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Three communes call for permanent waterbus service

The municipalities of Vilvoorde, Machelen and Brussels-City are asking the Flemish government to work on a waterbus service that would allow commuters to make commuter journeys to and from the capital all year round. A waterbus already exists but only runs from May to October. “We already live...

Sex workers gain social rights, can obtain employment contracts

Sex workers will now be able to obtain an employment contract and enjoy the same social rights as other employed individuals, following the passage of a bill after the long-awaited reform of Belgium’s criminal code. Two laws passed in spring 2022 took key steps towards decriminalising sex work,...

Animal welfare enshrined in Belgian constitution

Animal welfare is now enshrined in the Belgian constitution following the adoption of a proposal to that end in Belgium's federal parliament. The amendment adopted adds the following words to Article 7 of the Constitution: "In the exercise of their respective powers, the federal state, the...

Belgium explores potential for more bike paths along railway lines

Belgium’s federal government and three regions want more cycle paths alongside railway lines, hoping to double the existing number of them. There are currently 130 cycling highways, or cyclostrades, in Belgium. To further develop them, the federal and regional authorities, along with SNCB and...

Belgium introduces civic service for young people

Belgium is introducing a new voluntary civic service programme aimed at young people. With an annual budget of €7.5 million, the Citizen Service programme is expected to allow for the yearly participation of almost 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 25. “The Citizen Service programme offers...

Successful long weekend for tourism on Belgian coast

Sunshine over the Ascension holiday weekend drove up tourism on the Belgian coast, with a total of 700,000 tourist overnight stays recorded and some 550,000 visitors for day trips, according to figures released by the provincial body Westtoer. The figures represent an increase of 22% on the same...

Olympics: The athletic aesthetic

 Whilst most onlookers will focus on sport, art and design will also play a part, as they have since the games began at Olympia nearly three thousand years ago. Greek art is replete with representations of athletes on vases, plates and bronzes. Every four years modern day hosts unveil dazzling new architecture, in the form of stadia, arenas, velodromes and swimming pools.  The athletes themselves act as torch bearers for ever changing ideals of physical perfection. From nudity to Nike, from sand to synthetics, the Olympic story offers art lovers pure gold.

Cemeteries' Spring - Laeken, Brussels

Cemeteries’ Spring: Annual event at Laeken focuses on women buried in the historic cemetery

The 3rd edition of Cemeteries’ Spring in Laeken Cemetery on 25 and 26 May offers guided tours in English among a programme of events honouring women. Passionate guides will take visitors around one of the city's most beautiful cemeteries, paying tribute to those who have been forgotten, who have...

Special ops military exercise starts in the region of Mons and Tournai

More than 900 soldiers from Belgium’s land, air and medical components are being deployed in the province of Hainaut for a special ops ‘Storm Tide’ exercise from May 13 to 24, reports RTBF. The objective is to simulate the evacuation of Belgian nationals from a crisis zone abroad under the...

Faster intercity train service between Brussels and Amsterdam to launch end of 2024

Belgian and Dutch rail companies will start running an extra fast train service between Brussels and Amsterdam at the end of 2024, reports Bruzz. Although the connection between the two capital will be 40 minutes faster, it will only stop at Brussels-South station, skipping both Brussels-North and...

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