Brussels is a city of singles, but many are dissuaded from dating apps because of the awkward small talk upon 'matching'. Luckily, a new dating app has just the solution.
Breeze, a Dutch-headquartered company which arrived in the Belgian capital earlier this month, distinguishes itself from virtually all other dating apps by the complete absence of a chat function.
Instead, when two people match on the platform, they are immediately requested to specify their availability for a date – which they can then confirm for a €9 fee, which also includes a drink.
"Singles no longer want to chat superficially and endlessly online," said company co-founder Marco van der Woude. "By skipping this step, we are lowering the threshold to meet new people and schedule nice dates."
"Research shows that endless swiping and chatting is often perceived as annoying, not to mention the countless unwanted reactions," he added. "Many singles are looking for sincere dates who, like themselves, are open to good conversation and new acquaintances."
'We realise that it's nerve-wracking'
The platform's co-founder also stressed that one of the benefits of partnering with specific locales is that bar staff are able to look out for those who might otherwise be nervous about meeting someone with whom they haven't even exchanged a message.
"We realise that it's nerve-racking to trust an algorithm and schedule a meeting with someone you have never spoken to before. That is why we will focus even more on safety and inclusivity in the long term," the founder explained.
"For example, we will soon be launching a new feature where users will have the opportunity to verify the other party's profile at the end of the date."
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Founded in 2020 in the Netherlands, Breeze has since expanded to several other Belgian cities including Antwerp, Ghent, and Leuven. It claims to have organised a total of nearly 120,000 dates, of which over 75% have resulted in an exchange of phone numbers.
Breeze also notes that at least three babies have been born to couples who met through the platform.
