Traffic problems overview

No idea about up to date traffic news, apart from checking the internet regularly. It'll be a Friday evening, so personally, I'd leave about an hour and a half minimum.

I would avoid heading out of Brussels through the Midi area. Schuman to the Midi and on to St. Gilles / Forest to the ring that way is pretty hard going at any time, on a Friday evening, it'll be terrible.

From Schuman, you are much better advised to go out along Ave Tervuren and join the ring that way, take directions for Waterloo / Nivelles, and then follow signs to Charleroi Airport.

Check Tom tom live just before you leave, but Friday is usually so awful the traffic situation can change in minutes!

Don't take the west part of the ring. There are major works by the Braine L'Alleud exit. Do as Anon says or get to ring via Auderghem. That side of the ring is often OK once you get past the motorway to Luxemburg.

Leave plenty of time!

Indeed, take plenty of time to get there as there is always happening something with the traffic in that direction :(...

I took a sat nab and went cross country last time past through ever farm in Belgium more or less, started in Overijse though.
on return did motorway nearly missed flight because tanker was over allow as more time you can always get a coffee there

Traffic can be monitored here: http://www.inforoutes.be/ in French or Dutch. Can select BRUXELLES: VLAANDEREN - WALLONIE - FRANKRIJK - NEDERLAND

Google maps have a trafiic tab -- click on that for latest traffic issues - shows the jams on the roads at that time