Brussels' winter plan to provide shelter and assistance for the homeless has come into force, running until the end of April. This year, some 3,200 beds are available - of which 2,150 are already available year-round in various reception centres. The extra spaces for the winter are provided by the...

The Brussels region wants to discourage drivers from buying over-sized 4x4s, by introducing a higher rate of road tax. The regional government said in a policy statement that SUVs were not suited to journeys in an urban environment. The road tax paid when a driver buys a new vehicle has until now...

Shops across Belgium will apply price-rounding to the nearest five cents whenever a customer pays in cash from next month. The new rules, which have been optional since 2014, will be applied automatically from 1 December. Retailers can choose whether to apply the same measures to electronic...

“My doctor told me to write stuff down, said it would help me. Something about ‘gaining a locus of control over unresolved past experiences related to infantile psychosexual impulses and behaviours’. She said I should find a spot where I feel comfortable and can ‘maintain a positive reinforcement...

A three-year campaign promoting cycle holidays in Flanders has led to more interest from foreign tour operators, new collaborations between holiday specialists and a significant increase in the availability of cycle holidays online. Fietsvakanties in Vlaanderen (Cycle Holidays in Flanders) is a...

Filled with original recipes designed to reduce kitchen waste to, well, zero, the new French-language cookery book ZERO WASTE by Pepeat Studio uses augmented reality with instruction videos for each recipe via a free app. Belgian sommelier Eric Boschman provides wine and beer pairings. Try out this...

Scientist and entrepreneur Mohamed Takhim created Ecophos when he was 20 and still a student. Based in Louvain-la-Neuve, it now has a turnover in excess of €135 million and is internationally renowned for cleaner, greener, phosphate extraction. Originally from Morocco, Takhim’s connection with...

An army of Belgian postal workers are ready to deliver more than 300,000 letters to Saint Nicolas between now and 6 December. Bpost has confirmed the practical details for any child (or adult) wanting to write to the Saint this festive season. Saint Nicolas still does not have an email address, so...

Doctors have attributed a death in Belgium to an e-cigarette for the first time. An 18-year-old Brussels man died in hospital this week following a serious lung infection. The young man, Raphaël Pauwaert, received a vape from a friend for his birthday earlier this year. He tried it for a couple of...