Mini-Europe, the theme park at Heysel in Brussels that contains miniatures of European landmarks, will be kept in the new Neo shopping and leisure centre planned for the site. The water park Océade will remain open until at least October 2018. “We can guarantee [Mini-Europe’s] activities on the...

Spanish clothing chain Zara has escaped paying €18 million in tax to Belgium because of a number of fiscal loopholes, according to the Green fraction of the European parliament. In a report published this week, the party examines Zara’s fiscal constructions operating across Europe. The holding...

A proposal to allow people to pay into their future pension fund for the years spent in higher education has been struck down by federal coalition parties N-VA and CD&V. The proposal was made by pension minister Daniel Bacquelaine of French-speaking coalition party MR. In order to claim a full...

An exhibition in Brussels sets out to convince us that the greatest painter of the 20th century was also a great sculptor. It doesn’t quite succeed, but it is full of pleasures for Picasso aficionados, along with insights into the way he worked and the objects that inspired him. Picasso was trained...

The Atomium is currently host to an exhibition detailing the rise and fall of Sabena, Belgium's fabled airline. Culled meticulously from private and public collections are a great variety of original objects, several scale airplane models, uniforms, posters, photos, movies and some gadgets that...

Belgium’s most beautiful city is Bruges, according to Pope Francis, speaking in a rare interview published this week in the Flemish Catholic weekly Tertio. Jorge Mario Bergoglio visited Belgium frequently between 1973 and 1979 in his then function as provincial superior of the Society of Jesus in...

A third – and reputedly final – offer by Belgium’s national postal service, Bpost, to take over Dutch postal service PostNL has been rejected. Other offers were made and rejected last month. According to Bpost CEO Koen Van Gerven (pictured), it was Dutch political influence that sank the deal. “On...

Tourism authority Visit Brussels has been granted an extra €700,000 in subsidies to boost the city's image among overseas visitors after the 22 March terror attacks. The funding, from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, will go towards promoting the Mixity 2017 event - a year-long celebration of...

The nativity scene on the Grand Place in Brussels will have no live animals this year for the first time in almost 40 years. The three sheep, loaned each year by farmer Jean Meulens from Lennik, are to be replaced by straw sheep instead, reports Bruzz. The decision comes after an incident last year...

A comprehensive guide to all the major events happening in Brussels next year has just been published. The Brussels Cultural Guide - in English, French and Dutch - is published every winter by the Fondation pour les Arts and is a godsend when out-of-town guests are visiting and you need to know...