Belgium

Belgians forced to fork out more for their cherished fries

Belgians are having to fork out more for their favourite snack - fries, or fried potato sticks - because of rising energy, commodity and labour costs. Belgium is the world's…

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Belgium to cut VAT in response to energy price spike

Belgium will cut value added tax on electricity as part of a package to shield consumers from rising energy prices, the prime minister said on Tuesday. European gas and power…

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Tens of thousands protest against Covid-19 health rules in Brussels

Thousands of people took to the streets in Brussels on Sunday to protest against the Belgian authorities' health measures. There were several tens of thousands of demonstrators in central Brussels,…

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Photo Story: European anti-coronavirus measures protest in Brussels

People take part in a protest against European anti-coronavirus measures, in Brussels, Belgium, 23 January 2022. Tens of thousands of people were expected to a protest against the way the…

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Dozens of firms to make cheap version of Merck COVID pill for poorer nations

BRUSSELS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A U.N.-backed agency has struck a deal for nearly 30 generic drugmakers to make low-cost versions of Merck & Co's COVID-19 pill molnupiravir for poorer…

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Photo Story: Zara Rutherford becomes the youngest person to fly solo around the world

Belgian-British pilot Zara Rutherford poses for photographs in front of her small plane after landing in Wevelgem, Belgium, 20 January 2022. Zara, 19, broke the Guinness World Record for being…

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Belgium can extend life of nuclear reactors if it acts soon, watchdog says

Belgium's nuclear regulator gave a provisional green light on Monday to extend the life of two of the country's nuclear power reactors and urged the government to make a final…

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Rents in Brussels and Flanders hit record levels

The average rent for a house on the Brussels and Flemish rental market in 2021 rose to €846 in 2021, an increase that took prices to an all-time high, according…

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Belgium suffers record COVID cases

Fuelled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Belgium's daily cases of COVID-19 reached a new peak this week, with health experts warning of between 30,000 and 125,000 cases a day…

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Belgians spend a quarter of their money online

A quarter of all money spent by Belgians was spent online during the 3rd quarter of 2021, according to figures released by BeCommerce Market Monitor. 40.8 million online orders were…

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Coronavirus numbers keep falling in Belgium

The number of new coronavirus infections in Belgium continues to decline according to the latest figures released by the national health institute, Sciensano. Between 15 and 21 December, an average…

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New restrictions come into force in Belgium in response to Omicron spread

In Belgium a flurry of restrictions came into force Sunday in a bid to reopen schools after the Christmas holidays and ease tension on the health care system, as Omicron…

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Photo Story: The Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium

Visitors, some wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, stand in front of the illuminated Christmas tree at the Winter Wonder and Christmas Market on the Grand…

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Belgian government reaches compromise on nuclear power exit

BRUSSELS, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Belgian government agreed in principle on Thursday to close its nuclear power plants by 2025, but left open the possibility of extending the life…

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Belgium to shut cinemas, theatres as Omicron cases surge

BRUSSELS, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Belgium will close cinemas and theatres and play sporting fixtures behind closed doors immediately after Christmas in a tightening of coronavirus restrictions to curb a…

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Protest against coronavirus restrictions turns violent in Brussels

Police fired teargas and used water cannons on Sunday to disperse protesters pelting officers with cobblestones and fireworks as a demonstration in Brussels over government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions turned violent. A…

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Belgium tightens curbs as COVID cases peak

Belgium tightened its coronavirus restrictions for the third consecutive week to fight one of Europe’s worst spikes of COVID-19 cases, but stopped short of the strict curbs imposed in the…

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Photo Story: Brussels lights up for Christmas

Visitors, some wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, stand in front of the illuminated Christmas tree at the Winter Wonder and Christmas Market on the Grand…

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UPDATED: Belgium detects first case of new COVID-19 variant in Europe

BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Belgium has detected the first case of the new coronavirus variant which was first found in South Africa, a virologist said on Friday. Marc Van…

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Uber to halt app in Brussels from Friday after court ruling

Uber Technologies Inc. said it would halt operations in Brussels from Nov. 26 after a court ruled that a 2015 ban on private individuals offering taxi services also applies to…

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Clashes in Brussels in protests over coronavirus restrictions

Police and protesters clashed in the streets of Brussels on Sunday in demonstrations over government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions, with police firing water cannon and tear gas at demonstrators throwing rocks and…

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35,000 people demonstrate in Brussels against coronavirus measures

Brussels (dpa) - Around 35,000 people took to the streets of Brussels on Sunday to protest against stricter coronavirus measures and in particular the coronavirus pass, according to police. According to a report…

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Belgium extends mask use, enforces home working as COVID-19 spikes

Belgium tightened its coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday, mandating wider use of masks and enforcing work from home, as cases spiked in the country's fourth COVID-19 wave. From Saturday, all people…

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Covid-19: Belgium asks people to work from home

Belgium has call on its population to start working from home again due to surging Covid infections, with Europe once again at the centre of pandemic's fourth wave. "We have…

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Belgium sees increase in COVID-19 hospitalisations

Belgium reported a jump in COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations rose back to levels that had forced a lockdown in October 2020, as the United States advised against travelling to the…

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Brussels to take tough action against e-scooters left abandoned outside official parking spaces

The legislative assembly of the Brussels region parliament is planning tougher actions on shared e-scooters and bicycles through the introduction of special parking areas, speed limits and fines if the…

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Belgium enters fourth COVID-19 infection wave as cases jump

Belgium's daily COVID-19 cases have jumped to the highest level in almost a year, prompting health experts to say that a fourth wave of infections has begun. Data from the…

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Lagging in COVID-19 vaccinations, Brussels takes vaccination campaign to shops

Health authorities in Brussels began offering COVID-19 jabs in supermarkets and shopping centres on Monday to increase vaccination rates in the Belgian capital that have not kept up with Belgium's rapid inoculation roll-out. Host…

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Climate change made deadly floods in Western Europe at least 20% more likely – study

MADRID (Reuters) - Climate change has made extreme rainfall events of the kind that sent lethal torrents of water hurtling through parts of Germany and Belgium last month at least…

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Belgium, except for Brussels, to scrap COVID restrictions on restaurants, cafes

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium will scrap COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants and cafes, allowing them to operate under their usual hours as part of the government's reopening plan and as more…

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Port of Antwerp sees volume growth despite pandemic disruption

The Port of Antwerp recorded a year-on-year rise in the volume of cargo handled for the first seven months of 2021, even though disruptions caused by COVID-19 and Britain's departure…

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One month after floods, Belgians try to rebuild

A month after devastating floods in Belgium, residents said efforts to rebuild battered towns were picking up pace, but some still saw months of disruption ahead. Flooding swept through parts…

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Seven die after outbreak of Colombian variant of COVID-19 at Belgian nursing home

Seven residents of a nursing home in Belgium have died after being infected with the Colombian variant of the coronavirus, despite being fully vaccinated, the virology team that conducted tests…

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Cars, pavements washed away as Belgian town hit by worst floods in decades

The southern Belgian town of Dinant was hit by the heaviest floods in decades on Saturday after a two-hour thunderstorm turned streets into torrential streams that washed away cars and…

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Belgium hit with renewed flooding amid heavy rain

Belgium witnessed a new round of flooding on Saturday, as the country grappled with the impact of heavy rains and thunderstorms. The floods mostly impacted areas in the country's southern French-speaking region…

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Heavy rain forecast in Belgium for the weekend

The government of the Walloon region in Belgium has warned that vigilance is needed this weekend because of weather forecasts predicting potentially intense and stormy rainfall. “The Royal Meteorological Institute…

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Belgium raises flood death toll to 37, further six missing

Belgian authorities raised the death toll from last week's burst rivers and flash floods to 37, with a further six people missing. Belgium's crisis centre, which is coordinating the rescue…

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Photo Story: Belgium celebrates National Day

King Philippe (2-R) and Queen Mathilde (L) of Belgium attend the National Day Ceremony in front of the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium, 21 July 2021. The Belgian National Day…

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Belgium sets day of mourning as flood deaths hit 20

Belgium declared a national day of mourning next week as the death toll from burst rivers and flash floods in the south and east of the country rose to 20…

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Brussels Airport warns of long queues due to strict checks on travel documents

Brussels Airport is warning travellers that long queues could form during peak hours, as the authorities earlier this week announced stricter checks on passengers’ Passenger Locator Forms (PLF). On Wednesday,…

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UPDATED: Belgian woman infected with Alpha and Beta Covid variants at the same time

A 90-year-old Belgian woman who died from COVID-19 in March had contracted two variants of coronavirus at the same time, which is believed to be the first documented case of…

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Belgium to ban British visitors due Delta variant cases increase

Belgium has said it is banning visitors from Britain. The measure will come into force on Saturday and includes an exemption for Belgian nationals or residents. Belgium said listed the…

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Body found of armed Belgian anti-vaccine fugitive, suicide suspected

Belgian police found the body on Sunday of a fugitive soldier who went missing a month ago with a stash of weapons after threatening a virologist and his family, the…

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Five people have died after a school building site collapsed in Belgium

Belgium's King Philippe visited firefighters, police and paramedics workers near the rubbles of a building that partially collapsed, killing at least two persons in the 'Nieuw Zuid' quarter in Antwerp,…

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Photo Story: Dinosaurs in Brussels

A view of Dinos Alive exhibition at Tour et Taxi in Brussels, Belgium. The exhibition is held on the Tour et Taxi site in Brussels, more than 80 species are…

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UPDATED: At NATO, Biden says defence of Europe a “sacred obligation”

U.S. President Joe Biden told fellow NATO leaders on Monday the defence of Europe, Turkey and Canada was a "sacred obligation" for the United States, a marked shift from his…

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Decisions for NATO’s first summit with Biden

NATO leaders hold their first summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday, aiming to repair transatlantic ties after his predecessor Donald Trump said the Western military alliance was "obsolete".…

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Belgium allows indoor dining from June 9 in lockdown easing

Belgium cleared the way for indoor dining and drinking next week as an acceleration of COVID-19 vaccinations reduced strain on hospitals and allowed a further easing of restrictions. Belgian Prime…

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UPDATED: Belgium says halts J&J COVID jab for under 41s after one dies

The Belgian government said on Wednesday it was suspending vaccinations with Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for people under the age of 41 following the death of a woman…

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Photo Story: The life of Napoleon Bonaparte with Playmobil

Photos from the exhibition 'The Empire in Playmobil’ by the French artists Laurent Lafont and Bob Borriello at the Wellington Museum in Waterloo, Belgium as part of the bicentenary of…

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Police break up Brussels anti-lockdown party

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Police fired water cannon and tear gas in a Brussels park on Saturday to break up an anti-lockdown party of several hundred people designed to defy coronavirus…

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EU approves ramp-up of Pfizer vaccine manufacturing site in Belgium

Europe's drug regulator on Friday approved an expansion in manufacturing capacity of the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine in Belgium, while recommending an approval for a new filling line at Moderna's site…

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Belgium pushes on with bar reopening as hospitals near saturation

Belgium pressed ahead with plans to allow restaurant and cafe terraces to reopen on May 8 despite warnings from health officials that hospital saturation was starting to resemble that of…

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Belgian hospitals battle third COVID-19 wave as curbs poised to be eased

Coronavirus infections are not dropping as fast as hoped in Belgium, pushing hospitals towards full capacity, health officials said on Friday, as government plans to ease a lockdown soon came…

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Belgium Restricts AstraZeneca Covid Vaccine

Belgium will stop giving the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to people under age 56 for the next four weeks amid blood clot concerns, national and regional health ministers agreed today. People aged…

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Four held, dozens injured at Brussels rave labelled ‘unacceptable’

Four people were arrested for rebellion, assault and battery against police officers and failure to comply with coronavirus measures following an illegal party in a Brussels' park. Water cannon and…

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In Pictures – Police disperse thousands at Belgian April Fool party

Police used teargas and water cannons on Thursday to disperse thousands of young people gathered in a Brussels park for a party in defiance of Belgium's COVID-19 lockdown, an event that…

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