The Flemish Government has approved a sweeping overhaul of the rules governing short-term holiday rentals, introducing stricter obligations for platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com while giving local authorities greater powers to crack down on illegal accommodation and properties linked to criminal activity.
Tag: Ostend
NMBS / SNCB to retire nearly 50-year-old I6 coaches
Belgium‘s national railway operator NMBS / SNCB is preparing to permanently withdraw its nearly 50-year-old I6 coaches from service, bringing an end to a fleet that has been running since 1977. I6 coaches were (are) laid out in a corridor + compartments set-up. A cosy and romantic design philosophy which is nowadays very rare.
ANTWERP | KMSKA museum presents major retrospective of Belgian sculptor Philip Aguirre y Otegui, from 3 October 2026 to 17 January 2027
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) will present a major retrospective of Belgian artist Philip Aguirre y Otegui from 3 October 2026 to 17 January 2027. ‘Art and the world‘ will bring together monumental sculptures and smaller works spanning his career from the 1980s to the present.
Antwerp Airport faces uncertain future as subsidies, TUI exit and new business model collide
Government backs five-year test for Deurne Airport The future of Antwerp International Airport (ANR) is increasingly uncertain as the Flemish Government defends continued public funding while the airport prepares for the departure of its last major scheduled airline, TUI Fly. The French operator Egis is being given a new five-year framework to make the airport…
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.
Belgium tourism reaches new heights as record visitor numbers underline the country’s growing appeal
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.
Deutsche Bahn Cologne – Ostend ICE caters to 700K Belgian Coast-loving tourists from Germany
German tourists are Belgium’s largest foreign visitor group at the coast, and a new direct high-speed rail ICE service between Cologne and Ostend aims to make travel to the North Sea even easier. Deutsche Bahn launched the seasonal weekend connection on Saturday 6 June, marking the return of a direct rail link between the two…
Antwerp remains the top conference destination in Flanders
Antwerp remains the top conference destination in Flanders – and the wider region – and continues to impress with strong experiences, accessibility and professional support. New large-scale research from Visit Flanders, conducted between September 2024 and July 2025, confirms the international appeal of Flemish conference cities including Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven, Mechelen and Ostend.
BELGIUM | Infrabel to upgrade Antwerp-Berchem and add second track between Mol and Neerpelt, amongst other major projects
Belgium’s Federal Government has approved an update to the performance contract of rail infrastructure manager Infrabel, paving the way for a series of new railway investment projects aimed at improving safety, reliability and capacity, particularly in port areas.
NMBS / SNCB & CAF for MR30 / AM30 electric multiple units signed
Belgium’s National Railway Company NMBS / SNCB has formally signed the framework agreement for its future MR30 / AM30 electric multiple units with manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from the Basque Country in Spain.