A sleek, deep-blue train gliding across Europe at 400 km/h. Passengers board in Helsinki and arrive in Berlin just three hours later. Freight bypasses congested motorways. New architectural landmark stations double as concert halls and cultural hubs. Welcome to Starline—a ‘metro-style’ high-speed rail vision that aims to redraw the European map.
Tag: Dublin
DENMARK | 2.5 days in Copenhagen
I turned 44 in June. I have this tradition – when possible – of not being in Belgium for my birthday. From Sweden in 2013 to the Châteaux of the Loire Valley in 2014, Lake Orta in 2015, Rome in 2016, London in 2018, North Carolina and Virginia in 2019, England in 2022, and Rotterdam…
European Commission wants to link all EU capitals by high-speed train by 2040… and that’s not going to happen
On Wednesday 5 November 2025, the European Commission unveiled a comprehensive plan to accelerate the development of high-speed rail across the European Union, offering passengers significantly reduced travel times. By boosting fast, comfortable, safe, and reliable rail services, the plan supports the EU’s twin goals of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050 and strengthening Europe’s global competitiveness.
AUSTRIA | Introducing Vienna, hosting the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest
Austria’s capital Vienna (Wien) has been selected by host broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026.
How Belgium has changed in the last 25 years
Today is the National Holiday of Belgium. On 21 July 1831, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took the constitutional oath to become King of the Belgians. The 21st century is now 25 years old. In January 2025, the newspaper De Morgen looked at how the country has changed in a quarter century. Quite a…
‘Turning Heads: Bruegel, Rubens and Rembrandt’ exhibition at KMSKA Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp until 24 January 2024
Until 24 January 2024 the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp, Koninklijk Museum of Schone Kunsten Antwerpen or in short KMSKA hosts the exhibition ‘Turning Heads: Bruegel, Rubens and Rembrandt‘ about portraits. ‘Krasse Koppen‘ in Dutch. With a focus on Pieter Bruegel, Sir Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.
European Union and 15 Member States challenge Hungary’s gay propaganda ban in court
The European Commission, the European Parliament and fifteen member states of the European Union are taking Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for its 2021 ban on communication about LGBTQIA+ topics.
EUROPEAN UNION | The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the European Transport Corridors
This week, the European Commission committed itself to facilitate train travel in the European Union more more. Booking train journeys should be easier and travellers should get passenger rights comparable to air passengers rights.