I would like to tell you about my positive experiences in the MAM. The MaM, or Mind-And Makerspace, is the new creative space for thinkers and doers in Bruges. Creators, creative people, associations and schools. Everybody is welcome there.
The MaM has a wide range of devices from low threshold to high-tech. There is a laser cutter, 3D printer, VR studio and cutting plotter and much more. I was lucky to take a look with the DLAB project during the week of the opening and did some activities there. I made my name with an old technique using letter plates and 
special paint. Only the A of Jan was not so successful because I had taken the wrong letter. I took the B. Because it looked like an A in mirror image. I also made a sticker of mountain bike and was very happy with this. At the end of that day we also made a group photo with the lasercutter.
This day in the MAM was so inspiring for me that I decided to come back a few weeks later to print my own clothes. This idea had been in my head for much longer. And the MAM was the ideal place to do it. My friend thibeau already had 2 clothing lines. Together with him and my girlfriend we were going to make his new designs. The result was very good. It was nice to really print the clothes yourself. A few 
weeks later I went back with my own design namely clothes with Calmwood. Calmwood comes from Kalmthout my village in Belgium which is literally translated into English to Calmwood which sounds better. The zip code is 2920 and the tree comes from Calmwood and also because there is a large nature reserve. I am very happy with the result and will make some more designs of calmwood in the 
future. In the meantime I can also work with the cutting plotter almost completely on my own. I would also like to work with the other machines. The Mam also organizes workshops. I followed the workshop lasercutting and we made our own boxes. In the future I would also like to be able to work with this on my own and make other calmwood productions.
During an international day of the dlab project we went to the MAM. We introduced the students to the makey makey : An Invention Kit for Everyone, It is an electronic tool and toy that allows users to connect everyday objects to computer programs. The students played all kinds of games with the makey makey. The students were very enthusiastic.
During the corona crisis, they made their own mouth masks for the various care providers in the area. For which we are very grateful. They are all employees with a golden heart. This was my story about the MAM. I’m grateful to the DLAB-project for introducing me to this fantastic place and all the other inspiring activities during the international week in Bruges and the two international days.
Jan Symens (student, Belgium)