Flemish Fisheries Minister Hilde Crevits (Flemish Christian democrat) has condemned a Greenpeace action last weekend that involved dumping granite blocks off the east coast of England, an area frequently visited by Flemish fishermen. Crevits describes the action as life-threatening and emphasises that the fishermen are operating legally. Environmental organisation Greenpeace defends the action and says it was not intended to target fishermen.

The Bel-20, the index of the 20 leading shares on the Brussels Stock Exchange, has set a new record, reaching the 6,000-point mark. When the markets opened on Thursday morning, the Bel-20 stood at 6,031 points. “We’re finally at a level where we’re back in the game,” says financial economist Tom Simonts.

Koen Leemans, plant manager at Volvo Trucks in Ghent (East Flanders), is to take up a senior international role at Volvo starting 1 January 2027. After five years at the helm of the truck plant in Oostakker (East Flanders), he becomes responsible for the global department in charge of the storage and distribution of after-sales vehicle spare parts.

A flight from Warsaw to Brussels operated by LOT Polish Airlines landed safely in the Belgian capital this morning after a disturbing report had been received. Following assessment by the Federal Police, it was decided that no additional security measures were required. The aircraft landed at Brussels Airport without incident.

King Filip is still considering PM Bart De Wever’s offer to resign after the 5 parties in the federal coalition government failed to reach agreement on next year’s budget. Meanwhile concern is growing that the power vacuum will unsettle the financial markets.

450 years after the Spanish Terror or Fury, Spanish influences still abound in the northern port city. Anyone walking through Antwerp today will come across many traces of that period of Spanish rule, though they are not always immediately obvious. They are also hidden in a nickname. This is the story of the ‘sinjoren’, the nickname that the Spanish bequeathed to the people of Antwerp, of city ramparts and a cathedral that would rather be a church.

Johan Hennaert, a fisherman from the West Flemish port of Ostend, has reacted strongly to the action taken by environmental organisation Greenpeace last weekend. Greenpeace dumped blocks of granite into the southern North Sea, an area also used by many Flemish fishermen. Greenpeace says it wants to protect the seabed and fish stocks. Hennaert calls the action life-threatening and irresponsible.

Around twenty Leuven students gathered to follow the mid-term elections in the US at a ‘watch party’ last night. The students don’t want to miss a thing about the US elections and have a fun evening. “You don’t want to look back at history later and have to say that you weren’t paying attention at the time.”

A group of hackers with links to the Russian state may be behind the cyberattack on refrigeration systems in European supermarkets, according to Xavier Bellekens, CEO of the Scottish cybersecurity firm Lupovis. In the week leading up to the attacks, his company noticed a striking number of attempts to breach simulated control systems for refrigerators. “It seems that someone wants to demonstrate that they can cause damage to a crucial part of European infrastructure.”

Residents of the West Flemish town of Waregem have been seeing a wallaby hopping about for several days now. The animal escaped during the stormy weekend at the end of October. Its owner, Timothy Maes, has already received several reports from people who have seen the animal. Yesterday, it was spotted in an apple orchard in Sint-Eloois-Vijve, but it has not yet been caught.

“King Filip commands respect across successive governments,” says political scientist Tony Valcke, commenting on the role the King could play in talks with party leaders. It is suggested that, thanks to his political neutrality and moral authority, the King can encourage the parties to continue to talk to one another. “He does not mediate, but ensures that discrete talks continue,” explains former cabinet minister Johan Vande Lanotte.

The city of Antwerp is releasing the motorhome belonging to Palestinian activist Omar Almaani (37). He will get his vehicle back as soon as he has paid the towing and administrative costs. However, he must leave Antwerp immediately. The city regards his drive through the Jewish quarter last week as a political demonstration, for which Almaani must apply for a permit in future. On Wednesday evening it emerged that an investigation is still underway into a sword and possible references to Hamas, an organisation on the EU terrorist list.

It’s exactly 450 years ago since Spanish troops left a trail of destruction in Antwerp, looting and setting fire to the city during the Spanish Fury or Terror. Between 4 and 7 November 1576, thousands of people were killed in the city. “Even the mayor was thrown out of the burning city hall,” says historian Pieter Serrien.

In its latest forecast the Federal Planning Office expects inflation to rise further. This is triggering speculation that the 2% index threshold will be exceeded twice next year, leading to two top-ups to wages and benefits.

On Monday evening, a man barricaded himself inside his home on Lambermontlaan in Schaarbeek (Brussels). Officers from Brussels North Police Zone partially cordoned off the street and, as a precaution, eight local residents were evacuated.

Antwerp police placed a Palestinian activist under administrative detention for driving his camper van, which was adorned with pro-Palestinian stickers, through the Jewish neighbourhood. According to the police, this constituted an act of provocation. The activist denies this. “I was just following my sat-nav,” he says.

The Ter Dolen Brewery in Houthalen-Helchteren (Limburg) aims to double its brewing capacity by January. Despite the economic downturn in the brewing industry, Ter Dolen still sees opportunities for growth. “We brew a lot of non-alcoholic beer. At the moment, we can’t keep up with demand,” says owner Ike Janssen.

On Monday Belgian premier Bart De Wever tendered his resignation after talks among ministers in the five-way federal government failed to result in a budget agreement for next year. The king is considering De Wever’s offer.

As the distribution centres have not been affected by the problems hitting the refrigeration and freezer systems of several Belgian and international supermarkets, there are no widespread supply issues, Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal MR) notes.

The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that it has launched a criminal investigation into the cyberattack on the refrigeration systems of various supermarkets on Monday.

More than a quarter of Belgians say they always go to work, even when they are ill. This according to the biennial absenteeism survey carried out by the wellbeing and prevention service Mensura amongst more than 1,000 employees in Belgium. It seems that illness or being unable to work is by no means always a black-and-white issue. However, Mensura warns that the risk of presenteeism – that is, going to work despite being ill due to internal or external pressure – remains high.

How well is your home protected against heavy rain? A new, interactive map from the Brussels Environment agency provides a detailed overview of flood risks and offers tips on how to protect your basement.

Belgian PM Bart De Wever has failed in his bid to resign. The premier decided to tender his resignation on Monday morning after budget talks collapsed. King Filip is now considering the PM’s request.

This morning, several retail chains in Belgium were affected by a possible cyberattack. An “IT incident” has disrupted the temperature control of refrigeration systems, causing temperatures to rise.

Excitement among the press crowd reached fever pitch as PM Bart De Wever’s car arrived at King Filip’s working palace in the city of Brussels on Monday morning. Police officers swiftly opened the gate for the Belgian leader’s car to allow the Belgian PM in to tender his resignation to King Filip after attempts to strike a budget deal among the partners of the 5-way government failed.

More and more people are being cremated after their death: in Flanders, the cremation rate has risen above 80 per cent for the first time this year. As a result visits to the cemetery on 1 November, All Saints’ Day, increasingly take on a different form. In Brussels and Wallonia, people are still far more often opting for burial.

As many Belgians enjoy a long holiday weekend at the start of the Flemish half-term, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA) is tendering his resignation to the King on Monday morning. The federal leader was unable to reach an agreement with his coalition partners on the budget.

In Landen (Flemish Brabant), amateur photographer Eddy Koninckx managed to photograph a slender-billed nutcracker. The little bird is rare and has been in the area for several days now. It has also been spotted in nearby Heverlee (Flemish Brabant) and Averbode (Flemish Brabant).

100 days before the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Ostend (West Flanders) the official countdown to the final has begun. From 29 to 31 January, the city will host the World Championships. The World Championships are returning to Ostend after six years. It is also 11 years since Cyclo-cross World Championships with spectators took place in Belgium. The organisers are eager to turn them into a huge public celebration.

From today, everyone in Flanders can check for themselves whether the planned Flemish reform of road tax will work out more favourably or not. The Flemish Government is launching a website where you can work out the difference between the old and the new tax yourself. If the new scheme works out cheaper, you can indicate straight away that you wish to switch. Anyone who does not wish to switch need not do anything.

Inflation, the figure that reflects the general rise in the price level, has risen to 5.26 per cent this month. The cost of living in Belgium has risen mainly due to the sharp increase in the price of natural gas and electricity.

Images have emerged of how a jewellery shop in Ghent was raided. According to the owner, up to one million euros’ worth of diamonds and gold was stolen. The police quickly arrived at the scene but were unable to catch the perpetrators. “They were well prepared and cleared out the entire display case,” says owner Ebru Sari. She is deeply shaken.

Brussels singer Angèle performed her new single ‘Love Triangle’ live on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon. For the Brussels-based singer this was her television debut in the United States. Watch her performance below.

Following autumn storms Austen and Boelo, cliffs have formed along the coast. On the beaches of the resorts of Blankenberge and Middelkerke, these cliffs are up to 1.2 metres high. The Maritime and Coastal Services Agency (MDK) is pulling them down using machinery. In Knokke-Heist, its was local council workers that levelled the cliffs.

A new exhibition opens at the BRUSK arts centre in Bruges on Friday. ‘Hoogtij’ (Figuratively heyday, literally high tide) is an exhibition exploring the impact of the sea and water on people, fashion and art. On display are swimwear by leading designers including Dries Van Noten and fashion houses including Versace and Chanel, as well as sculptures, video art and installations addressing social issues such as climate change and migration.

I-Police, the police force’s failed digitalisation project, cost 139.4 million euros of taxpayers’ money. That is almost double the 76 million euros previously reported, according to a report by the Court of Auditors. The report states that millions have been spent on unusable software licences and that the government is structurally dependent on external consultants.

Over the past three months, 65 per cent fewer cheap parcels from countries including China have been declared than in the same period last year, according to Belgian customs authorities. This sharp decline is entirely due to the introduction of the European parcel tax of 3 euros per item. Moreover, in just a few months, the tax has generated tens of millions of euros.

At an event held at the Antwerp Stock Exchange, where the price of imported cocoa beans used to be set, Italian Tommaso Grollero won the World Chocolate Masters. This prestigious competition was held in Antwerp for the first time in 20 years. “I think the jury appreciated the personal touch in my creations and the way I’ve made my best desserts ever,” beamed the winning chocolatier.

Belgian industry is in the doldrums. Nearly 30% of all the machines in Belgian factories currently stand idle, according to financial dailies De Tijd and L’Echo. The metal and technology federation Agoria describes the industrial slump as “unprecedented”. Sector federations are therefore calling for measures to tackle high costs and are warning of further job losses.

During the summer months, around 15,000 skiers come to train at Snow Valley in Peer (Limburg Province). These are not just any skiers; they are members of top international teams. They come from more than 25 countries and every continent, from Africa over Asia to North America and Oceania are represented. On Friday afternoon, the indoor ski centre switches over to the winter season. From Saturday onwards, it will once again be open to the general public for skiing and snowboarding.

In the Vinderhoutse Bossen in Ghent, a new site is being created to allow people to have their ashes buried in a natural way, without an urn. Funeral directors are also receiving more enquiries about this kind of option, notes funeral director Gerrit Cispa from Drongen: “The demand for new forms of burial in Ghent, closer to nature, is gradually increasing.”

The Ghent restaurant Vrijmoed, run by chef Michaël Vrijmoed, has been ranked fifth amongst the world’s best vegetable restaurants. Three other East Flemish restaurants feature in the top 100. De Vijf Seizoenen in Brakel is ranked 16th. 't Aards Paradijs in Merendree near Deinze is 36th, and Hofke van Bazel in Bazel is 63rd.

Cyclist Laurent Nyssen was the victim of a serious road rage incident in the Brussels borough of Schaarbeek. As a result of which he has probably lost sight in one eye. It all began with an argument over a blocked cycle path. “The guy got out of his car at the traffic lights; after that, I don’t remember what happened” Laurent told Brussels media outlet Bruzz.

The Flemish Ardennes, an area of outstanding natural beauty in East Flanders province, are becoming increasingly popular with tourists. In 2025, 487,070 overnight stays were recorded. That is 5.5 per cent more than in 2023. The towns of Oosterzele and Brakel stand out in particular: the number of overnight stays in Oosterzele rose by 72.6 per cent, and in Brakel by 56.2 per cent. In Brakel, the mayor has clearly noticed this growth. “We get enquiries about opening new holiday accommodation almost every week,” says Marleen Gyselinck.

The socialist and Christian trade unions at Flemish public broadcaster VRT are calling on the VRT management not to wait for further industrial action but to follow the Dutch example and not to take part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The Dutch announced today they would not enter next year’s contest, though it would be broadcast. Their decision is linked to Isreal’s participation and the situation in Gaza.

Belgium’s federal government is reportedly making little progress in negotiations with French energy company Engie regarding the takeover of Belgium’s nuclear power stations. It is questionable whether both parties will meet the 4 November deadline they had set themselves to reach an agreement.

A CERN innovation hub is to be established at the Corda Campus, a large technology and business innovation campus in Hasselt (Limburg Province). CERN is the leading European centre for particle physics, based in Geneva (Switzerland). Over the past few decades, a great many new technologies have been developed there. The hub aims to make this knowledge more accessible to businesses in Limburg and the rest of Belgium.

Flemish film director Lukas Dhont and the Brussels Army Museum are joining forces for a temporary exhibition. From 7 November, visitors will be able to discover which historical sources and museum collections form the basis of ‘Coward’, Dhont’s latest film about the First World War.

Four defendants who defrauded Prince Laurent (pictured left), King Filip’s brother, and Princess Claire, his wife, of 17,000 euros have been sentenced to prison terms of up to one year. The couple, who live in leafy Tervuren (Flemish Brabant), clicked on a link in a fake text message in 2021.

Since the beginning of the month, Antwerp police have arrested 432 people, who were already known for causing a public nuisance, on one or more occasions. 615 arrests were made in all. The arrests are the result of a controversial measure introduced by the city council cabinet comprising Flemish nationalist N-VA and socialist Vooruit – in collaboration with the police. Just over half of the arrests took place in the Antwerp North District. Opposition parties Communist PVDA, ecologist Groen and Christian democrat CD&V have levelled fierce criticism at the measure.