The demand for private member’s clubs dedicated to women has only grown since the first spots opened a decade ago in New York and London. The latest opened last week in Brussels, occupying an elegant Art Nouveau townhouse in the Quartier des Squares neighbourhood.

The Nine is a refuge for female professionals and aspiring professionals with co-working spaces, meeting rooms, a library, bar, restaurant and walled garden. Yet it’s also an inspiring centre for lifetime learning. The schedule of events includes film screenings, art exhibitions, coaching classes and wellness retreats.

The design of the four-storey space is the work of interior architect Hélène Van Marcke. She updated the century-old utilities and restored the stained glass, then implemented a tranquil design with white walls, plush seating and window treatments with botanical prints. For the walls, curator Stephanie Manasseh of SM Art Advisory rounded up an impressive collection of canvases and textural rope art from women across Europe, the US and Latin America.

The founders have worked almost exclusively with women on setting up the Nine, from tradespeople to sommeliers. They’ve also set up a non-profit called the Nine Equality Initiative to promote gender equality at all levels of society, and plan to provide professional workshops at training as part of their offering.

Under-35s get a special discounted membership.

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