Cyber Security Challenge Belgium 2026

The qualification round was structured as a Capture The Flag (CTF) competition consisting of many different types of challenges. Participants had to solve tasks related to areas such as web security, reverse engineering, forensics, and general offensive cybersecurity concepts. Besides the more technical exercises, there were also several logic and puzzle-oriented challenges that required creativity and problem-solving rather than purely technical knowledge.

What I found interesting about the competition was the variety between the challenges. Some tasks required technical analysis and practical exploitation skills, while others focused more on observation, research, or lateral thinking. This made the competition feel very dynamic, since every solved challenge required a slightly different mindset and approach.

The event also highlighted how broad cybersecurity really is. Even within a single competition, participants constantly switch between completely different domains and techniques. It was a good reminder that cybersecurity is not only about technical knowledge, but also about persistence, adaptability, and analytical thinking under time pressure.

I finished 127th out of approximately 900 participants, narrowly missing qualification for the next round in Brussels. Although I did not advance to the finals, I still considered the experience very valuable. Participating in a large-scale cybersecurity competition was both challenging and motivating, and it gave me a better understanding of how practical cybersecurity skills are applied in competitive environments.

Overall, the Cyber Security Challenge Belgium was a great experience that pushed me outside the traditional classroom setting and encouraged me to think more practically and creatively about cybersecurity problems.