The number of countries where consensual same-sex sexual relations are illegal has risen to 66 following the adoption of a new anti-LGBTQ law in Niger in June 2026, marking a reversal after years of gradual global decriminalisation. Specialist on the subject is the blog 76 Crimes. When Colin Stewart started that project, the list contained…
Tag: Egypt
Brussels Airport is expecting 5.2 million passengers this summer holiday
5.2 million passengers will travel via Brussels Airport in July and August 2026, 4% more than last year. The summer holiday is traditionally the peak season at the airport, with the holiday rush starting as early as Friday 26 June.
Belarus adopts sweeping anti-gay information law, joining global crackdown on queer rights, criminalises “promotion” of homosexuality, gender transition, and childlessness
Belarus has adopted a controversial law banning the “propaganda” of consensual same-sex relationships, gender reassignment, and voluntary childlessness, aligning itself with a growing number of nations that criminalise discussions and positive portrayals of LGBTQIA+ identities.
COPENHAGEN | Thorvaldsen’s Museum
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…
COPENHAGEN | Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
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…
PALERMO | Palazzo dei Normanni, the Royal Palace of the Normans in Sicily
March 2025. We’re embarking on a train trip to Sicily. We fly from Brussels Airport to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport with ITA Airways. Then we take an Intercity Notte sleeper train by Trenitalia from Roma Termini Railway Station across Italy to Syracuse. Yes, the train is loaded on a ferry to cross the…
REVIEW | Rijksmuseum van Oudheden or National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden
May 2025. I have a few days off so I decide to take a train to Leiden (Leyden, Leyde) in the Dutch province of South Holland to visit the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, or the National Museum of Antiquities. Steve, my former Latin and Ancient Greek teacher in my teen years, says it’s quite good. As…
ANTWERP | ‘White Ravens of the Resistance’: stories of foreign-born resistance fighters during WWII
The City of Antwerp is marking the anniversary of its liberation with a new project that highlights little-known stories of resistance fighters of foreign origin. The travelling exhibition ‘White Ravens of the Resistance‘ (‘Witte raven van ‘t verzet‘) and an accompanying publication will bring to life the experiences of these men and women during World…
France, Spain, USA, China and Italy most visited countries in the world, Belgium 41st
France, Spain, the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China and Italy are the most visited countries in the world. Belgium ranks 41st, the Netherlands 20th. Not only the 193 member states of the United Nations are counted, but also other top level domains such as Hong Kong (17th).
There’s more than one way to enjoy a cruise
July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…