She may have been born in Aotearoa, but it feels almost inevitable that Rachel Bickler would end up in Brussels – the heart of the European Union, where a two-hour drive in any direction means crossing a border. Born in Wellington, she spent most of her early years overseas – including 18 months travelling across Asia in an old army truck. Post-graduate law in Leuven, Belgium, led to a 30-year career specialising in European Union and competitive law, but after giving law a ‘good run’ she is now cutting vegetables for refugees in a community kitchen and drinking in the art, architecture, and rich history of Europe in a group, ‘Walkers and Talkers’.
Rachel Bickler says Brussels' proximity to beautiful hikes is part of the reason she loves living there. Photo: SUPPLIED
