One-third of the revenue from traffic fines in Belgium goes toward improving road safety, while the rest disappears into the state treasury, according to figures that politician Sabien Lahaye-Battheu requested from State Secretary for Mobility Melchior Wathelet. Only €1 out of every €3 collected...

A “stupid mistake on the part of a member of staff” was responsible for a false alarm in which more than 700 people who had routine scans for colon cancer received a letter advising them to take further tests. The recipients of the letter were among 249,000 people who were invited by the Flemish...

Sandy Evrard, the mayor of the small village of Mesen in southern West Flanders on the border with France, expressed his anger yesterday at colleagues from other First World War cities in the province. The statements were brought on by the launch of a special war tour bus that will take in some of...

Brussels has dropped out of the top 10 global cities on the latest biennial Global Cities Index, published by market researchers AT Kearney. Brussels drops this year to 11th place, from number nine two years ago. A city’s rankings are a result of a weighted calculation of various factors: business...

Belgium is one of the few countries where the king bestows official titles of nobility upon men and women of great merit. These titles come with no extra benefits and are not hereditary, but they are considered a great honour. Yesterday, on his birthday, King Flip announced the new titles. Antwerp...

Six-year-old Maxim, “The Kid Politician” from Brussels, is passionate about Belgian politics. He regularly meets with and interviews politicians from all parties with an aim to get kids more interested in politics. With elections approaching, Maxim organised an event to bring together different...

Fruit growers across Belgium are doing everything they can to prevent night frost from affecting the blossoms of their trees which are now in full bloom. If the blossoms freeze, they could die, with disastrous consequences for the fruit harvest. The farmers are using everything from braziers to...

In 2013, the number of wills drawn up in Belgium increased by 36 percent, and the trend is expected to continue in 2014. Not only notaries benefit from the increased interest in estate planning; NGOs and charitable organisations have also noticed a sharp rise in their income from gifted inheritance...

One laugh a day keeps the expat blues away Been having a case of the frowns lately? Then the festival Juste Pour Rire (Just for Laughs) in Brussels this April 28 to May 7 may be just what the doctor ordered. Originating from Montreal, Juste Pour Rire is a world-renowned comedy festival 30 years in...

The student councils of Brussels University College (HUB), the Free University of Brussels (VUB), Erasmus University College and the LUCA school of arts have presented a joint memorandum in the lead-up to the May election. Their goal is to turn Brussels into a veritable student city. The memorandum...