The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride takes place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp. This year’s theme is “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focuses on belonging. Belonging…
Tag: Budapest
VIDEO | Berlin start-up Nox to launch night trains with entirely private rooms from 2027
A new player is entering the European mobility space. Nox (night in Latin), a Berlin-based startup is on a mission to offer a real alternative to short-haul flights. From the end of 2027, Nox plans to operate Europe-wide overnight trains with fully personal rooms for one or two people at the price of a flight….
Seventeen EU countries condemn Hungary’s pride and protest ban as human rights groups launch legal challenge
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage across Europe, the Budapest police have formally banned an LGBTQIA+ march scheduled for 1 June 2025, citing its resemblance to Budapest Pride. This is the first known use of Hungary’s newly enacted ‘Anti-Pride’ law, and it has triggered an intense backlash from human rights organisations, 17 European…
ANTWERP PRIDE 2025 THEME | Do Not Just March
The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride takes place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025. This year’s theme is “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focuses on belonging. Belonging to the…
Hungary to ban Budapest Pride and doing so limits freedom of assembly
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) is seeking to ban Budapest Pride, arguing that it is harmful to children’s development. He has proposed a constitutional amendment to prohibit the event, stating that it is a waste of time and money. Budapest, of course, is a popular destination for qtraight and gay people alike.
Dutch budget train GoVolta postponed after not getting funds
Dutch start-up train operator GoVolta will not be able to start train services this year after Rabobank decided against granting the new rail company a loan. The train paths (‘slots’ on the rails) allocated for GoVolta’s budget trains to Berlin in Germany, Copenhagen in Denmark and Basel in Switzerland have now been returned.
Back On Track Belgium not surprised inaugural European Sleeper from Brussels to Venice didn’t reach Italy
European Sleeper inaugurated its night train service from Brussels in Belgium to Venice in Italy, via the Netherlands, Germany and Austria, in the night from Wednesday 5 February to Thursday 6 February 2025. But the sleeper train never made it passed Innsbruck. “And this is unfortunately not a surprise”, Back On Track Belgium says in…
2025: Overtourism overdose?
On 1 January 2024 we wrote about how rising prices affect travel. Not only the price of flights, but also the price of activities. Pricing was a topic the year before, 2023. In 2024, conventional and social media dug into the issue of overtourism. Articles about locals protesting, Instagrammers posting about big crowds in Japan…
Mr Gay Europe 2026 contest to cruise with VACAYA at summer’s end
In 2026, the Mr Gay Europe contest will take place on a gay cruise, specifically a VACAYA cruise. “The finals will take place on board an all-LGBT+ cruise spanning nine days in late summer 2026 alongside the world’s leading LGBT+ vacation company, VACAYA”, the press release says.
Visiting the European Parliament in Brussels
As pupils Danny and I visited the Federal Parliament of Belgium. On our travels, we visited many parliament buildings such as the Houses of Parliament in London (United Kingdom), the Bundestag in Berlin (Germany) the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne (Australia), the Old and New Parliament House in Canberra, the Palace of the Parliament in…