Belgium’s rail network will get self-driving trains in 2026 approximately. The main expextations from the novelty is to improve punctuality and capacity of Belgian railways. Belgian rail network operator Infrabel has set aside an €8 million budget over the next five years to develop the new automated technology. A driver will remain on-board at […]

  An urban renewal project will soon give a whole new look to Boulevard Clovis. This part of Brussels’ EU district is going to become a much nicer for pedestrians and cyclists. Ambiorix Square to Chaussée de Louvain are already decorated with median strip of grass, trees and flowering bushes. In the middle of it […]

  Princess Elisabeth’s 18th birthday gathered VIP guests, politicians, her former teachers and 80 youngsters also born in 2001 at the Brussels Royal Palace. The future heir to the Belgian throne delivered a speech in French and Dutch and announced: “The country can count on my commitment”. The speech also included a tribute to her […]

  To mark the anniversary of famous Manneken-Pis statue Brussels city has announced a full range of events. The Brussels city government ordered a new Manneken-Pis statue In 1619 to replace the existing one. The first monument appeared in administrative records in 1451 and was included in a map from 1572. At the time the […]

  The City of Brussels has announced a ban on street drinking between midnight and 6.00 around the city’s pedestrian zone. Mayor Philippe Close said the ban would take effect by the end of the year. Night shops and cafe terraces will still be allowed to sell alcohol. Fines will be issued to people who […]

  Austria’s state railway operator ÖBB is launching an overnight train service from Brussels to Vienna in the new year. On Saturday the chairman of ÖBB, Andreas Matthä, made the announcement about such plans in an interview with an Austrian daily newspaper. The service is expected to begin in January. More details about the timetable, […]

  Brussels has always something to offer its expats. Almost each month and sometimes even more often there are free events for expats held with the participation of leading banks. 1. This month ING Bank Belgium invites for Buying Real Estate for Expats event on 10 October in Brussels. Questions covered will include: But is […]

  From next summer every resident under 25 and over 65 will not pay for using public transport in Brussels, the Stib has announced. The measure has received the approval of the Brussels government and is expected to cost about €12 million a year. Young people aged 12-24 currently pay a reduced rate of €50 […]

  Twice as many Belgians are cycling to work regularly compared to the number from five years ago. In total, 13% of commuters are now cyclists. Thanks to electric bicycles, people are willing to cycle longer distances. The average cycle commute is 9.4 kilometres one-way, about two kilometres more than five years ago. The use […]

  Last month the Atomium has been attended up to 15% more people than during the same period last year. The monument attracted 84,742 people in August, the best performance since August 2008, when special events were organised to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Between January and August, 452,001 visitors were counted. Two thirds of the […]