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Belgiumâs Royal Observatory celebrates 200th anniversary
Published: June 14, 2026 05:57
Last Monday Belgiumâs Royal Observatory at Ukkel celebrated its bicentenary. Over the coming months, this milestone will be marked with a series of events and activities, ranging from âAstronomy on the Pavementâ to concerts at the planetarium.
Direct high-speed rail link between Cologne and Ostend back after 25 years
Published: June 13, 2026 05:51
German tourists wishing to visit the Flemish coast can now do so using the brand new direct high-speed rail service from Cologne to Ostend (West Flanders). The train runs at weekends, on Saturdays and Sundays, and will continue to operate if it proves toâŠ
Flanders working on AI guidelines for education
Published: June 12, 2026 15:34
Comparing it to a railway system without signals, the education minister says that the use of AI in primary and secondary schools should come with a set of guidelines
The cat from the Wetstraat to predict World Cup winners
Published: June 12, 2026 15:06
Maximus, possibly the most popular figure in the Wetstraat, got his first prediction right, when Mexico beat South Africa
Roller coaster weather continues: 30°C expected end next week
Published: June 12, 2026 13:59
This weekend will be rainy and mild, but next week will see temperatures reaching above 30°C, lasting into next weekend
Strépy carnival driver found guilty of seven counts of homicide
Published: June 12, 2026 13:22
The man who drove at high speed into a carnival procession in the little town of StrĂ©py four years ago has been found guilty of intentional homicide â short of premeditated murder, but still a relief to the grieving families
Three minors arrested for sex trafficking of underage girls
Published: June 12, 2026 10:35
Police have arrested 12 people involved in a criminal ring exploiting underage girls in Brussels. It was being run by three teenage boys
âShorter deadlines for everythingâ: Migration Pact takes effect today
Published: June 12, 2026 09:49
After two years of preparation, Europeâs Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into force today. Like other countries, Belgium isnât ready to implement all procedures just yet
Brussels to ban share e-scooters from 2027 following a rise in accidents and use by criminals
Published: June 11, 2026 13:30
The Brussels government is introducing a ban on share e-scooters from 2027. The decision comes in response to a rising number of accidents, increasing disruption to other road users and the use of share e-scooters by criminals.
Suspected Russian spy sentenced to 5 years in gaol for smuggling military goods
Published: June 11, 2026 12:48
A suspected Russian spy, Victor L., has been sentenced to five years in prison for smuggling military goods to the Russian Federation. According to a court in Brussels, he did so by circumventing European sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation.
Over a third of Belgiumâs population has non-Belgian roots
Published: June 11, 2026 11:42
Over a third of the population of Belgium today has a non-Belgian background. Of Belgiumâs nearly 11.87 million inhabitants, 4.34 million do not have a Belgian background: 2.71 million, or 22.8 per cent, have a foreign background (but are Belgian citizens)âŠ
Vlaams Belang hosts National Rally leader Bardella at Flemish Parliament
Published: June 11, 2026 09:23
This evening, Jordan Bardella (pictured right), leader of the French far right National Rally party (Rassemblement National), is addressing a gathering at the Flemish Parliament at the invitation of the Flemish far right Vlaams Belang.
3 staff overcome by smoke at complicated fire at Jourdanplein brasserie in Etterbeek
Published: June 11, 2026 09:18
Three staff members were overcome by smoke when fire broke out at a brasserie on the Jourdanplein in Etterbeek (Brussels) on Wednesday evening. The fire brigade, emergency medical services and the police were called to the restaurant at around 8.25 pm. TheâŠ
New brain scanner detects dementia and Parkinsonâs Disease before first symptoms appear
Published: June 11, 2026 08:13
Doctors at Leuven University Hospital (UZ Leuven) can now detect signs of brain diseases such as Parkinsonâs Disease, dementia and ALS (the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) much earlier thanks to a new scanner. It produces extremelyâŠ
Why is Vlaams Belang inviting National Rally leader Bardella to the Flemish Parliament?
Published: June 11, 2026 07:46
âVlaams Belang wants to replicate the success of the National Rally,â says VRT News editor Ivan De Vadder, when quizzed about the decision of Flemish far right leader Tom Van Grieken to invite Jordan Bardella to speak at a gathering in the FlemishâŠ
Flanders OKs self-driving Teslas on public highway
Published: June 11, 2026 07:12
Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder (Flemish nationalist N-VA) has authorised the use of self-driving Teslas on public roads. Tesla is a brand of electric car. The approval applies to all Belgian roads, the minister reports. Tests with theâŠ
Anderlecht warehouse blaze death toll rises to 4
Published: June 10, 2026 13:26
Two more bodies have been found in the rubble following last weekâs devastating fire at a warehouse in the Brussels borough of Anderlecht, the Brussels Public Prosecutorâs Office has confirmed. Two victims had already been found earlier. This brings theâŠ
Revamped bike-share network in Vlaamse Rand now up and running
Published: June 10, 2026 12:06
The revamped bike-share network ânextbike Vlaamse Rand 2.0â is now up and running. In the Vlaamse Rand, the Flemish municipalities around Brussels, you can now find share-bike stations at 68 locations, allowing you, for example, to cycle home from theâŠ
Police pounce against exploitation of South American sex workers in Belgium
Published: June 10, 2026 11:49
Belgian police have dismantled an international network involved in human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women from South America. During the operation, led by an examining magistrate from the Leuven public prosecutorâs office, 35 premisesâŠ
Israeli flag hoisted at Antwerp City Hall under police supervision
Published: June 10, 2026 08:57
The flag of the State of Israel is flying once again at Antwerp City Hall. The hoisting occurred slightly earlier than planned. The flag was raised on Wednesday morning as part of the traditional flagging ceremony ahead of the summer tourist season, butâŠ
King Filip visits Antwerp gaol as inmates shout âLong Live the King!â (VIDEO)
Published: June 10, 2026 08:26
Filip, King of Belgians, visited one of Belgiumâs overcrowded prisons on Tuesday. The King was given a guided tour of the prison in Antwerpâs Begijnenstraat, one of two penitentiaries in the northern metropolis.
Brussels Police Chief on the riots: âDemonstrations increasingly hijacked by organised youthsâ
Published: June 10, 2026 07:45
Jurgen De Landsheer, Chief of Police for the Brussels South Police Zone, is keen to stress that protest is an important democratic right. However, he strongly disapproves of the way in which protests have taken place in the centre of Brussels â as part ofâŠ
Record âŹ175 mn for Belgian ticket holder on Euromillions - or nearly
Published: June 10, 2026 07:24
A Belgian ticket holder in the pan-European lottery EuroMillions has just won nearly 175 million euros. According to the National Lottery the exact figure is 174,984,088 euros.
Ebola outbreak: Belgium rejects US demand to bar Congolese nationals
Published: June 10, 2026 07:11
Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has rejected a US demand to close borders for Congolese nationals against the backdrop of the Ebola outbreak. Vandenbroucke speaks of the âcrushing responsibilityâ of the US now that it has scaled back aid andâŠ
Prosecutors quiz 23 individuals after Francophone education cut protests, also probe into possible police violence
Published: June 9, 2026 14:27
Following the protests against cuts in Francophone education in the Brussels downtown over the past few days, 23 people have been referred to the public prosecutorâs office. These include six adults aged between 18 and 48 and 17 minors aged between 14 andâŠ
Drug agency warns of a proliferation of synthetic drugs: âWe discover a new substance every weekâ
Published: June 9, 2026 13:16
The number of new synthetic drugs on the European market is rising sharply according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in its annual report. The agency is warning of the risks to usersâ health, as the rapidly changing world ofâŠ
Four Belgian IS women speak out for the first time: "We are not ticking time bombsâ
Published: June 9, 2026 11:49
âIf we really had been ticking time bombs, that time bomb would have exploded by now.â With these words, a group of Belgian women respond to the persistent image that continues to haunt them. In the VRT NEWS podcast âVrouwen van IS" (Women of IS), theyâŠ
Zeppelin negotiates Flemish skies, lands safely at Grimbergen (VIDEO)
Published: June 9, 2026 08:14
On Monday, a zeppelin airship flew from Germany to Grimbergen Airfield in Flemish Brabant Province. The aircraft had taken off from Essen/MĂŒlheim Airport in western Germany and flew over Limburg Province and Antwerp Province on its way to Flemish BrabantâŠ
Who are the victims of the Anderlecht warehouse blaze?
Published: June 9, 2026 07:34
A father who ran a fish business and his son have been identified as two of the victims of the huge fire that struck a warehouse in the Brussels borough of Anderlecht at the weekend.
Flemish government identifies 30 âinspiration schoolsâ to serve as models for other primary schools
Published: June 9, 2026 07:17
The Flemish Government has approved 30 so-called âinspiration schoolsâ. From September onwards, they will be tasked with showing other Flemish schools how the new minimum standards for primary education can be implemented.
Car drops into Kruidtuin Tunnel (Botanique) in Brussels: morning rush hour in chaos
Published: June 9, 2026 07:01
An unusual traffic accident in the Kruidtuin Tunnel (aka the Tunnel Botanique) in Brussels last night, caused severe traffic jams this morning. A car dropped into the tunnel as a result of a road accident. The driver was injured but managed to climb out ofâŠ
Probe into illegal activities in Belgium: Moroccan banks reach âŹ175 million settlement
Published: June 8, 2026 13:53
Two Moroccan banks have reached an out-of-court settlement with Belgiumâs Federal Public Prosecutorâs Office, which was investigating a series of illegal activities in Belgium. The Banque Centrale Populaire and the Banque Chaabi Du Maroc, along with threeâŠ
Bunker Day is a tremendous success: 10,000 visitors explore bunkers across the country
Published: June 8, 2026 12:53
Spread across 23 towns and municipalities, 10,000 visitors visited at least one bunker site on Sunday. Bunker Day is organised by the Atlantic Wall Raversyde Provincial Domain in collaboration with the Province of West Flanders. This was the 7th edition ofâŠ
Red Devils are off to the World Cup! (VIDEO)
Published: June 8, 2026 12:06
The Red Devils, Belgiumâs national football team, have set off for the World Cup in the United States. They boarded a flight to Seattle at Brussels Airport this afternoon.
Gig economy: Bike couriers no longer âside-hustlersâ, business can no longer use the tax loophole
Published: June 8, 2026 09:48
From now on, working as a bike courier will no longer fall under the so-called âP2P statusâ, the tax-advantageous status that exists for people with second jobs. The socialist trade union is relieved: âThis confirms that meal delivery is not a favour for aâŠ
Brussels crowns âBest Bouletâ or Meatball of the capital!
Published: June 8, 2026 09:02
This yearâs Chaud Boulette ('Hot Meatball') competition took place in the Belgian and Flemish capital at the weekend. Butchers from across the Brussels conurbation vied for the title of âBest Brusselsâ Bouletâ. This year, the jury of expertsâ prize went toâŠ
Two new horse-mounted shrimp fishers at Oostduinkerke: how do you become a mounted shrimp fisher?
Published: June 8, 2026 08:27
The Flemish seaside resort of Oostduinkerke (Koksijde â West Flanders) now boasts two new fishermen on horseback: Ian Van der Stricht and Renzo Truwant. The two fishers passed their exams to become mounted shrimp fishermen at the weekend. The exam marksâŠ
Two bodies found, two still missing after devastating Anderlecht warehouse fire (VIDEO)
Published: June 8, 2026 07:22
Emergency services found several bodies in the rubble following Saturdayâs devastating fire at a warehouse in the Brussels borough of Anderlecht, the Brussels Public Prosecutorâs Office has confirmed. VRT News understands two bodies have been found and theâŠ
Eisden Mine Workerâs House Museum welcomes its 175,000th visitor
Published: June 7, 2026 05:45
The Mine Workerâs House Museum in Eisden (Limburg) welcomed its 175,000th visitor last weekend. The museum is a minerâs cottage where you can discover how a minerâs family lived in the Flemish coal mining region of Limburg Province in the 1930s of the lastâŠ
Belgium hikes air passenger tax: what does it mean for you?
Published: June 6, 2026 06:52
Belgiumâs federal government is increasing the air passenger tax on both long-haul and short-haul flights. The relevant legislation was passed last week. Airlines are set to pass on the tax hike to passengers. âThe days when you could fly somewhere for 10âŠ
Renovated Zeebrugge Marina better protected against flooding from the sea
Published: June 6, 2026 05:11
In Zeebrugge (Bruges â West Flanders) the renovated marina was officially opened this week. The Maritime and Coastal Services Agency, the MDK, and the City of Bruges have invested a total of 19 million euros to protect the harbour from flooding from theâŠ
âSheâs a pop star in half her countryâ: The New York Times discovers Pommelien Thijs
Published: June 5, 2026 15:25
New York Times journalist Alex Marshall uses the Pommelien Thijs phenomenon as an example of how âlanguage can still be a dividing line in popâ
Average price of nursing home far higher than average pension
Published: June 5, 2026 14:32
Residents of Belgium are advised to save for their retirements, when monthly incomes are suddenly cut in half and as nursing homes continue to raise their fees
Police deploy helicopter, search dog to find escaped prisoner
Published: June 5, 2026 12:40
A potentially dangerous criminal escaped police custody in a Bruges hospital this morning, leading to a manhunt by federal police
Cuts to French-language education approved, despite heavy protests
Published: June 5, 2026 12:02
As protests continue against education reform, the French-speaking Community fast-tracks vote to approval
Want good exam results? Eat salmon and blueberries, says Albert Heijn
Published: June 5, 2026 10:40
The supermarket chain has developed an online tool to match foods to the cognitive functions required to tackle certain subjects â but food experts emphasise it doesnât take the place of revising
Flexi-job: More than quarter of a million people take advantage of tax-free work
Published: June 5, 2026 08:32
The number of people working a âflexi-jobâ in Belgium has increased 14% on last year, as more employees seek to earn extra on the side
Police use watercannon against Francophone demonstrators protesting education reforms (VIDEO)
Published: June 4, 2026 14:49
During the protests against cuts in French-language education, demonstrators set fire to objects near Brussels Central Station. More than 1,000 demonstrators had gathered in Brussels to protest against measures announced affecting French-languageâŠ
âSmall boats crisis wonât simply be sorted by UK cashâ
Published: June 4, 2026 09:17
Since 1 May, no transmigrants, people eager to get to the UK in small boats, have been sighted off the Flemish coast and there have been no further police interventions. The arrest earlier of four people in Germany is believed to have contributed to a haltâŠ
Antwerp Fashion Festival draws the international press to Belgium, Walter Van Beirendonck and co give Paris a miss
Published: June 4, 2026 08:49
Today marks the start of the very first edition of the Antwerp.Fashion Festival, featuring over 100 different shows, installations and performances. The aim: to put local talent on the radar of international fashion professionals and the domestic audience.âŠ
Cricket in Genk: âWorld's most popular sport after football gets first pitchâ
Published: June 4, 2026 08:01
The Limburg town of Genk is getting its first fully-fledged cricket ground where official matches can be played. The city is responding to the sportâs growing popularity and specific requests from local players. The new ground is located on former footballâŠ