The city of Leuven said it will appeal against the latest urban planning permit for the shopping and leisure complex Uplace. The complex, to be built in Machelen, just outside of Brussels, also faces opposition from the municipal authorities in Mechelen and Vilvoorde. Over the weekend, Uplace...

Brussels' New Year Eve fireworks party will be going ahead "until further notice", mayor Yvan Mayeur's office confirmed on Tuesday. The city hall is in ongoing contact with Belgium's terror threat analysis body, OCAM, and will follow its recommendations. The festivities in the pedestrian zone -...

If in the build-up to Christmas you missed the opening of William Klein's first retrospective in Brussels here's a reminder about a don't-miss show. The Botanique is presenting a great many large-format prints from his first book of photographs Life is Good & Good for You In New York (1956) and...

The annual Music for Life charity event has raised more than €7.8 million, organisers Studio Brussel have said. The event involved more than 6,000 activities in support of 1,300 good causes. It ended on Christmas Eve but some individual activities are still going on, so the final total will be even...

Let’s face it: There was a lot to dislike about 2016. Aside from the loss of some of the world’s greatest musicians, there was Brexit and a US election upset, both of which came as less-than-pleasant surprises for Belgium’s international community. We lost seminal figures like musician Toots...

On 19 December, a lorry smashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. With wounds unhealed from the previous atrocities in Brussels, Belgians did not succumb to fear when confronted with the the threat of terrorism. Sipping mulled wine...

The year 2016 is expected to finish with one of the highest number of strikes in two decades, according to figures from the national social security office ONSS. According to the latest figures for the second quarter, the period between April and June accounted for 247,300 strike days, the highest...

The Community Help Service , a lifeline for the international community in Belgium, has launched an end-of-year appeal for donations to help keep its 24/7 helpline operating. The free and confidential 24-hour English language helpline for children, adolescents and adults is a unique service,...

The rush-hour mania dissolves as you enter the brightly lit waiting room. As the doors to the street close, the noise of the city subsides and gentle music takes over. A weary-eyed woman disappears into a relaxation room. “It’s not unusual for people to take a nap during office hours, but before...

A federal plan to compensate 800,000 members of the Arco co-operative for at least some of the money they lost in the collapse of Dexia bank has been ruled illegal by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. The decision was preceded by negative advice from the court’s advocate-general and the...