Perhaps one of the biggest frustrations to the international Brussels resident is mastering the French language. Despite the fact that the city is largely francophone, in some circles it's possible to get by with a smattering of 'franglais'. But for those interested in delving a bit deeper, they...

The price of electricity in Belgium shot up to €57.61 per MWh yesterday, having stood during the entire month of June at between €34.19 and €48.46 per MWh. According to the newspaper L’Echo, the heatwave is the main reason behind the sudden spike. Electricity consumption rises with a rise in...

A team of scientists from the Flanders’ life sciences research institute (VIB), the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and the Leuven University Hospital have discovered a connection between psychological wellbeing and the immune system. Their findings, published by the BMJ journal Gut , are based on...

A museum dedicated to the ‘Chat’, the famous feline cartoon character created by Belgian cartoonist Philippe Geluck, is due to open its doors on Place Royale in Brussels in 2019. The Brussels Capital Region is reportedly putting the so-called « 1930 » building at Geluck’s disposal. The neglected...

After 32 years of renovation and restoration work, Mons’ landmark Baroque belfry is opening again to visitors this weekend. Visitors will be able to access the belfry via a special centre on the history of the building, created as part of the Mons European Capital of Culture 2015 activities. A...

Vlerick Business School, with campuses in Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels, has appointed Marion Debruyne as its new dean. Debruyne takes over from Philippe Haspeslagh, who is retiring, from 1 August. Her six-year contract was approved yesterday by the institution’s board. The new dean is no stranger to...

When it comes to fast food in Brussels, vegetarians can often feel left out. The staple of Belgian fast food are the “snack” shops found on near every street corner, serving up no-frills, meat-laden döner kebab (if Turkish) or shawarma (if Arab) wrapped in pita and smothered in sauce. Not much room...

Why buy clothes you will only wear for a short time, when you could rent them? This is was the question Anna Balez, a chemical engineer and mother of two, had when she was searching for affordable ways to clothe her two small sons. She wanted them to wear what she calls “quality clothes”, made from...

As of today, 29 June, Brussels officially boasts the second largest car-free pedestrian zone in Europe now that the handsome stretch between Place Fontainas and Place de Brouckere, along with many of its side streets, is now off limits to motor vehicles. Officially, only Venice has a larger car-...

The brewing industry, drinks wholesalers and the drinks service sector in Belgium have agreed to sit down to talks with the federal government to negotiate a code of conduct for contracts with cafes, consumer affairs minister Kris Peeters announced yesterday. Peeters was speaking after the first...