TOURISM IN BELGIUM
Migration: Brussels demands action against Orban's Hungarian migrant buses
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close has spoken out strongly against plans by the Hungarian government led by Viktor Orbán to send migrants to Brussels by bus. Close wants these buses to be stopped at the Belgian border.…
Fines and price increases: what will change in Flanders from 1 September?
From 1 September, a lot will change in Flanders, with new rules and tariff adjustments that will have an impact on drivers, commuters and companies. These changes are the result of policy decisions and adjustments to existing measures that are aimed at both…
NMBS under fire: domestic passengers are the victims of new international train
The Belgian railways are once again in the spotlight, but this time not because of an innovative breakthrough or an expansion of the network. On the contrary, the recent announcement by the NMBS to launch a new international express train between Amsterdam and Brussels-South…
Towing company Lybaert takes over V-Tax: relocation and layoffs imminent
Ghent taxi company V-Tax, which was declared bankrupt by the commercial court on 22 August, has found a new owner in the towing company Lybaert. The bankruptcy of V-Tax, once the largest and oldest taxi company in the city, caused great concern among…
De Lijn is in trouble: only one in ten coastal trams is running due to a shortage of staff
Trade unions have been complaining for some time about the difficult conditions in which staff have to work on the coast. The strike at De Lijn is causing serious disruptions on the coast and in the Westhoek. Only one in ten coastal trams will…
Delivery problems: travelers TUI fly from Deurne to Zaventem due to logistical problems
The travelers involved will be offered an alternative flight. They will be contacted personally about this, TUI said. No TUI fly flights will depart from Deurne airport until the beginning of October. The airline has decided to divert its flights, mainly…
Ursula von der Leyen: new focus on e-fuels and digitalization
Ursula von der Leyen has succeeded herself as President of the European Commission with an ambitious list of political plans and proposals. In her speech, Von der Leyen emphasized the importance of continuity and referred to the climate program of the previous…
Multimodality: NMBS offers cyclists new recovery options at stations
NMBS stations are increasingly being designed as intermodal hubs. NMBS is taking an important step in its multimodality strategy by installing bicycle repair columns at various stations. This new addition, which consists of a bicycle pump and various tools, offers…
Exploring Dinant: optimal travel through the heart of the Meuse Valley
For those who prefer cycling, Dinant offers several bicycle rental companies. Cycling along the Maas and through the picturesque streets of the city is a unique way to experience the area. Located on the banks of the Meuse, Dinant is a city…
Bicycle sharing: G-sport Flanders aims for 75.000 cyclists with disabilities by 2026
Flanders has a new platform: Gfietst.be. This initiative by G-sport Flanders offers people with disabilities the opportunity to more easily find and rent adapted shared bicycles. The platform bundles all locations in Flanders where these special bicycles are available…
Viapass: kilometer charge for trucks will become more expensive
The kilometer tax rates for trucks will be increased on July 1 in Flanders and Brussels. From July 1, several changes will take place in the field of mobility in Belgium, especially regarding the kilometer charge for trucks and car inspection...
Trial campaign: young people embrace the free De Lijn subscription
Bye Bye Childhood – Hellooooo independence. De Lijn, the Flemish public transport company, has announced the start of their annual trial campaign, specifically aimed at twelve-year-olds entering secondary education. This campaign, which was created to…
Green light: tram line 15 brings new life to Brussels neighborhoods
Brussels Mobility, in collaboration with STIB, is applying for an urban development permit for the construction of tram line 15. The Belgian capital is about to include a nice addition to its mobility network with the introduction of the new tram line…
Velo-city: Ghent kicks off, cycle in the big Bike Parade
International cycling conference Velo-city will come to Ghent in June 2024. Ghent will get into the cycling mood in June 2024 with the exciting Velo festival. This event, organized as a prelude to the prestigious international cycling conference Velo-city, promises a wide range of activities for cycling enthusiasts.…
Shop & Go: parking sensors provide quick messages in Ghent
With the introduction of this system, Ghent is taking an important step towards a more user-friendly and efficient parking policy, in which technology plays a crucial role in combating misuse of parking facilities. A new…
Charleroi: Airport staff strike canceled at the last minute
The threatened strike at Charleroi airport, which was planned for Thursday, May 2, was averted at the last minute. The airport management and the unions have reached an agreement, as a result of which the planned work stoppage will not take place. This…
Be vigilant: fines for stubborn middle lane drivers are increasing
The fines for driving in the middle vary between 116 and 160 euros. Every year, approximately 2.000 Belgian drivers are caught because they unnecessarily continue to drive in the middle section of the motorway. This is evident from police data that was recently…
Technology: how NMBS uses technology to improve your train journey
The feedback collected through NMBS Lab plays a crucial role in the ongoing development and refinement of the services NMBS offers. The Belgian National Company of Belgian Railways (NMBS) today launched a new feature on its website…
Hydrogen: French Hype brings hydrogen taxis to Brussels
French zero-emission mobility platform Hype will launch a taxi service in Brussels “in the coming days”. Hype, a French taxi company, will bring its hydrogen-powered taxis to Brussels. This is part of an ambitious expansion of the company in Europe, with…
Key figure: Founder's son and pioneer Denis Van Hool passed away
The Belgian business landscape loses one of its pioneers with the death of Denis Van Hool, the son of Bernard Van Hool, founder of the well-known bus builder Van Hool. Denis passed away at the age of 91, a loss that is palpable within and…
Automotive: Van Mossel takes over legendary Garage Mertens
The Van Mossel takeover of Garage Mertens has been completed, the Van Mossel Group reports. Belgium's automotive sector has recently undergone a dramatic change with the completion of a monumental acquisition that is redefining the mobility landscape in the region.…
End of an era: Van Hool's bankruptcy leaves deep wounds
After a 25-year battle for the legacy of founder Bernard Van Hool, nothing remains of that entire legacy. The bankruptcy of Van Hool NV, an established name in the Belgian bus and coach industry, and its umbrella…
De Lijn: new phase with new opportunities and a Hoppin future
The introduction of the second phase of the new network is the largest network adjustment in the history of De Lijn. The ambitious overhaul of the Flemish public transport network, initiated by De Lijn, reached a new milestone with, according to...
Free ride: in the front row at the Tour of Flanders with De Lijn
On Sunday, March 31, experience the highlight of the Flemish cycling spring again from the front row! The Tour of Flanders, one of the most prestigious one-day cycling races in Flanders and part of the UCI WorldTour, is just around the corner. This year…
Strike: aviation in knots as salary dispute escalates at Brussels Airlines
The pilots of Brussels Airlines will stop work from March 23 to 27, a step that stems from a long-running conflict with management over salary cuts and workload. This action could potentially evolve into monthly strikes if their demands go unanswered…
Recovery plan for bus builder Van Hool will cost jobs of 1.100 employees
Van Hool, manufacturer of buses, coaches and industrial vehicles, presented the main lines of its 'Van Hool Recovery Plan' to employee representatives during a special works council. The company has expressed its intention to strategically reorient its activities towards market segments where customers…
Ghent police will soon be able to use urban ANPR cameras
The Ghent police will soon be able to track down signaled and uninsured vehicles, and arrest drivers with a driving ban. The expansion of the functionality of ANPR cameras in Ghent marks another forward step in the enforcement of the law and…
Brussels Airlines rises above expectations and flies high with record results
Brussels Airlines has achieved an impressive financial turnaround in 2023, reporting an adjusted EBIT of 53 million euros. This result, an increase of 127 million euros compared to the previous year, marks an important turning point for the Belgian airline…
Time for a change on the Belgian buses and trams of De Lijn
There may be many more incidents that did not make it to the media. The discussion surrounding public transport in Belgium is taking a new turn with recent events and comments that put the spotlight on the functioning of De Lijn, the Flemish transport company...
Safety concerns are shaking Babboe's market position in Flanders
The sharing platform Baqme, known for its electric cargo bike rental service in urban areas, recently suspended its activities in Ghent and the Netherlands. While the Dutch cargo bike manufacturer Babboe has been under fire in its own country for weeks, customers in Belgium are also…
Older people fear the digital train now that counters are closing their doors
NMBS's choice is not surprising because closing counters is part of an international trend. In an era where digitalization seems inevitable, concerns are growing about the accessibility of public services for all sections of the population.…