Tourism in the Kingdom of Norway reached new heights in 2025 and continued growing into early 2026, as rising numbers of international travellers headed north for fjords, mountain landscapes, Arctic adventures and cooler summer temperatures. The country recorded its strongest tourism year ever, driven particularly by foreign visitors, with hotels, camping sites and holiday accommodation…
Tag: Bruges
Antwerp remains the top conference destination in Flanders
Antwerp remains the top conference destination in Flanders – and the wider region – and continues to impress with strong experiences, accessibility and professional support. New large-scale research from Visit Flanders, conducted between September 2024 and July 2025, confirms the international appeal of Flemish conference cities including Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven, Mechelen and Ostend.
BELGIUM | Overtourism already an issue… in 1926
Complaints about overcrowding, disruptive visitors and pressure on cities may feel like a distinctly modern problem, associated with places such as Venice in Italy, Barcelona in Spain or Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Yet Belgium experienced remarkably similar tensions a century ago, when a surge in foreign visitors sparked widespread unease among local residents.
Flanders welcomed over 15 million visitors in 2025
Flanders is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. In 2025, an estimated 15.4 million people visited the region, marking a 3% increase compared to 2024, according to provisional figures from Visit Flanders (Toerisme Vlaanderen). The number of overnight stays also rose to 36.3 million.
DEUTSCHE BAHN | First ICE service to the Belgian North Sea coast this summer
Deutsche Bahn has published a press release on Wednesday 4 March 2026 regarding its plans for Belgium coming summer. It confirms this post of 1 March.
NETHERLANDS | Arriva will not launch the Groningen to Paris service in 2026
Dutch private railway operator Arriva, which has been planning to launch open-access services between the Netherlands and Paris in France, via Brussels in Belgium, will not put this project into operation in 2026. The information was first revealed by Thibault Lapers on his Mobilithib blog, based on statements from the company itself.
NMBS / SNCB & CAF for MR30 / AM30 electric multiple units signed
Belgium’s National Railway Company NMBS / SNCB has formally signed the framework agreement for its future MR30 / AM30 electric multiple units with manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from the Basque Country in Spain.
BRUGES | Prisma Queer Arts Festival on 16, 17 and 18 January 2026
From Friday 16 to Sunday 18 January 2026, the historic centre of Bruges in West Flanders in Belgium will once again host the Prisma Queer Arts Festival. Over three days, the festival presents a wide-ranging arts programme that places queer stories, identities and experiences at its core.
HAPPY NEW QUEER 2026 | Bruges on 17 January and Leuven on 23 January
The Antwerp Queer Arts Festival (AQAF) returns in August 2026 for a month of queer arts and performances in Antwerp. Sometimes you can take a name at face value. Exact dates aren’t published yet. But with Happy New Queer, AQAF holds events in Bruges in West Flanders, and in Leuven in Flemish Brabant.
Satisfaction surveys outline profile and strengths of Antwerp Airport and Ostend–Bruges Airport
Passenger satisfaction surveys conducted past autumn at Antwerp International Airport (ANR) in Deurne and Ostend–Bruges Airport (OST) in Ostend confirm both the strong appeal of Belgium’s regional airports and a clear profile of their typical users. Travellers cite proximity, short walking distances and personalised service as the main reasons for choosing regional airports, with older…