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.
Tag: Netherlands
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.
Back On Track Belgium hails return of Brussels–Milan night train as “a real feat”
The return of a direct night train between Brussels and Milan has been welcomed by Back On Track Belgium as an important step in rebuilding Europe‘s international night-train network, although the rail campaign group says the difficulties involved show why a broader European strategy is needed.
Antwerp sees increase in international train travel
International rail travel from Antwerp in Belgium is continuing to grow strongly, with Eurostar reporting a 16% increase in passengers during the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year. The growth comes as Antwerp gains another direct international high-speed connection, with Deutsche Bahn’s ICE trains beginning direct services to Cologne…
Bonaire bets on quality tourism as visitor numbers reach new highs
Tourism on Bonaire has developed into one of the most distinctive and carefully managed visitor economies in the Caribbean. Unlike mass-market destinations built on large resorts and high-volume arrivals, the island has consciously positioned itself as a niche destination focused on nature, diving and sustainability. Yet it still attracts substantial visitor numbers, and tourism now…
Antwerp welcomed with almost 3 million day-trippers in summer of 2026
Antwerp welcomed a record 2.96 million day-trippers this summer of 2026, while overnight stays also continued to grow. The city recorded 543,418 overnight stays, up 3.8% from summer 2025. Major events including Antwerp Pride, The Tall Ships Races, Tomorrowland and the Bollekesfeest produced clear peaks in visitor numbers, while international interest increased particularly strongly from…
Antwerp bids farewell to its iconic PCC trams after 66 years on Saturday 26 September 2026
Antwerp will bid a final farewell to its iconic PCC trams on Saturday 26 September 2026, bringing 66 years of regular PCC operation in the city to an end.
SAN MARINO | 2025 record year for tourism
I turned 45 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…