Brunssum: Ice World Oberhausen – Carnival of Ice Art

From November 11, 2025 to March 1, 2026, you can expect an enchanting winter world full of carnival magic.

Experience a spectacular exhibition of ice and snow centered around the theme of Carnival. Colorful masks, joyful jesters, and magnificent floats are created by international masters using 200 tons of ice and snow each. Gigantic sculptures, reaching up to six meters in height, bring the joy and diversity of Carnival to life in sparkling beauty.

Find out more via the website: https://www.eiswelt.de

Information provided by Brunssum HIVE.

Brunssum: Barefoot Park New Year's Dive '26

New Year's dip? Yes! On January 1st, you can take a refreshing dip in our natural waters. Put your New Year's resolutions to good use and start the new year feeling refreshed.

There will also be some hot tubs by the pond so you can warm up afterward. Once you've changed and walked back to our Barefoot Hut, you can enjoy an oliebol with some delicious hot chocolate, or we'll toast together with prosecco.

Find out the details here

Information provided by Brunssum HIVE.

Brunei: Free Online Courses

The Open University

The Open University offers a wide range of free online courses across countless subjects — perfect for upskilling or exploring a new interest.

Explore courses on OpenLearn

HarvardX

You can also study with Harvard University through HarvardX, their online learning platform that gives free access to world-class courses from one of the world’s leading universities.

Browse HarvardX courses

Coursera

Explore and compare free courses and certificates from leading universities and companies.

Explore Coursera courses. 

Information provided by Brunei HIVE.

BRUNEI: BFB Stray Animals

BFB STRAY ANIMALS

1. BFB personnel, incl LECs, UKBCs and Spouses, have been actively feeding stray animals within BFB estates. This needs to stop immediately
because:

a. By feeding stray animals you are encouraging them to breed uncontrollably which can increase its population at an alarming rate and
when it gets too overwhelming to feed, the strays will starve even worse thus causes further malnourishment and diseases will spread between each other, and possibly to humans.

b. Uneaten leftovers attracts flies and, in some cases, maggots, all ideal vectors for diseases.

c. Stray animals leave excreta where they are known to congregate because what goes in must eventually come out. This is no trifling matter for other BFB personnel who have to endure the odour.

d. Stray animals have caused damage to valuable equipment and buildings eg helicopter engines, store rooms, roofs and many small spaces where it is difficult to determine the extent of damage that may have been
done.

2. Do not feed stray animals just because you want to have the ‘feel-good, warm fuzzy feeling’ inside - it doesn’t end well for the stray animals. If you want to be do-gooders, you must then carry out your good deeds through (i.e. adopting AND neutering) without leaving others to deal with the aftermath. The bottom line is that humans and stray animals coalesce is part of living in Brunei but do not be part of the problem.

Information provided by BRUNEI HIVE.

BRUNEI: Cafes and Restaurants in Seria & Kuala Belait

Here's a list of some of the cafes and restaurants in Seria & Kuala Belait.

SERIA CAFES

Cafe Hopping

Address: No. 72A, Jalan Bunga Kenaga, Seria Brunei
Phone: Whatsapp +673 868 8592
Business Hours: Sunday - Thursday -  9am – 6pm
                             Friday 9am-12nn; 2pm - 7pm
IG: cafehopping_bn

Coffee Industry

Address: Unit G4. G/F, Lot 10 Jalan Sultan Omar Ali, Seria Brunei
Phone: +673 828 8590 / +673 322 8590
Business Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 9am – 6pm
                           Friday 9am - 12nn; 2pm – 6pm
IG: coffeeindustry.bn

Thinking Cup Cafe

Address: Unit G2, 10 Jalan Sultan Omar Ali, Seria Brunei
Phone: Whatsapp +673 899 8191 
Business Hours:  Friday - Closed

                              Saturday - Thursday 7am - 6pm

                              Sunday - 8am - 430pm

IG: thinkingcup.bn

Macchiato Cafe

Address: Lot 10, Unit G1, Tingkat Bawah Jalan Sultan Omar Ali, Seria Brunei
Phone: +673 883 1805
Business Hours: Monday - Saturday - 630am – 6pm

                             Friday 630am - 12nn; 2pm - 6pm

                             Sunday - 730am – 6pm
IG: macchiatocafe.bn

KUALA BELAIT CAFES 

The Corner House 
Address: Lot 2, Shop 31, Jalan Pretty, Kuala Belait
Phone: +673 333 2671 / WA +673 729 9313
Business Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 8am – 5pm
                           Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed
IG: The Corner House

The Slice By IA

Address: H5Mr+7MR, Jalan Pretty, Kuala Belait
Phone: +673 333 8255
Business Hours: Tuesday - Sunday - 9am – 6pm
                              Friday 9am-12nn; 2pm - 6pm

                              Monday - Closed

IG: theslicebyia

Little John Bean

Address: X-4 Jalan Maulana, Kuala Belait
Business Hours: Monday – Saturday - 5pm - 12am
                             Sunday - Closed

IG: little_johnbeans

Lane Microbakery & Coffee

Phone: +673 816 6825

Address: 25E, Jalan Pretty, Kuala Belait
Business Hours: Sunday - Thursday - 9am - 4pm

                              Friday - 9am-12nn; 2pm - 4pm

                              Saturday - Closed

IG: lanemicrobakery

SERIA RESTAURANTS

The Gurkha Palace
Food: Nepalese
Address: 47 Jalan Bunga Melor, Seria, KB
Phone: +673 322 1474
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 9am – 11pm
                             Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed
FB: The Gurkha Palace

Santuari

Food: Western / Asian
Address: Panaga Club, Seria
Phone: +673 737 7943
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 730am – 930pm
                             Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed
IG: Santuari

Serikandi Panaga Club
Food: Western / Asian
Address: Panaga Club, Seria
Phone: +673 336 2350
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 730am – 9pm
                              Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed

IG: Serikandi Restaurant

Marilyn Cafe Seria & KB

Food: Western / Asian
Address: Lot 2657 Jalan Bunga Melor, Seria

                 No. 12, Jalan Pretty, Kuala Belait
Phone: +673 322 3227(Seria) / WA +673 733 2318

             +673 333 3066(KB) / WA +673 733 2318

Business Hours: 

Seria Branch - Monday - Saturday 7am - 7pm

                        Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed

KB Branch - Monday – Sunday 8am – 9pm
                    Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed
IG: Marilyn Cafe

Kaizen Sushi Seria & KB

Food: Japanese
Address: No. 26 Jalan Sultan Omar Ali 1st Floor, Seria

                1F No. 9, Kalan Pretty Kuala Belait
Phone: +673 333 2662
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 11am – 230pm; 530pm – 10pm
                           Friday – 10am – 12nn; 2pm – 330pm

IG: Kaizen Sushi

KUALA BELAIT RESTAURANTS

Serikandi Café & Restaurant KB

Food: Western / Asian
Address: Lot 4004 Jalan Setia Di Raja, KB
Phone: +673 333 2862
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 730am – 9pm
                              Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed

IG: Serikandi Restaurant

Beanery & Co

Food: Western / Asian

Address: No. 81 A/ 1 Jalan Bunga Rambai, G/F, Kuala Belait
Phone: +673 334 7772
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 9am - 10pm
                              Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed

IG: Beanery & Co

Pastamania

Food: Italian

Address: Unit G5 & G6, G/F KB Sentral Shopping Centre, Kg Mumong, KB

Phone: +673 719 7441

Business Hours: Monday - Sunday 10am -10pm

                             Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed

IG: Pastamania Brunei

Bombay Palace
Food: North Indian
Address: Unit 1 & 2, Ground Floor, Lot No 6176, Near Bus Depot, KB
Phone: +673 334 2513 / +673 869 4840
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 830am -9pm
                           Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed

IG: Bombay Palace

Buccaneer Restaurant
Food: Western
Address: Lot #94 Ground Floor Jalan Mckerron, KB
Phone: +673 333 0406
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 10 am – 2pm; 5pm – 930pm
                            Friday 10am – 12pm; 5pm – 930pm

IG: Buccaneer Restaurant

Nur Wanita
Food: Thai
Address: Jln.Setia Di-Raja, Unit 11-12, G. Floor Komplek Harapan, KB
Phone: + 673 334 7789
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 9am – 10pm
                           Friday 9am – 12nn; 2pm – 10pm
IG: Nur Wanita

Sweet Lemongrass
Food: Thai
Address: Bgn Urairah, Lot 38564 Kg. Kiulap, Kuala Belait
Phone: +673 333 7333
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 11am – 11pm
                            Friday 12pm-2pm – Closed

IG: Sweet Lemongrass

Red Chilli's Restaurant

Food: North Indian
Address: Lot 82, Unit A&B, Jalan Bun Tanjung Pekan, Kuala Belait

Phone: +673 893 3858
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 7am – 2pm; 5pm – 9pm
                           Friday – 7am – 12pm; 5pm – 9pm

IG: Red Chilli's

Al Malabar Restaurant

Food: Indian
Address: Pandan 4, Kuala Belait

Phone: +673 334 0737
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 7am – 9pm
                           Friday – 7am – 12pm; 2pm – 9pm

Information provided by BRUNEI HIVE.

BRUNEI: Brunei - Indoor Children's Playgrounds

Check out these playgrounds around Brunei. Some of these playgrounds have cafes where adults can sit and have a drink while the kids play. Some of these playgrounds also host birthday parties!

And remember to pack socks otherwise you'll end up having to buy them!

MONKEYBARS CO

Address: No. 3&4, Lot 9189 Jalan Jaya Negara, Kuala Belait KA1931, Brunei

Hours: Mon – Sun 9am – 9pm
             Fri – Closed between 12nn - 2pm

Phone: +673 745 2888

For more information or enquiries, please visit MONKEYBARS CO

RAR’A’KIZ CAFÉ and INDOOR PLAYGROUND

Address: Unit 21, Ground Floor, Lot 7191, Bangunan Hj Hassan Ghani, Jalan Jaya Negara, Kg Pandan, Kuala Belait, Brunei

Hours: Mon – Sun TIME 9am - 9pm
            Tue – Closed
            Fri – Closed between 12nn - 2pm

Phone: +673 813 9557

For more information or enquiries, please visit RAR’A’KIZ CAFÉ and INDOOR PLAYGROUND

RAINBOW PLAYLAWN BRUNEI

Address: S13 & S14, 2nd Floor, Impiana Kompleks, Kiulap, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Hours: Mon – Thurs 10am – 930pm
            Fri 8am – 12nn; 2pm – 930pm
            Sat & Sun 8am – 930pm
    
Phone: +673 258 0220

For more information or enquiries, please visit RAINBOW PLAYLAWN BRUNEI

TWINKLE KIDS CAFÉ

Address: Unit No. 6&7, Ground Floor, Block A, One Riverside, Jalan Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Hours: Mon, Wed & Thurs 10am – 10pm
            Tue 12pm – 10pm
            Fri 9am – 12nn; 2pm - 10pm
            Sat & Sun 9am – 10pm

Phone: +673 224 1692

For more information or enquiries, please visit TWINKLE KIDS CAFÉ

FUNBLOCKS EDUTAINMENT

Address:: 3/F Huaho Manggis Mall, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Hours: Mon – Thurs 12nn – 9pm
            Fri 2pm – 9pm
            Sat & Sun 10am – 9pm

Phone: +673 234 1954

For more information or enquiries, please visit FUNBLOCKS EDUTAINMENT

TIMESZONE BRUNEI

Address: 2/F, Times Square Shopping Centre, Spg 13-29, Jln Berakas, Kg Jaya Setia, Mukim Berakas A, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Hours: Mon – Sun 10am – 10pm
             Fri – Closed between 12nn – 2pm

Phone: +673 233 0323

For more information or enquiries, please visit TIMESZONE BRUNEI

Adventureland/Bon Appetit

Address: Unit 4 & 5 Bangunan PSI Spg 363 Kg Tungku, Brunei

Hours: Mon – Sun 10am – 930pm
            Fri – closed between 12nn – 230pm

Phone: +673 244 9009/ +673 731 7099

For more information or enquiries, please visit ADVENTURELAND/BONAPPETIT

Information provided by BRUNEI HIVE.

Brunei: SMNF Payau Farm 29 December 2025 - 1 January 2026

 

Follow SMNF Payau Farm's Instagram page for more information. 

Information provided by Brunei HIVE.

BRUNEI: PCMF eConsult

Please scan the QR code above or click HERE to access econsult.

E-Consultation Postcode

Please follow the steps below:

On the eConsult page, enter: 

• BFPO 11 or BF1 3AG in the Postcode box (do not click Find Address).
• Your SFA/SLA address.

Click Next Step and fill in the information as prompted.

Information provided by BRUNEI HIVE.

BRUNEI: DIO(B) - Monthly Water Monitoring Schedule

DIO(B) SCHEDULED WATER TEMPERATURE MONITORING AND CHLORINE TESTING

1. In Order to Comply with the UK standard, DIO contractor Marsee will be carrying out the scope of works as shown below:

a. Check temperature reading of hot and cold water at the very sentinel point.
b. Check chlorine level in water using site test kit.
c. Visual check and small adjustment of water heater.
d. To record water analysis
e. Duration of work will take 10mins to 15mins.

Planned Minor Works at X1 Community Centre and Swimming Pool Area

The DIO(B) Contractor team will commence work at the X1 Community area and its surroundings, including the swimming pool, according to the schedule below.

The planned activities primarily involve painting and jet washing of the roads. These tasks are minimal; however, they may temporarily restrict access to certain roads or buildings during working hours. Public access to buildings will remain open, but the swimming pool will be closed for the duration of the works.

For any issues or concerns related to the proposed works, please contact the DIO(B) Helpdesk as your first point of contact.

DIO(B) appreciates your understanding and cooperation regarding this matter.

Work Schedule

1. Repainting X1/66 Mumong Community Centre (External and Internal Courtyard)
Date: Mid-Dec 2025 – 20 Feb 2026
Description: External painting works
Time: 0830 hrs – 1500 hrs (Daily except Sunday)

2. Repainting Splash Pool Fence (Swimming Pool Closed)
Date: 15 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
Description: Timber fence painting works
Time: 0800 hrs – 1500 hrs (Daily except Sunday)

3. Jet-Washing Around Mumong Community Centre (Including Swimming Pool, Carpark, and Courtyard)
Date: 15 Dec 2025 – 15 Jan 2026
Description: Jet washing of roads and concrete apron surrounding the buildings
Time: 0800 hrs – 1500 hrs (Daily except Sunday)

4. Repair and Repaint 2 ATAP Structures Adjacent to Mumong CC Carpark
Date: 15 Dec 2025 – 15 Jan 2026
Description: Jet washing and repainting works
Time: 0800 hrs – 1500 hrs (Daily except Sunday)

December DIO Scheduled Work

DIO contractors will be carrying out inspection works as shown in the table below. Utilities may be affected during the work but DIO contractors will try to minimise disruption.
To reschedule, please kindly contact DIO(B) Helpdesk either via phone Calls Ext.3375 or 3224130 or Email: BRUNEIGAR-DIO-HelpDesk@mod.gov.uk during office hours.

Please click the images to enlarge.

DIO (B) Gas Safety works : Purging on Intermediate Pressure Gas Network  

Location : J16 Flats Block A to F

Programme Schedule : 24 Nov 25

Time : 0800 am until work complete.

Scope of work: 

1. All works will be carried out by DIO(B) MTC (MARSEE) and will be limited to the external compound only.

2. The scope includes the purging of the intermediate gas line network supplying up to the gas meter box.

3. Disconnect and end cap the downstream supply from the upstream line.

4. The estimated duration for completing the works is 1 working day, subject to weather conditions and the required purging period.

5. For safety reasons, and to maintain the required distance during the controlled release of gas, occupants will be required to temporarily vacate their properties during the purging process.

Notification of Scheduled External Painting Works – J16 Flat B

As part of this financial year’s painting programme, the DIO(B) contractor will commence work at J16 Flat B starting Monday, 10 November 2025, for a duration of approximately 8 – 10 weeks.

Please inform the occupant of the following important points:

• Curtains must remain closed at all times while contractors are working outside the flat to maintain privacy and safety.

• The veranda is included in the scope of the painting works. Contractors will access it externally using a cherry picker lift.

• Work will be carried out during the following hours:
• Monday to Friday: 0800 – 1700
• Saturday: 0800 – 1700

For any concerns or issues related to the proposed works, please contact the DIO(B) Helpdesk in the first instance.

Phone number: 3224130 or military Ext 3375

Email: BRUNEIGAR-DIO-HelpDesk@mod.gov.uk or DIORDOSTrg-BruHelpdesk@mod.uk during office hours.

Planned renovation works at X1/23 and X1/24

As per agreed renovation or refurbishment programme, DIO(B) contractor will start work at X1/23 & X1/24 for 3 ½ months for next week.

For safety reason, please avoid entering the construction site at all times. During working hours, the surrounding area may experience increased noise level, loading and unloading activities, and restricted access due to safety measures.

If you have any concerns or issues related to the works, including health and safety matters, please contact the DIO(B) Helpdesk as you first point of contact.

• Mon – Fri: 0800 – 1700

• Sat: 1000 – 1700

• Start date: 15 Oct 2025

• Target completion date: End of Jan 2026

DIO Helpdesk Reports

1. From Wednesday 10 September 2025, DIO Brunei will be amending the way

in which they process works request, due to the unprecedented and unsustainable
volume of works requests being received. After detailed analysis of the current issues
DIO Brunei are facing, the following changes are being enacted:

2. The DIO Helpdesk will only be accepting EMERGENCY and VERY URGENT
works request via telephone on Mil: 94193 3375 & Civ: +673 322 4130.

3. All other work requests are to be sent via email to BRUNEIGAR-DIO-HelpDesk@mod.gov.uk, and are to include the following information:

a. Location (building, room, asset).
b. Full name of customer, if not SP, SP details must be included.
c. Contact details of customer, both email and telephone.
d. Description (as clear and precise as possible).
e. When fault happened/ how long has it been a fault.
f. Photo.

4. These details are imperative to increasing the efficiency of processing works,
reducing the time taken to triage, and ultimately the issue being resolved

5. If these details are not provided the works request will not be raised. Should
anyone have issues or concerns with the above direction they are to contact the DIO
WSM via email.

Click HERE for information on Infrastructure Fault Reporting - DIO(B) Help Desk

Information provided by BRUNEI HIVE.

Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy.

Defence sets out commitments to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in a new cross government strategy published on 18 Dec.

To view the Strategy documents, please go to: Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy - GOV.UK