A woman running a small restaurant in Schaerbeek was the victim of a fatal stabbing, according to the Brussels public prosecutor's office. The Brussels-North police zone was called to the Avenue du Diamant last Tuesday evening “for a woman with serious stab wounds in the communal hall of a property...

A new low-cost train line connecting Brussels with Paris in three hours goes into service from 19 December, reports Belga. Ouigo rail service – a collaboration between SNCB and SNCF – is already selling one-way tickets priced between €10 and €59 and a fixed price of €8 for children. Three daily...

From craft kits and celebratory cupcakes to artisan scented candles and locally-distilled booze, here’s our pick of some perfect Christmas presents. Sweet spot Not only does Esmero sell jars of fresh home-made dulche de leche, the Brussels atelier and store offers an array of sweet treats...

Belgian cycling champion Remco Evenepoel is recovering from injury after being knocked over by a Bpost delivery van while training. “With a fracture to my rib, shoulder blade, hand, contusions to my lungs and a dislocation of my right clavicle which has caused all surrounding ligaments to be torn,...

Brussels has dropped from 36th to 40th place in a list of cities with the best quality of life for expats, according to an annual ranking by US consultancy Mercer. Five years ago, the capital was ranked 28th. “This year, Zurich, Switzerland, takes the top position, fuelled by its outstanding public...

A wall of pre-fab containers stacked three stories high on Rue Jules Bouillon in Ixelles - used by a nearby construction site - is causing a major headache for residents. “The containers are now inhabited, which means I have no privacy,” one affected resident wrote on social media, sharing photos...

The Winter Pop programme is an offshoot of the Winter Wonders celebration that brings seasonal festivities to other corners of the city over three weekends: Place de la Chapelle (Marolles) from 6 to 8 December; Square Ambiorix (EU Quarter) from 13 to 15 December; Place E Bockstael (Laeken) from 18...

The Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities (Unia) is taking legal action against Belgian railway operator SNCB for what it describes as "poor" accessibility. Specifically, Unia is demanding widespread deployment of access ramps for people with disabilities, saying such ramps are available in...

More than 50,000 people are on the waiting list for social housing in Brussels, reflecting a worsening housing crisis in the Belgian capital. Supply has remained relatively stable since 2005, but demand has more than doubled over the same period. As a result, the waiting list for social housing is...

In March 2024, the Brussels Parliament approved a new ordinance amending the Brussels Housing Code. This new legislation is geared to three key areas: habitability, legal security of occupancy, and payment capacity. The new provisions entered into force on 1 November 2024. Some provisions apply...