"How do you know I’m not just going to run away with this?" I ask Stefan Leemans. He smiles as he says: "I think I can run faster than you." It’s a joke, but he would certainly do it if put to the test. He has placed in my hand a seven-carat diamond, so large and beautifully cut that it seems it...

Dozens of dead pigeons have been found twice in as many weeks in and around the little park at Place Fernand Cocq. The park is across the street from Ixelles’ town hall. The first incident led to an investigation that confirmed that the birds had been poisoned. “It’s just shocking,” said Yves...

Applications have now opened for Belgium's free 12-journey rail pass - but it will not be available to use until 5 October. The free pass, called Hello Belgium, announced by the federal government earlier this year, aims to boost domestic tourism after the coronavirus shutdown. Initially due to...

From school to public transport, culture to healthcare, 1 September brings several changes here in Belgium. Here's a quick recap: 1. Back to school, from five years old Almost two million children in Belgium return to school on Tuesday. For many it will be their first time in the classroom since...

Brussels police will reinforce their patrols around schools over the coming weeks, paying extra attention to dangerous driving and bad parking. The operation comes as tens of thousands of schoolchildren in the capital return to class on Tuesday - many for the first time since March. Over the past...

Egbert Lachaert (Open VLD) is proceeding with talks with three other parties with a view to forming a federal government. The so-called preformateur is considering a coalition that would exclude N-VA. The chair of the Flemish liberals was appointed by the king earlier this month to lead...

About 50 people joined a demonstration against police violence in Brussels on Saturday in response to the death of a Slovak man in police custody at Charleroi airport. While the incident happened in February 2018, CCTV video footage only emerged this month , showing several officers putting a...

Soldiers will continue to patrol Belgium's streets for at least a month longer than planned, after their mission was extended until October. The public patrols, known as Operation Vigilant Guardian, began in January 2015 following the shootings at Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris and have cost more...

An independent commission has been set up to hear testimonies about abuse within gymnastics clubs in Flanders, following a series of bullying accusations during the summer. The commission will both advise the sector and hand out sanctions where necessary. “Every complaint is one too many and must...

With the addition of five new members, the bonobos at the Antwerp Zoo now number 18, the second largest group of the apes in Europe. Bonobos are an incredibly active and playful species, making them a favourite attraction for zoo-goers. They are also endangered, with between 15,000 and 50,000 left...