, which will be held in Brussels,  August 25-28, 2007.

The BNS is probably one of the oldest neurological societies in the world as it was founded as early as 1896. It has around 500 members which is more than 70% of Belgian neurologists. Since its foundation it has been presided by some of the fathers of modern neurology like L. van Bogaert, P. Divry, F. Bremer or P. Van Gehuchten. Several of its more recent past presidents are part of the local arrangements committee.

There are several reasons why the 11th EFNS Congress promises to become a memorable one for you. First, there is the venue. Brussels is a symbol for any European society, as it is in the heart of Europe and hosts the European Union administration. It is a cosmopolitan, friendly, safe and rather cheap city, which will offer you cultural and touristic highlights such as the most beautiful market place in the world, a famous opera house, a number of art museums, buildings conceived by the architect Horta, the inventor of Art Déco style, the site of the 1958 World Exhibition with the well known Atomium, and a touch of local folklore symbolized by the “Manneken Pis”. Brussels Expo where the congress will be held is a very modern congress centre and an agreeable, quiet place mixing advanced technology with Horta-style.
Second, there is the hosting country Belgium, a melting pot of several ethnic groups with different, but complementary backgrounds, qualities and sensitivities abutting in a hybridisation of northern perseverance and rigour, and of southern charisma and “joie de vivre” with a touch of Teutonian competitiveness. That Belgians are perseverant is illustrated by the fact that the BNS applied three times before being able to host the EFNS Congress. Besides Belgians, the country has a series of other attractions, in almost walking distance, like the historical cities of Brugge, Ghent, Antwerpen or Liège. If you have no time to get acquainted with some of the Belgian delikatessen such as “Belgian” fries, Belgian beers and mossels, which would be a shame, we will make all efforts to enable you to do so during the social programmes of the congress.         
Last but not least, the 11th EFNS Congress will also be a milestone in your limbic system because 2007 is the 50th anniversary of the 1st World Congress of Neurology organised in Brussels in 1957 by Ludo Van Bogaert, one of the patrons of Belgian and world neurology. This will be adequately commemorated during the Congress and we have little doubt that the scientific programme which, through teaching courses, main topics, focused workshops, platform and poster sessions, offers an update on diagnosis, pathophysiology and management of neurological disorders, will illustrate once again to you the amount of knowledge and expertise the clinical neurosciences community has been able to accumulate, thanks to the solid foundations built by our ancestors.

We look forward to welcoming you in a multi-lingual country, a multi-cultural capital and a multi-architectural congress centre for an event you will enjoy for multiple reasons.