Benelux & France

Benelux and France

Benelux and France

The first registered unit in Benelux and France was the 1st Versailles Brownies in 1960 although there were units in Paris as far back as 1915/16.  It is believed that there were Brownie Packs in Brussels in the 1930s, before the Second World War. The County has continued to expand with the creation of several districts since the 1970s.

Benelux and France County stretches over a large area with units from Toulouse in the South of France to Assen in the North of Holland. In between you can find girls in Brussels and Luxembourg and at S.H.A.P.E. in Belgium and yet it maintains a strong sense of County spirit with Leaders and girls meeting regularly within the Districts, Countries and the County for celebrations, trainings and, of course, camps. There is a County e-newsletter which keeps Leaders up to date with news and important information from around the County and a network of support for new Leaders and girls.  County meetings are often held by telephone conference call, a recent technological addition that has cut down our carbon footprint immensely.

Although there is often a movement of Leaders and girls in and out of the County (due to the nature of British Guiding overseas) there is also a great sense of continuity as many of the units (and Leaders!) have been part of the County for many years, some for several decades, creating a relationship with the local community and developing a knowledge that can be shared with those new to the area.

As Benelux and France is such a large County there are many differences between and within each District.  Below are details about the units that are currently open but with eager Leaders, girls and parents there is always room for more!

Within France there are three districts, Lille being the smallest with one Rainbow and one Brownie unit. Toulouse has one Rainbow, two Brownie and two Guide units as well as Young Leaders. Ile de France, based in the suburbs of Paris, has two Rainbow, three Brownie, two Guide and one Senior Section unit as well as a Friends of Guiding Group.

The Netherlands has two thriving districts based in Amsterdam/Assen and The Hague. In Amsterdam there is one Rainbow and two Brownie units all based around the British School and in The Hague they are well catered for with two Rainbow units, four Brownie units, two Guide units and a Senior Section unit.

The Brussels District has units around Brussels itself, based at the British School. There are three Rainbow, four Brownie, three Guide and a Senior Section unit involving local Young Leaders, who meet in Tervuren, Kraainem and Waterloo, which are all on the outskirts of Brussels. In Belgium there are also a Rainbow unit, Brownie unit and Guide unit all based at the International School at S.H.A.P.E.

In Luxembourg the Rainbows and Brownies meet at the International School of Luxembourg and the Guides at the European School.

Benelux and France