According to new figures from the region’s job centre Actiris Brussels unemployment down 6% in a year. Actiris had 91,091 registered jobseekers on its records last month, a 5.8% drop on December 2016. The number of jobseekers under 25 fell 10.1% over the past year. Despite an overall improvement in the figures, unemployment among over-50s […]

Intergovernmental agreement between Belgium and the Netherlands about the change of the state border entered into force on 1 January 2018. The Dutch-Belgian border has been slightly redrawn on the Meuse river near Maastricht. A three-hectare peninsula switches from Dutch to Belgian ownership, while Belgium hands over 16 hectares of land to the Netherlands. The […]

Many stores are going to offer heavy discounts from day one as they seek to clear high levels of stock. Retail federation Comeos, which represents big brands including Primark and Zara, said many stores would be offering 50% discounts from the very beginning of the sales, which run from 3-31 January. The winter and summer […]

Everywhere in Belgium there are many holiday events on New Year’s Eve. The City of Brussels celebrates New Year’s Eve with fireworks from Palais 5 at the Heysel. Spectators are allowed to watch traditional firework display on New Year’s Eve from 22.30 to 1.00 from the Esplanade of the Atomium. Public transport is free from […]

On Sunday King Philippe congratulated Belgians with Christmas and invited the nation to wonder at nature and the beauty of daily life, despite personal difficulties, insecurity in the world and threats to global stability He repeated the word “wonder” seven times in his annual seasonal address. According to the head of state, Belgium is doing […]

Many Belgian residents are flying out this weekend from Airport in Zaventem, either to go home for Christmas or on holidays during the two week school vacation period. The Thomas Cook group, which includes Neckermann, said that there has been a sharp increase on the number of bookings this year compared to previous years. There […]

On Wednesday the city of Brussels and the Free University of Brussels (ULB) signed an agreement to strengthen cultural ties. It is the first time the city has entered into a cultural partnership with a non-cultural organisation. Karine Lalieux, alderwoman for culture in Belgium, made a statement and emphasized the importance of encouraging students to […]

Brussels residents can write a Christmas or new-year wish and have it displayed on five big screens around the capital. The Brussels Wish project is run by not-for-profit association Brussels Sounds Good and allows anyone to write a greeting for the city. Messages can be sent on Twitter using the hashtag #brusselswish, via the website […]

New ice skating rink without ice will be opened in Saint-Gilles next weekend. The new winter attraction on Place de Bethléem, uses a slippery synthetic material that is more sustainable than maintaining ice. ‘Ice’ hockey and curling competitions will be staged on the rink, which will be open until January 5. Saint-Gilles city councillor representing […]