Belgium

Belgium compulsory education age lowered to 5 years

School will be compulsory for all children in Belgium from the age of five years, instead of six, from this academic year, which starts in September. By adopting the new…

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Photo Story: ‘Meet the Masters’ exhibition in Brussels

Photos from the exhibition 'Meet the Masters', a digital art expo the three great masters of Flemish painting Jan Van Eyck, Pieter Paul Rubens and Pieter Bruegel, at Dynasty Palace…

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Belgium revises down COVID-19 deaths just shy of 10,000 mark

Belgium revised down on Wednesday the country’s COVID-19 death toll, just as it was about to pass the milestone of 10,000 fatalities. Health authorities have reviewed figures from care homes…

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Coronavirus re-infections raise concerns about immunity

Two European patients are confirmed to have been re-infected with COVID-19, raising concerns about people’s immunity to the coronavirus as the world struggles to tame the pandemic. The cases, in…

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Photo Story: Origami For Life

Photos from Origami For Life, an artistic setup of 22 000 origami exposed a Cathedral of Saint Michael and Gudula in Brussels , Belgium. Origami For Life is an initiative…

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Belgian schools to reopen in September with masks mandatory for older children

Belgian schools will reopen on 1 September when the academic year starts, with children above 12 years old and teachers required to wear masks, prime minister Sophie Wilmes has. “The…

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Head of Flemish liberals appointed to lead Belgian government coalition talks

Belgium's King Philippe on Tuesday asked Egbert Lachaert, leader of the Flemish liberal party Open VLD, to try to form a coalition government. The king had held talks with party…

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Malta to be placed on the travel Red Zone by Belgium

The colour codes for several countries and regions in Belgium’s travel zones system on the Foreign Affairs’ website will be adapted again on Friday afternoon, the Crisis Centre announced during…

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Belgian hospitals stock up on drugs, kits for possible second COVID wave

Belgian hospitals are stockpiling drugs and protective kits and putting in place contingency plans amid a continuing spike in new COVID-19 infections that has forced the capital Brussels to make…

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Brussels makes face masks compulsory in all public spaces as COVID-19 cases spike

Wearing a face mask became compulsory on Wednesday in all public places in Brussels as the number of COVID-19 infections rose to a government alert level that puts the city…

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Belgium and Malta at risk of UK quarantine being re-imposed

Belgium and Malta are at risk of being removed from the UK’s quarantine-free “green” list after a surge in Covid-19 cases, an analysis by The Telegraph shows. Both countries have…

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Germany warns against travel to parts of Belgium

Germany’s Foreign Ministry revised its travel guidance for Belgium on Thursday, warning against all non-essential travel to the province of Antwerp because of the high incidence of the coronavirus epidemic…

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Big rise in coronavirus infections in Brussels

According to figures released by the public health science institute Sciensano there has been a spectacular rise in the number of people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the…

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Antwerp win Belgian Cup

Antwerp denied Club Brugge the double as they won the Belgian Cup final 1-0 on Saturday in the first football in the country since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March.…

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Antwerp urges visitors to stay away after new spike in cases

Lockdown restrictions were eased too quickly and now "severe measures" may be required to quell a second wave, according to the governor of Belgium's worst-affected province. Cathy Berx, who oversees…

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Norway imposes 10-day quarantine on travellers from Belgium due to COVID-19

Norway will re-impose a 10-day quarantine requirement for people arriving from Belgium from Aug. 1 after a rise in COVID-19 cases there, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on…

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Back to the future – The countries reintroducing Covid-19 restrictions

The UK - having imposed new restrictions on those returning from Spain, and previously introduced its first local lockdown in Leicester - is far from the only country to have…

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Antwerp imposes curfew among several new social restrictions after dramatic rise in cases

One of Europe’s major port cities, Antwerp, has announced significant new restrictions including a night curfew as Belgium strives to halt a worrying rise in local coronavirus cases. Only people…

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Belgium tightens COVID measures as infections spike

Belgium will tighten COVID-19 containment measures on July 25 after a rise in infections, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said, requiring the use of face masks in crowded outdoor public spaces…

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Belgium and Lufthansa agree rescue for Brussels Airlines

The Belgian authorities have struck a deal with Brussels Airlines and its parent company Lufthansa of Germany with regard to the rescue of the Belgian flag carrier. The deal still…

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Belgium could be at start of localised coronavirus ‘second wave’

Belgium may be at the start of a second wave of coronavirus infections after reporting a 32% increase in weekly cases, though for now the resurgence appears more localised than…

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UPDATE: Travelling corridor between Malta and Belgium established – First flights expected on July 16th

UPDATE Monday July 13th - 1420h : Travelling between Malta and Belgium is expected to resume as of 16th July, following the inclusion of Belgium on the amended 'travelling list' from…

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Photo Story: A tribute to medical workers in Belgium

A view of a fresco paint, by street artist Amandine Lesay, paying tribute to all the medical workers, next to the Etterbeek-Ixelles site of the Iris Sud Hospitals in Brussels,…

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Belgium shortens mandatory quarantine after Covid-19 exposure

People who have had close contact with a Covid-19 patient can now request a second PCR, or diagnosis, test in order to shorten their mandatory 14-day quarantine, a federal health…

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Slight rise in Belgium the number of new coronavirus infections

During the past 7 days there were an average of 92 confirmed new novel coronavirus infections in Belgium. This is 6% higher than was the case during the 7-day period…

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Photo Story: Belgian Royal Family visit Genk

Queen Mathilde (L) and King Philippe (R) of Belgium ride bicycles during a royal visit to the Bokrijk park and open-air museum in Genk, Belgium. To support the tourism sector,…

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Belgian unions back call for masks to be made mandatory in shops

The main Belgian trade unions are backing a call made by a number of virologists to made the wearing of masks mandatory in shops and supermarkets. On Monday Leuven University’s…

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Bruges mayor released from hospital after stabbing attack

The mayor of the Belgian city of Bruges, Dirk De fauw, has been released from hospital after surviving a knife attack. De fauw was seriously injured on Saturday when he was…

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Reports indicate Lufthansa may sell Brussels Airlines or let it go bankrupt

Lufthansa could let its Belgian subsidiary Brussels Airlines go bankrupt or sell it, La Libre newspaper reported on Friday, citing anonymous sources at the airline. Brussels Airlines, which employs 4,200…

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Belgium to give colour-coded travel advice

From Monday the Belgian Foreign Ministry’s website will start colour coding the travel advice it gives to Belgian planning a foreign trip. The system will be available on the Dutch…

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Photo Story: First weekend for Belgians to move freely

Mounted policemen patrol empty beach at the Knokke-Heist sea resort, Belgium, as Belgians as the coronavirus measures were relaxed. Belgium has entered the third phase of easing coronavirus restrictions. During…

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Photo story: Petitions in Belgium for removal of Colonial King statues

A statue of former Belgian King Leopold II sprayed with paint is seen at the park of the Africa Museum, in Tervuren, near Brussels, Belgium. At least two petitions were…

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King Leopold II statue removed in Antwerp after anti-racism protests

A statue of King Leopold II in the Belgian town of Antwerp was removed with its long-term future set for a museum, just days after being daubed with paint by…

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Photo Story: Restaurants and bars to reopen in Belgium

A waiter prepares restaurant tables ahead of the reopening of restaurants and bars in the country, in downtown Brussels, Belgium. Food service and hospitality industry is preparing to reopen on…

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One in three Belgians to opt for a internal holiday

According to a survey by the Flemish Tourist Board that was commissioned by the Flemish Tourism Minister Zuhal Demir, since the start of the lockdown in mid-March, 41% of Belgians…

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Belgian Prince Joachim tests positive for coronavirus

A Belgian prince has contracted coronavirus after attending a party during lockdown in Spain, the country's royal palace says. Prince Joachim, 28, travelled from Belgium to Spain for an internship…

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Photo Story: Mini-Europe reopens

A Brexit scene with Boris Johnson at the British-EU border in the Mini-Europe attraction park in Brussels, Belgium. The miniature theme park featuring the main sights of the 28 member…

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Owners of second residences on Belgian coast allowed to visit amid coronavirus pandemic

Stewards wearing face masks help people keep the minimum safety distance among each other and stay in the correct direction as they walk along a one-way commercial pedestrian street in…

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Photo Story: Brussels landmark, the Atomium, on verge of bankruptcy

People with masks walk around the symbol of tourism for Brussels the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium, 17 May 2020, on the first weekend after Belgium eased lockdown measures in place…

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Coronavirus gives Belgium deadliest April since WW2

Coronavirus brought Belgium its deadliest April since World War Two last month, according to a new study as the country begins slowly to lift lockdown measures. A total of 14,790…

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Belgium tells Lufthansa state aid possible if conditions met

The Belgian government said it was committed to reaching a deal with Lufthansa to save its Belgian subsidiary Brussels Airlines if the future of the national carrier was guaranteed. Belgian…

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Death toll in Belgium climbs above 9,000

The latest reported the daily Covid-19 figures by the Belgian National Crisis Centre is of 65 patients taken to hospital, while another 47 deaths were reported. The latter is down…

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UK says Belgium is worse on COVID-19 deaths per million

The United Kingdom is on a similar level to France, Italy and Spain on COVID-19 deaths per million but Belgium is worse, a junior British health minister said on Thursday.…

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1,000 jobs to be axed at Brussels Airlines

Management at Brussels Airlines have announced that as many as 1,000 of the more 4,000 people that work at the airline face losing their jobs. The announcement was made during…

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Top Belgian scientists warns so-called “herd immunity” not the solution to the pandemic

A new test of 3,400 blood samples taken from Belgian of all age categories has found that 6% contain antibodies against COVID-19. This is double the percentage found to have…

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Malta amongst European countries wanting EU to suspend refunds for cancelled flights law

France, Netherlands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Portugal are calling on Brussels to temporarily suspend a European law granting refunds for cancelled flights. France and…

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Belgian port to test bracelets for coronavirus social distancing

Workers in the port of Antwerp will next month begin testing wristbands developed by a Belgian technology company that could help guarantee the social distancing required during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

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Belgium set for phased easing of lockdown from May 4

Belgium plans to allow a gradual easing of coronavirus restriction measures from May 4, with a series of phases of further re-opening during the course of the month. Restrictions in…

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Belgium reaches 34,809 confirmed cases

In Belgium, 1,236 new people have tested positive for the new coronavirus (Covid-19) the Federal Public Health Service announced during a press conference on Thursday. 310 new patients were…

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Second infection from coronavirus claimed to be ‘much less severe’ than first

There is reason to believe that in the event of reinfection with the new coronavirus (Covid-19), it will be “much less severe than the first,” said Belgian virologist Emmanuel André…

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Photo Story: Staying safe in Brussels

A billboard with #staysafe is displayed at the main entrance of Brussels, Belgium, 15 April 2020. In order to contain the spread of coronavirus, Belgium is implementing confinement guidelines for…

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Belgium reports 303 more deaths

Health authorities in Belgium have reported 303 more deaths from coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the country’s total death toll from the outbreak to 3,903. Although its…

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325 new deaths recorded in Belgium

Belgium has recorded another 325 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 3,019. This figure includes 171 deaths in care homes in Flanders in March which…

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Belgian PM warns of “long process of reconstruction”

Belgium’s prime minister Sophie Wilmès has warned that “a long process of reconstruction” awaits the country once the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is over. In a video address to the nation…

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Photo Story: Masked Chocolate Easter Bunny in aid of medical personnel

Chocolate Easter Bunny wearing mouth mask called 'Lapinou Solidaire' and 'Lapinou Confined', made by artisan chocolate maker Genevieve Trepant works on at Cocoatree, a craft chocolate workshop in Lonzee, Belgium.…

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Photo Story: Marriage in times of lockdown

A couple kisses each other after getting married at Brussels city hall in Brussels, Belgium. In order to contain the spread of coronavirus, Belgium is under lockdown, which is scheduled…

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Photo Story: A funeral in times of the coronavirus pandemic

Employees of the 'Pompes Funebres Fontaine' funeral service company wear protective suits and face masks as they disinfect the coffin of a COVID-19 victim, in Gilly, Belgium. Belgium has over…

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