Federal minister for consumer affairs Kris Peeters has announced that companies who do not use the country’s central register against cold calls will now face fines and possible prosecution. The digital register for people who don’t want to receive cold calls at home, “Ne m’appelez plus” (Don’t...

Water supply company Aquafin has called for clarity and legal regulations regarding what may be flushed down an ordinary household toilet. At present, customers flush all kinds of things down the toilet, including wet-wipes, disposable nappies, sanitary products and so-called flushable toilet rolls...

The first important international art meet of the year is the Brussels Antiques and Fine Art Fair, Brafa at Tour & Taxis from January 25 to February 2. After a record 48,000 visitors last year, the event, one of the longest running in the world, is hoping to attract more than 50,000 for the...

The Brussels Motor Show closed out its 93rd edition yesterday with an estimated 427,000 visitors, a record for the ‘small’ show which features light commercial, recreational vehicles and motorcycles, announced Joost Kaesemans of organiser FEBIAC. The previous record dates back to 2013, when 385,000...

Theo Francken, state secretary for asylum and migration, will table a bill in parliament this week aimed at preventing potential terrorists returning to Belgium from Syria. Francken (N-VA) wants to remove the right to return from those who had earlier been granted asylum status. The decision to ban...

Both Chez Moeder Lambic bars and the Cantillon brewery in Anderlecht have made the list of the world’s best beer destinations, compiled annually by the website RateBeer.com. Lambic and geuze café In de Verzekering Tegen de Grote Dorst in Lennik, just outside Brussels, came in second place. The...

For the first time in Belgium, the majority of public prosecutors and court judges are women, a number that is expected to continue to increase, as 60% of law students at the Universities of Leuven and Ghent are women, report Het Nieuwsblad and Het Gazet van Antwerpen . Female public prosecutors...

Brewer AB InBev and transport company Ninatrans are the first in Belgium to receive a permit to deploy a Longer and Heavy Truck – also known as an ecocombi or “super truck” ( pictured ). The super trucks will drive between Ninatrans base in Leuven and the port of Antwerp on a daily basis. The first...

Finding your fridge stuffed with odd-looking forms that you suspect are vegetables but have no idea what they’re called or what to do with them? You may be looking at some of Belgium’s “forgotten vegetables”, the former staples of Belgian pantries and vegetable gardens which at some point over the...

Train passengers in Belgium are more likely to not have their tickets checked by a conductor, according to a random check by public transport users' organisation TreinTramBus and its Walloon counterpart Navetteurs.be . On 436 train rides, only 44% of the passengers were asked to show their tickets...