Flanders

Belgium lagging behind in bathing water quality, EEA study shows

Bathing water quality in the EU remains excellent, with 96 per cent of sites meeting minimum standards, the European Environment Agency reports. In 85 per cent of cases, quality is classified as

2 months ago

Society

House and apartment prices rise sharply in Belgium

A reduction in registration fees for home purchases has pushed up house and apartment prices in Belgium, according to figures published by the statistics agency Statbel on Thursday. The price hikes are

2 months ago

Business·Opinion

Flemish innovation mission strengthens ties with Japan

Flemish research centre imec and the universities of Ghent and Antwerp have signed new cooperation agreements with Japanese partners during a mission to Japan. Imec renewed its strategic partnership with semiconductor equipment

2 months ago

Business·Politics

Flemish mission to Japan focuses on life sciences

Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele is on Saturday leaving for a mission to Japan lasting almost a week, which will focus on life sciences. During the “Flemish Week” at the World Expo in

2 months ago

Innovations·World

Grid operator sees faster-than-expected industrial electrification in Flanders

The Belgian grid operator Fluvius expects to invest an additional 200 million euros in its medium-voltage grids in the coming years. This is due to Flemish industry electrifying faster than anticipated, according

2 months ago

Opinion

Major waterways in Flanders cleaner than expected, citizen research finds

A large-scale citizen science project has revealed that many of Flanders’ and Brussels’ major waterways are cleaner than anticipated. The results offer hope for legal open-water swimming in the future. More than

2 months ago

Opinion

Tomorrowland organiser opens Flanders’ first innovation hub

The organisation behind the Tomorrowland music festival, WEAREONE.world, has opened the Lab of Tomorrow in Boom. It is the first innovation centre in Flanders, intended to strengthen the link between entertainment and

2 months ago

Innovations

Flemish students struggle with basic teacher training entry tests

A significant number of Flemish students entering teacher training are failing to meet basic educational benchmarks, according to internal data obtained by De Standaard. The mandatory entry tests in maths, French and

3 months ago

Opinion

Flanders and the Netherlands develop joint action plan on AI and language

Flanders and the Netherlands are working together on a joint action plan focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and language. Flemish Media minister Cieltje Van Achter announced the initiative on Tuesday following a

3 months ago

Innovations

Flanders and France agree on how to deal with floods in border region

Flanders and France have made an agreement on how to deal with future floods in the border region of De Moeren. Flemish minister-president Matthias Diependaele signed the agreement in Lille on Monday.

3 months ago

Earth & Climate

New KU Leuven spin-off targets root cause of rare bleeding disorder

Hemastatx, a recently established spin-off from KU Leuven, has developed a revolutionary therapy that addresses the underlying cause of a severe bleeding disorder. It is the first company to propose a treatment

3 months ago

Society

Stricter rules in Flanders following surge in home schooling

According to the Flemish education inspectorate, the number of children being home-schooled in Flanders has almost doubled since the start of the pandemic. The number increased from 3,186 in the 2019–2020 school

3 months ago

Opinion

Flemish government wants to make disability care more accessible

The Flemish government aims to ensure that all people with disabilities can access care services by the end of its current legislative term. To reach that goal, it plans to expand directly

3 months ago

Society

Potato waste now fuels Belgian gas network

Belgian renewable energy company Green Logix has begun injecting biomethane directly into the country’s gas grid. At its facility in Lommel, Flanders, the gas is sent directly into the high-pressure network of

3 months ago

Innovations

Flanders gains appeal as tourist destination, survey finds

Flanders has become significantly more attractive to international tourists, according to a new reputation survey commissioned by Visit Flanders. The study, conducted among 13,000 travellers from 12 European countries and the US,

3 months ago

Opinion

VDAB prepares for incoming unemployment reform

The Flemish Employment Agency (VDAB) is preparing for the implementation of the first phase of the federal government’s plan to limit temporary unemployment benefits, set to begin on 1 January. The agency

3 months ago

Society

Protests across Flanders this weekend urge solidarity with Gaza

The international solidarity organisation 11.11.11 will hold a series of protests across Flanders this weekend to express support for Gaza and call for concrete political action from Belgian leaders. Under the banner

3 months ago

World

Greenhouse gas emissions in Flanders fall to lowest level this century

On Thursday, Statistics Flanders reported that greenhouse gas emissions in the Flemish region fell to their lowest point of this century in 2023. These emissions were notably lower than in 2020, when

3 months ago

Earth & Climate

Forced psychiatric admissions in Flanders surpassed 5,000 in 2024

More than 5,000 people were forcibly admitted to psychiatric institutions in Flanders in 2024. That is a sharp 6 per cent increase compared to the previous year, according to new figures from

3 months ago

Society

Flemish campaign warns of rise of vaping among young people

NGO Kom op tegen Kanker (Stand up to Cancer) is extending its anti-smoking campaign to vaping, as the use of the e-cigarette is on the rise. On Monday afternoon, Kom op tegen

3 months ago

Society

Bruges to celebrate 800 years of history with Belfry light show

To celebrate this year’s Flemish Community Day, Bruges is hosting light shows on the Belfry. Spectators will be guided through the rich history of Bruges and Flanders through a combination of light,

3 months ago

Society

Despite long waiting list, over 8,000 social homes stand empty

The waiting list for social housing in Flanders has never been longer. Still, more than 8,000 properties stood empty in 2023, reports Het Nieuwsblad on Monday. This is almost four times the

3 months ago

Opinion

Suicides in Flanders at lowest level in 25 years

The suicide rate in Flanders is at its lowest in 25 years, the Flemish Expertise Centre for Suicide Prevention (VLESP) reports. In 2023, 887 people died by suicide, of whom 652 were

3 months ago

Opinion

Flanders wants EU to focus on security and competitiveness

Flemish minister-president Mathias Diependaele presented the government’s vision of the European Union on Wednesday. In the vision note, Flanders calls on the EU to focus on its core tasks of security and

3 months ago

Politics

Flanders launches campaign to limit spread of tiger mosquito

The Flemish Department of Public Health has launched a new campaign to minimise the spread of the tiger mosquito. Under the slogan “Leg de tijgermug droog” (Dry out the tiger mosquito), people

3 months ago

Opinion

Road deaths in Belgium fell to historic low in 2024

The number of road deaths in Belgium fell by 6 per cent last year compared to 2023, to 455 fatalities. This is the lowest number recorded in the official figures, which date

3 months ago

Opinion

Prolonged dry spell lowers water levels in Flanders and across Europe

Exceptionally dry conditions in March and April have led to a rapid drop in water levels and flows in both navigable and non-navigable rivers in Flanders. Similar dry conditions can be observed

3 months ago

Earth & Climate

New AI hub ‘The Brain’ to open in Ghent in 2027

The construction of “The Brain – AI Tech Hub Ghent” has started on Monday. The AI hub, set up at Ghent University’s Ardoyen campus in Zwijnaarde, should help to make Flanders a

4 months ago

Innovations

Flanders introduces distance rules for large wind turbines

Flemish environment minister Jo Brouns is introducing distance rules for large wind turbines higher than 200 metres, reported Het Laatste Nieuws. ​ Flanders already had rules around noise and cast shadow, but

4 months ago

Earth & Climate

People in Flanders are afraid to serve tap water to guests

More than eight out of ten people in Flanders drink tap water at home. Yet almost half of them are afraid to serve it to guests, according to a recent survey by

4 months ago

Opinion

Almost half of Flemish companies suffered cyber attack last year

Last year, 45.8 per cent of Flemish companies were victims of a cyber attack, according to the annual cyber security report commissioned by the Flemish government. “This underlines the urgent need for

4 months ago

Innovations

Flanders sees rapid rise in measles cases

In April, 48 cases of measles were reported in Flanders, the Flemish Department of Public Health reported in a press release. That’s more than in the first three months of 2025 combined.

4 months ago

Opinion

Flanders to tackle art looted by Nazis with expert group and restitution commission

Flemish Culture minister Caroline Gennez is setting up an expert group and a permanent restitution commission to tackle art looted by the Nazis, De Standaard reported on Friday. During its rule in

4 months ago

Politics

Flanders aims to professionalise education with ‘inspiration schools’

Flanders will choose 30 ‘inspiration schools’, which will serve as examples for other schools in the region. This was decided by the Flemish government on Tuesday, according to Education minister Zuhal Demir.

4 months ago

Society

Herd of elephants appears near Antwerp Central station

A dozen life-sized model elephants appeared on Wednesday morning at Operaplein, near Antwerp Central station. The stunt follows similar sightings last week in Brussels and Liège, but its purpose remains unclear. “This

4 months ago

Society

Industry and schools unite to boost practical training

To address the growing demand for technically skilled workers, industry leaders and education networks are joining forces to “strengthen the bridge between companies and schools.” The joint plan, announced Friday, responds to

4 months ago

Business

Flemish journalists’ association expresses concern over editorial merger at Mediahuis

The Flemish Association of Journalists (VVJ) has expressed its concern about the growing media concentration in Flanders. The reaction follows the decision by the Mediahuis to place Het Nieuwsblad/De Gentenaar and Gazet

4 months ago

Opinion

Young buyers boosted real estate sales in Belgium during first quarter

In the first three months of 2025, Belgium saw a jump in real estate sales, according to the notary federation Fednot. Bart van Opstal, a Fednot spokesperson, explained that more young buyers

4 months ago

Politics

Doctors sound alarm over rise in measles infections

At least 55 people have been infected with the measles virus this year, according to the Flemish Healthcare department. Of those cases, 23 occurred in Antwerp. The most recent figures date from

4 months ago

Society

200,000 people waiting for social housing in Flanders

Almost 200,000 people are on a waiting list for social housing in Flanders, the highest figure ever. Among the 199,085 candidates, more than half are single people. The Flemish government has earmarked

4 months ago

Society

Red Cross Flanders uses pharmacy signs to promote blood donation

Twenty pharmacies in Flanders will soon display the region’s current blood supply. This is an initiative of Red Cross Flanders to raise awareness about blood donation. By the end of the year,

4 months ago

Opinion

Flanders invests in 10,000 extra childcare places

The Flemish government is investing an extra 200 million euros to create 10,000 additional childcare places. Of those places, 6,000 must be income-related: the cost will depend on the parents’ income. In

5 months ago

Society

Flanders has buffer to absorb US tariff shock, minister-president says

New US import tariffs could cost the Flemish economy at least 500 million euros per year, writes De Morgen, with potential for even greater losses. However, minister-president Matthias Diependaele insists the region

5 months ago

Politics

Flemish exports amounted to 418bn euros last year

According to figures from Statistics Flanders, the export of goods from Flanders amounted to 418 billion euros in 2024. That is 3.7% less than in 2023, but still the third-highest export figure

5 months ago

Business

Flemish power grid not strong enough to fully connect all businesses

The electricity grid in Flanders is not strong enough to immediately and fully connect companies that require large amounts of electricity. Grid operators Elia and Fluvius are working on temporary solutions until

5 months ago

Opinion

Leuven sewage shows daily Ketamine for 18 months

Leuven – The Leuven sewage water contains ketamine that researchers detected daily for eighteen months. The strong anaesthetic ketamine continues to increase as a recreational drug. The situation with ketamine in sewage

5 months ago

Society

EU to provide 8 million euros in aid for Van Hool workers

The European Commission has proposed an 8 million euro support package to help 2,400 workers made redundant after the bankruptcy of Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool. The funding, requested by Belgium, comes

5 months ago

Society

Belgian companies and researchers file record number of European patent applications

Belgian companies, universities and research institutions have filed a record 2,615 patent applications to the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2024. 66 per cent of these applications came from Flanders, which ranks

5 months ago

Innovations