Dutch heritage railway operator Het Stoomgenootschap will organise its first train journey in Belgium in March 2027, using a historic Belgian diesel locomotive that recently returned to service. The trip will be hauled by locomotive 5519, the only preserved Belgian museum locomotive authorised to operate independently on the country’s regular Infrabel railway network.
Tag: Netherlands
Taiwan tourism: Visitor numbers rise as the island attracts more international travellers
The Philippines in 1996-1997, China in 2000, Vietnam in 2009, Japan in 2013 and 2025, South Korea in 2014 and 2024, Taiwan in 2017 (the starting point of Trip By Trip), Singapore in 2018, Hong Kong and Macau in 2023, Bangkok in Thailand and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia in early 2026. I like travelling to…
Curaçao sees sustained tourism growth as international demand diversifies
Tourism in Curaçao has entered a period of sustained growth, with rising visitor numbers, a broadening mix of source markets and a renewed focus on balanced development. The island, long known for its colourful capital and Caribbean beaches, has evolved into one of the region’s more dynamic destinations, combining resort tourism with culture, heritage and…
NETHERLANDS | The Hague pushes for direct Brussels train from 2029
The Municipality of The Hague in South Holland is stepping up its campaign for a direct international train connection with Brussels in Belgium, backed by a broad coalition of businesses, international organisations, universities and regional authorities.
Belgium’s population has tripled since independence as migration becomes the main driver of growth
On 4 October 1830, Belgium declared its independence. The Netherlands recognized the situation on 19 April 1839. But the National Holiday is 21 July, as Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took the constitutional oath to become King of the Belgians.
TUI Fly plans more flights from Belgium in summer 2027
TUI Fly plans to increase its flight programme from Belgium next summer, 2027, with more services to a number of existing holiday destinations and several potential new routes. The airline says Belgium will benefit from a wider European reshuffle designed to make more efficient use of its aircraft.
Belgium travels, but not everyone can: 73% of Flemish residents took a holiday
Belgian residents made 5.3 million trips involving at least one overnight stay in the first quarter of 2026, a 0.9% increase on the same period a year earlier. But new figures also show a clear divide in who gets to travel, with financial constraints keeping many people at home.
ANTWERP | Construction starts on first phase of Merksemse Tuinen
The City of Antwerp and its partners within De Grote Verbinding began in April 2026 with the construction on the first phase of the Merksemse Tuinen or Merksem Gardens, a new park area forming part of Ringpark Groenendaal in the north-west of the district. The works are expected to take around a year.
NETHERLANDS | ACM clears Arriva’s plans for direct trains from Amersfoort and The Hague to Paris
Arriva’s plans to launch direct international train services from Amersfoort and The Hague to Paris can go ahead after Dutch regulator the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) concluded that the services would not have a significant negative impact on NS’s main rail network concession.
Italo interested in running trains in / to Belgium and the Netherlands, after conquering Germany
Italian private high-speed rail operator Italo is planning further international expansion after Germany, with Belgium and the Netherlands emerging as potential next markets from 2030–31.