Our story

An expatriate couple, during their stay in California, was inspired by their experiences at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, the Children's Creativity Museum, and the Exploratorium with their first child. This exposure to realms of exploration and creativity sparked an idea. Upon returning, they aspired to enrich their city by establishing SOMA - a hub for children, aimed at fostering connections through experiences that are fun, creative, and inspiring.

Matthieu & Sophie, after scouting various locations in Brussels, chose a former industrial building, once a photo studio. Transforming this space into SOMA was a labor of love, taking 2.5 years to secure renovation permits and another three for the actual renovations, ensuring compliance with public standards and environmental respect.

SOMA operates as a Public Utility Foundation, with a mission to ignite the creative spirit in the younger generation. Sophie & Matthieu, along with their team, are devoted to fostering social inclusion, aiming to make this haven accessible to all children, regardless of their backgrounds. This is where the "B2B" aspect at SOMA gains its full meaning, generating financial means to enable this social inclusion.

A fun fact: 'SOMA' nods to SOuth of MArket, the San Francisco district housing the Children's Creativity Museum. This name not only resonates well in French and Dutch, aptly fitting into Brussels' multicultural tapestry, but also serendipitously aligns with the founders' names – SOphie & MAtthieu. A beautiful coincidence indeed!