Free, project-based training
The coding bootcamp that gets you an ICT job.
Free, project-based training in Brussels and Antwerp. You learn to code with peers, build a real portfolio, and walk into the ICT roles employers can't fill.
100% free · No degree required · No experience needed · Brussels & Antwerp
01 · CODING BOOTCAMP
A coding bootcamp built for how people really learn to code.
At 42 Belgium, the coding bootcamp isn't a series of lectures or recorded videos. It's a 24/7 campus in Brussels or Antwerp where you learn to code by writing code - from day one. No teachers, no grades, no tuition. You work through projects with peers, debug together, and ship real things. Coding is a skill you build through iteration: first imperfectly, then confidently. That's the whole loop, and that's what our coding bootcamp Belgium is built around. Whether you've never written a line of code or already dabble on weekends, the pedagogy adapts to you. The only thing we ask: curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to figure things out alongside other beginners.
A 24/7 campus in Brussels or Antwerp
No teachers, no grades, no tuition
Learn by writing code from day one, with peers
Beginners welcome — curiosity and persistence, that's it
02 · ICT JOBS & TRAINEESHIP
From the bootcamp to your first ICT job.
Training only matters if it leads somewhere. At 42 Belgium, that somewhere is the Belgian ICT jobs market - one of the hottest in Europe, with thousands of open roles and not enough qualified people. Most students take an IT traineeship - an internship with one of our partner companies - during the program. It's not mandatory, but strongly recommended: many graduates are recruited during the placement itself. Others move into junior dev, sysadmin, cyber, or data roles straight after the curriculum. The bridge between the coding bootcamp and these ICT jobs is short because the network is dense - partners hire from 42 every year, and graduates refer graduates. And yes, you can learn coding for free here. We don't charge tuition. The deal is simple: you put in the work, we provide the campus, the pedagogy, and the door to the industry.
The outcome
98%
of advanced grads secure a job
Life after 42: 98% employment.
98% of students who complete the advanced curriculum secure a job. Many are recruited during internships or while still working on projects at 42. You graduate with a portfolio, a track record, and a global alumni network in every major tech city.
Graduation doesn't mean goodbye. Alumni are students for life - always welcome back to campus to exchange, mentor, or keep learning.
Our partners and sponsors
The program
What you'll actually build.
The 42 Belgium program is structured around real projects, not lectures. Four phases, one trajectory - from your first line of code to your career launch.
You learn to code from scratch, then build your way up through progressively harder projects. The Common Core gives every student a solid foundation - both hard and soft skills.
- Languages - C, Python, and others along the way
- Algorithms & data structures - the logic behind every codebase
- UNIX, file systems, processes - how software actually runs
- Network programming - the architecture behind modern apps
- Object-oriented programming - writing code that scales
- Client-server projects - building the backend of real systems
- Web programming - from HTML to full-stack deployment
- Graphics programming - rendering pixels, building interfaces
- Artificial intelligence - the fundamentals powering modern systems
- Concurrent programming - multi-threading and parallelism
After the Common Core, many students take a first internship or job in tech. Not mandatory, but strongly recommended. This phase often helps students confirm their interests and return to 42 with clearer goals.
- Apply your skills in real-world conditions
- Understand professional workflows, tools, and team dynamics
- Explore different career paths before specialising
Choose your specialisation and go deeper - up to a master-equivalent level.
How it works: Like in a video game, you can try, fail, and try again until you succeed. As you complete and validate projects, your level increases to reflect the skills you've mastered along the way. At each level, you discover new areas of coding and IT. This makes every student's journey unique, while still covering a shared foundation.
- Artificial Intelligence & Data
- Cybersecurity
- Web & Mobile development
- Operating systems
- Graphical programming
Flexibility:
- You are not obligated to stick to one specialisation or complete it fully.
- You can move between tracks, experiment with different fields, and choose projects that fit your goals.
- Each student is free to decide when to graduate and officially become a 42 Alumni.
Global mobility: This phase can be pursued not only in Brussels or Antwerp but also at any other 42 campus worldwide.
Many students secure job offers during this phase - often before they officially graduate. Industry certifications (AWS and others) add professional credibility.
- Put advanced skills into practice in longer, specialised roles
- Build deeper professional expertise and network
- Secure long-term opportunities - many receive offers here
Plus: industry certifications (AWS cloud and others), and a philosophy of sharing that shapes how you learn.
Real students
Real stories from real students.
Three alumni share what the 42 journey was like - in their own words.
Kevin
42 Stories · Piscine selection sprint
Morgane
42 Stories · Piscine selection sprint
Sam
42 Stories · Piscine selection sprint
Campus visits
Come meet us at an Open Day.
No pressure, no commitment. Walk the campus, meet the team, ask every question you have - in Brussels or Antwerp.
Brussels
Next to Central Station.
Canterssteen 12
A two-minute walk from the Central Station. Visit the campus, meet current students, see how peer-to-peer learning actually looks.
Antwerp
In the heart of the city.
Mediaplein 1
Our Antwerp campus sits in the thick of the city's creative and media district, in the DPG building. Come spend an afternoon with the team.
The path
How to join 42 Belgium.
Online logic test (~1 hour)
No coding needed, it's just logic. Choose a quiet spot, as you can't pause or restart. Stay focused and keep going - you've got this!
Meeting - on campus or online
Come visit our campus in Brussels or Antwerp and learn more about the program.
Some check-in sessions are also online, but don't forget to register!
Enter the Piscine
You'll be immersed for 4 weeks on our campus in Brussels or Antwerp. You'll get a taste of coding, our unique approach, and life at 42. Enough to really know if 42 is for you.
Start the Common Core
After passing the Piscine, you can officially start the Core Program.
You'll have 24/7 access to the campus, work on real projects, and discover a community full of fellow coders.
Next Piscine dates on campus - apply anytime.
FAQ
Questions
Yes - 42 Belgium is completely free, no tuition, no hidden costs. The school is supported by partner companies, so students never pay. You can learn coding for free from the Piscine all the way through the Common Core, on our Brussels and Antwerp campuses.
No. About half of our students had never written a line of code before applying, and there's no degree requirement - just motivation, and being 18+ with the right to work or study in the EU. The selection itself is the Piscine: a 4-week, full-time coding immersion where you try, fail, learn, and repeat. Make it through and you're in the Common Core.
After the Common Core, most students take a first internship - what we call an IT traineeship - with one of our partner companies, working on real projects on-site. It's not mandatory, but strongly recommended: many students are recruited during the placement itself. It's the main bridge between the curriculum and your first ICT job.
Is the coding bootcamp really free?
Yes - 42 Belgium is completely free, no tuition, no hidden costs. The school is supported by partner companies, so students never pay. You can learn coding for free from the Piscine all the way through the Common Core, on our Brussels and Antwerp campuses.
Question 01 of 03
98%
of advanced grads secure a job
100%
Free - no tuition
42
Campuses worldwide
0
Prerequisites
Your first ICT job starts with a coding bootcamp that takes you seriously.
No tuition. No degree required. Just the Piscine and the willingness to figure things out. Apply and see if 42 Belgium fits.