Environment
Flemish Waterways Hit Record Temperatures This Summer
Flemish rivers and canals hit record July water temperatures, threatening aquatic life and risking cooling water discharge bans for industry.
—5 min read
Tag
#Flanders
92 articles
Economy
Flanders Plan to Double Gaming Turnover by 2030
Flanders launches 'Next Level Vlaanderen' vision to double gaming sector turnover from €76.5M to €150M by 2030, addressing chronic capital shortages.
—4 min read
EnvironmentLocal
Wild Boars Turn Rudi's Garden into a Moonscape in Mol
Wild boars devastated Rudi Van Hove's garden in Mol-Gompel over two nights, highlighting the growing wild boar problem across Flanders.
—5 min read
TransportRegulation
Belgian Car Inspection Rules Overhauled Starting September 1
Flanders overhauls car inspection rules from Sept 1: biennial checks for all passenger cars, extended repair deadlines, and more.
—5 min read
Transport
Train Services Halted in Flanders After Signal Failure
Train services suspended in Flanders after a failed software update in a signal control room. Replacement buses deployed with no timeline for restoration.
—4 min read
EmploymentEconomy
Flanders Sees Lowest Job Vacancies in Six Years
VDAB records lowest monthly job vacancies since May 2020 as Flemish labor market cools, with 13% fewer offers over the past year.
—4 min read
EconomyTourism
Flanders Sets Tourism Record with 28.8M Overnight Stays
Flanders recorded 28.8 million overnight stays in 2025, a 2% increase over 2024, cementing its status as a premier European holiday destination.
—4 min read
LocalBelgium
Concrete Blocks Appear at Brussels-Flanders Border
About 100 concrete blocks installed at Brussels-Flanders border to combat illegal dumping, part of a cross-regional agreement to clean up a waste hotspot.
—5 min read
Social Affairs
Flanders Ends School Bonus for 1.1 Million Children
The Flemish government has phased out the school bonus for 1.1 million children, saving €50 million annually as part of a broader austerity package.
—5 min read
CultureTravel
Flemish Castle Dubbed 'Chambord of Flanders' Showcased
Discover Ooidonk Castle, the Flemish gem nicknamed the 'Chambord of Flanders' for its Loire-style towers and French gardens, near Ghent, Belgium.
—5 min read
SocialPolitics
Record children hospitalized due to youth care shortage
167 children were hospitalized in Flanders in 2025 due to lack of youth care places, a record in six years. Babies and toddlers under 2 are most affected.
—6 min read
SocialBelgium
Flanders scraps school bonus for 1.1 million children
Flanders ends the school bonus for 1.1 million children, leaving only low-income families eligible. The cut saves 50 million euros annually.
—4 min read
Heritage
Flanders invests €1.1M in Ypres war cemetery restoration
Flanders allocates €1.13 million to restore four WWI war cemeteries in Ypres, preserving UNESCO-listed heritage sites for future generations.
—4 min read
Culture
Belgium's first National Café Day unveils 11 ambassadors
The first National Café Day announced 11 ambassadors from across Flanders, promoting Belgium's café culture on September 12, 2026.
—5 min read
Society
What Flemish See in Wallonia: A Nuanced Portrait
La Libre Belgique's summer series reveals a nuanced picture of how Flemish personalities perceive Wallonia, challenging political stereotypes.
—4 min read
Politics
Flemish Minister Under Fire Over Secret Airport Deal
Flemish Mobility Minister Annick De Ridder faces fallout after a secret airport subsidy deal was leaked, exposing policy contradictions.
—4 min read
HealthSociety
Flemish Care Homes Seek Higher Rates for AC Investments
Private care homes in Flanders request higher daily rates for AC after a deadly heatwave. Minister Gennez pushes back, exploring alternative subsidies.
—4 min read
BelgiumAgriculture
Fox Parvovirus Detected in Flemish Pig for First Time
Fox parvovirus detected in a pig in Flanders for the first time. The virus causes mild symptoms in piglets but is not dangerous to humans or food safety.
—4 min read
Politics
Secret Airport Deal Exposed After Minister's Accidental Leak
Flemish Minister De Ridder accidentally revealed a secret airport deal: dropped claims and subsidies until 2039, sparking a major transparency controversy.
—5 min read
Health
Scabies Cases in Flanders Stabilize After Years of Increase
After a decade of rising cases, scabies infections in Flanders are stabilizing, new research from Sciensano and the Institute of Tropical Medicine shows.
—4 min read
EnvironmentPolitics
Open-Water Swimming Becomes a Right in Flanders by 2027
Flanders will reverse its ban on open-water swimming by June 2027, making it a legal right. The reform could create 140 new swimming locations.
—4 min read
Society & Public Services
Flemish Civil Servant Attacks Surge 60%, Minister Acts
Aggression reports against Flemish civil servants rose 63.6% to 3,068 in 2025. Minister Crevits enacts new measures including dossier suspensions.
—4 min read
HousingRegulation
Flanders Cracks Down on Illegal Airbnb Rentals
Flanders cracks down on illegal Airbnb rentals, requiring platforms to verify registrations and giving municipalities faster enforcement powers.
—5 min read
SocietyHousing
Only 41 Fined in Flanders Dutch Language Enforcement Gap
Only 41 of 150,000 social tenants in Flanders were fined in 2025 for not speaking Dutch, revealing a major gap between policy and enforcement.
—4 min read
EnvironmentClimate
Flanders Battles Drought, Heat Risks, Closes Dolphinarium
Flanders tackles drought with wetland restoration, reveals unequal heat risks, and closes Bruges dolphinarium by 2037 in environmental push.
—4 min read
EnvironmentClimate
Flanders Wetland Plan Soaks 2B Liters into Soil Yearly
Natuurpunt's wetland plan channels 2 billion liters into Flemish soil annually, a nature-based solution as Flanders faces code orange drought.
—4 min read
EnvironmentClimate
Flanders Heat Risks: New Study Reveals Stark Inequalities
A new VITO heat map reveals stark inequalities in heat risk across Flemish municipalities after Belgium's deadliest heatwave caused 2,000 excess deaths.
—4 min read
EnvironmentAnimal Welfare
Flanders Approves Closure of Bruges Dolphinarium by 2037
The Flemish government has approved a plan to close the Boudewijn Seapark dolphinarium in Bruges by 2037, ending dolphin captivity in Flanders.
—4 min read
EnvironmentPolitics
Flanders Drought: Code Orange Declared as Crisis Deepens
Flanders escalates to drought code orange as severe water scarcity grips the region. Experts warn of cross-border tensions over shared rivers.
—4 min read
Environment
Belgium Declares Code Orange Drought Alert for Flanders
Flanders escalates to code orange drought alert as the Drought Committee declares a phase of effective water scarcity, targeting agriculture and shipping.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
Road Vignette to Cost Belgian Businesses 55 Million Euros
Belgium's new road vignette system will cost businesses and commercial van owners an estimated 55 million euros annually, documents reveal.
—5 min read
EducationSociety
Flemish Teachers Decry Appointment System Driving Exodus
Temporary teachers in Flanders condemn the TADD appointment system as demoralising, with 37% of new educators quitting within five years.
—5 min read
TransportSociety
De Lijn Fails to Collect 16 Million Euros in Fare Fines
Flemish transport company De Lijn struggles to collect 16 million euros in unpaid fines from fare evaders, raising fairness concerns and revenue doubts.
—4 min read
EnergyPolitics
Flanders to Scrap Fines for Late Solar Panel Registration
Flemish government parties agree to eliminate fines for homeowners who forget to register solar panels with Fluvius, shifting responsibility to inspectors.
—4 min read
PoliticsEurope
Flemish Government in Crisis: Diependaele Under Fire
The Flemish government faces a deepening political crisis marked by internal divisions, subsidy scandals, and leadership doubts about Diependaele.
—5 min read
EconomyEnergy
Belgium Energy Shift: Cheaper Power, Costlier Gas From 2028
Flanders cuts electricity taxes and raises gas levies from 2028 to push green heating. Belgian fuel prices surge as refining margins hit highs.
—5 min read
Education
1 in 20 Belgian Students Must Take Extra Dutch Hours
Nearly 3,800 Flemish first-year secondary students must take 3 extra hours of Dutch per week under Minister Demir's 400 million euro Language Heroes Plan.
—5 min read
Environment
Flanders Intensifies Fight Against Invasive Raccoons
Flanders launches a new action plan against invasive raccoons, using smart traps and awareness campaigns to prevent population growth like in Wallonia.
—4 min read
PoliticsEnergy
Flanders Cuts Electricity €80, Raises Gas €80 for Heat Pumps
Flanders unveils a tax shift making electricity €80 cheaper and gas €80 more expensive annually to incentivize switching to electric heating by 2028.
—4 min read
TransportBelgium
Flanders Highway Signs: Upward Arrows, New Exit Signs
Flanders introduces new highway signs with upward arrows and black-and-white exit symbols. The gradual rollout aims to improve clarity and safety.
—4 min read
Environment & WildlifePublic Health
Raccoons Invade All Flemish Provinces as Risk Grows
Raccoons have been spotted in every Flemish province. Authorities warn against touching them due to health risks and urge public reporting.
—4 min read
Politics
Flemish Coalition Tensions Rise as Diependaele Hits Back
Flemish Minister-President Diependaele hits back at ex-minister Bonte's criticism, questioning if he must 'scream' as coalition tensions rise.
—4 min read
PoliticsEurope
Flemish Towns with Ministers Get 25% More Subsidies, Study
New Ghent University research reveals municipalities where Flemish ministers live receive a quarter more in project subsidies, raising equity concerns.
—5 min read
JusticeEnvironment
Flemish Government Ends Eternit Talks, Returns to Court
The Flemish government breaks off negotiations with asbestos company Eternit, reactivating civil procedures and preparing a criminal complaint.
—4 min read
PoliticsEconomy
Flanders Introduces 180 Euro Fee for Work Permits
Flemish Minister Zuhal Demir announces a 180 euro fee per work migration application from 2027, sparking debate between government and employer groups.
—4 min read
SocietyEducation
Over 400,000 Learning Dutch in Border Regions, Flanders
More than 416,000 people are learning Dutch in border regions around Flanders and the Netherlands, driven by economic ties and cross-border mobility.
—4 min read
Domestic AffairsPolitics
Flemish Citizens Paid €12M in Unlawful Traffic Fine Costs
HLN investigation reveals Flemish municipalities charged €12M in illegal fees on traffic fines. A citizen launches Fix mijn Boete to help reclaim funds.
—4 min read
Domestic AffairsPolitics
Flemish Childcare Costs Surge as BOA Decree Takes Effect
Childcare prices are doubling in Flemish cities as the BOA decree shifts responsibility to municipalities, sparking criticism from PVDA.
—4 min read
HealthcarePolitics
14 Flemish Hospitals Face Restructuring in Healthcare Reform
Belgian ministers agree to reform the hospital landscape, with 14 Flemish hospitals facing scale-downs, mergers, or transformation over ten years.
—5 min read
HealthcarePolitics
14 Flemish Hospitals Risk Closure in Consolidation Push
Flemish ministers identify 14 hospitals at risk of closure in a sweeping reform to address fragmented care, staff shortages, and an aging population.
—5 min read
EducationPolitics
Flemish Schools Face 16-Year Wait for Construction Subsidies
Flemish schools face an unprecedented 16-year waiting period for construction subsidies, despite a record €3.2 billion investment by the government.
—4 min read
SocietyBelgium
Flanders Hits 500K Asbestos Certificates, 2.3M Left
Flanders issues 500,000 asbestos certificates, but 2.3 million properties still await assessment as the region pushes toward its 2040 asbestos-safe goal.
—4 min read
EducationPolitics
Flemish Government Scraps Planned Student Transport Cuts
Flemish government scraps student transport cuts, providing €150 million to ensure no bus routes are cut for special education students.
—4 min read
Politics
Belgian Merger Naming: Three Towns Seek One Identity
The merged Belgian municipality of Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht launches a participatory naming process after a failed attempt.
—4 min read
EducationPolitics
De Lijn Cuts 10% of Bus Routes for Special Needs Students
De Lijn is cutting 10% of bus routes for special needs students in Flanders. Schools warn the cuts threaten access to education for vulnerable children.
—5 min read
Politics
Flemish Minister Probes Mandatory Free Wedding Ceremonies
Flemish Minister Hilde Crevits investigates requiring municipalities to offer free weddings after a probe reveals costs ranging from €0 to €350.
—4 min read
EducationEconomy
Teacher Pay Market-Conform, Directors Lag 28% Behind Private
A confidential Flemish report reveals teachers earn market-conform salaries, but school directors face a 24-28% pay gap versus private sector.
—5 min read
Society
Belgian Youth Groups Face Crisis Over Strict Fire Rules
New hotel-level fire safety rules threaten to make youth group trips unaffordable for hundreds of volunteer-run organizations across Flanders.
—4 min read
SocietyBelgium
Psychological Abuse Tops Elder Mistreatment in Flanders
New data reveals psychological abuse is the most prevalent form of violence against elderly in Flanders, with 1,562 cases reported in the past year.
—4 min read
SocietyPolitics
Flanders Protocol Protects Emergency Workers from Aggression
Flanders launches a new aggression protocol for local authorities, protecting paramedics, firefighters, and social workers from violence.
—5 min read
PoliticsEurope
Vlaams Belang Surges Past N-VA in New Flanders Poll
New poll shows Vlaams Belang at 26.6% in Flanders, N-VA at 22.1% — its lowest since 2024. Tom Van Grieken outlines strategy as trust erodes.
—5 min read
Social & LaborPolitics
Flemish Government Mandates Anti-Bias Tests in All Sectors
The Flemish government will require practical anti-discrimination tests across all labor sectors starting December 2026, bypassing employer opposition.
—4 min read
EducationTechnology
Flemish Government Invests €10M in AI Education Strategy
Flemish Minister Zuhal Demir announces €10M for universities to develop a joint AI education strategy for safe, responsible AI in classrooms.
—4 min read
TechnologyMobility
Flanders Approves Self-Driving Teslas on Belgian Roads
Flanders approves Tesla's Full Self-Driving system on all Belgian roads, becoming the fifth EU country to green-light the technology.
—4 min read
Traffic
Flanders Issues Record 6.4 Million Speed Camera Fines
Flanders issued a record 6.43 million traffic fines in 2025, driven by 1,000 new average speed check systems nationwide.
—4 min read
EducationSocial Policy
Belgium Funds 80 Daycare Centers to Train Career Switchers
Flemish Minister Caroline Gennez announces 80 daycare centers will train career switchers on the job to address chronic staffing shortages in childcare.
—4 min read
Traffic and Transportation
Flanders Issued Record 6.43 Million Traffic Fines in 2025
Flanders issued a record 6.43 million traffic fines in 2025, more than double 2017 levels. Over 5.36 million were speeding tickets as cameras expanded.
—5 min read
CultureObituary
Flanders Bids Farewell to Margriet Hermans in Live Funeral
Flanders said farewell to beloved singer, TV presenter and politician Margriet Hermans in a live broadcast funeral from Merksplas-Kolonie.
—3 min read
PoliticsEnvironment
Flanders Seeks Water Commissioner to Give Policy a Face
Flemish Minister Jo Brouns seeks a water commissioner to coordinate fragmented water policy ahead of the 2027 EU deadline, warning of a permit freeze.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
Flemish Government Bids to Buy Van Hool Industrial Site
The Flemish government bids on the 30-hectare Van Hool industrial site in Koningshooikt, citing a severe shortage of large industrial land.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
Flanders Bets on Van Hool Site as Land Crisis Grows
The Flemish government enters a public auction for the 30-hectare Van Hool site, intervening to combat a severe shortage of large-scale industrial land.
—4 min read
TransportBelgium
De Lijn Standardises Fine Policy for Drivers
De Lijn introduces a uniform fine policy, reimbursing drivers for up to three minor speeding violations per year and ending regional disparities.
—4 min read
Social AffairsPolitics
Flanders to Raise Social Housing Rents for Work Refusers
Flanders will impose stricter social housing rules from 2028, raising rents for tenants who can work but refuse and requiring higher Dutch proficiency.
—5 min read
TransportPolitics
De Lijn CEO Under Fire: A System with 6.9 Million Captains
De Lijn CEO Ann Schoubs defends the Flemish transit agency amid a deadly accident, government sanctions, and budget cuts.
—5 min read
Education
Care Admin and Smartschool Top Teachers' Paperwork Burden
A survey of 2,346 Flemish teachers finds care administration and Smartschool are the top sources of paperwork burden as the Council of Teachers convenes.
—5 min read
SportsEconomy
3 in 10 Belgian Sports Clubs to Raise Fees Next Season
At least 30% of Flemish sports clubs will raise membership fees by 10% next season as rising costs and VAT rules squeeze volunteer-run organizations.
—5 min read
Social AffairsFamily
Belgium Unveils €14M Package to Boost Childminder Sector
Flemish minister Caroline Gennez announces €14M in annual funding for childminders, including wage hikes and renovation premiums, to reverse decline.
—4 min read
HousingEconomy
Flanders Tightens Rules on Airbnb Amid Housing Crisis
Flanders tightens short-term rental rules, requiring Airbnb registration and giving local councils stronger powers to tackle illegal lets.
—5 min read
PoliticsAnimal Welfare
Flanders Expands Summer Animal Transport Ban to June
Flemish Minister Ben Weyts expands the summer ban on long-distance animal transports to June, citing heat risks for livestock during summer road travel.
—3 min read
EconomyRegional
56 Flemish Municipalities Raise Property Taxes in 2026
Fifty-six Flemish municipalities raised property taxes in 2026, part of a wave of 88 Belgian towns increasing rates. See which are affected.
—4 min read
EducationPolitics
1,300 Directors Challenge Demir: 'Give Schools More Say'
Over 1,300 Flemish school directors send an open letter to Minister Zuhal Demir, demanding more autonomy and time for education reforms.
—4 min read
PoliticsEurope
Remigration: Europe's Far Right Pushes a Radical Concept
Analysis of 'remigration' — the far-right concept advocating mass deportations — and why Flemish and European far-right movements work to normalize it.
—5 min read
Animal WelfareLaw
Dessel Dog Breeder Loses License Over Animal Welfare
Flemish Minister Ben Weyts permanently revokes a Dessel dog breeder's license for repeated animal welfare violations.
—4 min read
HealthEnvironment
1 in 5 Flemish Families Distrust Tap Water, Survey Reveals
A Gezinsbond survey finds 10% of Flemish families consider tap water unsafe, while 9% filter it first. Recent contamination scandals fuel growing distrust.
—4 min read
CrimeBelgium
Vilvoorde Traffic Stop Unravels Illegal Cigarette Network
A routine traffic check in Vilvoorde uncovered a network of illegal cigarette factories across Flanders. The trial opened in Brussels on May 22, 2026.
—5 min read
EconomyFinance
Record Belgians Use Pass-Through Gifts to Avoid Tax
A record 1,251 Flemish families used doorgeefschenking in 2025, transferring €398 million tax-free. How pass-through gifts work and the risks to watch for.
—5 min read
Accidents & TragediesBelgium
Flanders Crash: School Bus Escort Dies, Inattention Probed
A 57-year-old school bus escort died in Vrasene, East Flanders after a truck struck the minibus. No children were aboard. Driver inattention is suspected.
—3 min read
EconomyLabor
Flemish Workers Earned €2,895 Monthly, Gender Gap Narrows
Statistics Flanders data shows the average Flemish worker earned €2,895 net per month in 2024, with the gender pay gap narrowing to €371.
—4 min read
CrimeTechnology
Internet Fraud Triples in Flanders: 61 Victims Per Day
Internet fraud has tripled in Flanders over the past decade, with 22,296 cases in 2024. AI-powered scams and links to drug crime are driving the surge.
—5 min read
EntertainmentCulture
Robbert Verreth Wins 14th Lunatic Comedy Award
Belgian comedian Robbert Verreth wins the 14th Lunatic Comedy Award, one of Flanders' oldest and most prestigious comedy competitions.
—4 min read
EconomyHousing
Single Tenants in Belgium Spend 55% of Income on Housing
Single tenants in Belgium now spend 55% of income on housing, nearly double the affordability threshold. New data reveals a deepening crisis.
—4 min read
EnvironmentInfrastructure
Flemish Road Litter Cleanup Costs 3.7 Million Euros Annually
Flanders spends 3.7 million euros yearly cleaning 1,541 tons of litter from roads, diverting funds from infrastructure maintenance.
—4 min read