BNP Paribas Fortis bank has been fined €15 million for breaches of its anti-money laundering policy. The bank said in a statement that the investigation by the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) related to a period prior to June 2019 and that in the meantime the “shortcomings identified have been...

The Brussels government has granted planning permission for the construction of a memorial commemorating the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic. The monument will be built in the north of Brussels, the city’s secretary of state for town planning and heritage Ans Persoons announced. The place of...

The Brussels region now recognises clubbing as intangible cultural heritage following an initiative from the nightlife sector itself. The designation indicates an importance not only for the people of Brussels, but also for the city's attractiveness, RTBF reports. It also means that clubs and other...

Brussels outdoor swimming pool Flow has had to temporarily close, just a few days after opening for the summer season, after a water quality test provided results not in line with their strict standards aimed at protecting people with lower immune systems. “We have received the results of the first...

Severe thunderstorms across Belgium – particularly in Wallonia – have caused disruptions to a number of prominent summer music festivals over the weekend. The Les Ardentes festival cancelled its final day of performances, LaSemo was evacuated and later reopened, and Brosella was delayed. Many...

Clare Thomson, a journalistic powerhouse who dominated the pages of The Bulletin during its heyday in the 1990s, has suffered a fatal heart attack aged 58 at her home in Harlesden, north-west London. Clare joined The Bulletin in 1991, the year that her book, The Singing Revolution: A Political...

Belgium is now in the top 10 EU nations consuming illicit tobacco. One in 10 cigarettes smoked in the country in 2022 were illegal, a figure that has doubled in one year. Criminal gangs are behind Belgium’s growing number of illegal tobacco factories, while the Belgian treasury lost €250 million in...

Police in Australia have suspended their search for Belgian tourist Céline Cremer who disappeared three weeks ago on the island of Tasmania. They say she could not have survived the harsh weather conditions in the remote area. The 31-year-old from Liège was last seen on 17 June in the town of...

The outdoor music scene has kicked off in Belgium and is set to enthral fans all season long. Many of the country’s massive events sell-out in a flash, but you can still get tickets to most festivals, where all musical styles are catered to. If you want to keep costs down, it’s worth booking a...

Brussels residents will be able to choose the polling station they go to when they cast their vote in their commune for the 2024 municipal elections if a draft ordinance is approved. The ordinance was approved by the internal affairs committee of the Brussels parliament and will now be voted on in...