In September 2025, he Flemish Minister of Culture, Caroline Gennez (Vooruit), has officially recognised six collection-managing organisations: Archief Lier, the University Archives of KU Leuven, Kunstenbibliotheek & Muziekbibliotheek in Ghent, Liberation Garden in Leopoldsburg (Bourg-Léopold) HEY Museum in Knokke-Heist and Kazerne Dossin in Mechelen (Malines, Mechlin)
Tag: Politics
Morocco records historic tourism year with 19.8 million visitors in 2025
The Kingdom of Morocco welcomed approximately 19.8 million visitors in 2025, marking the highest number of tourists ever recorded by the country. The figure represents a year-on-year increase of 14% compared with 2024 and brings the North African destination to the threshold of what the government has described as the “symbolic milestone” of 20 million…
Antwerp Pride 2026 adopts ‘Fearless’ theme and calls for resilience and visibility
2026 marks the nineteenth (19th) edition of Antwerp Pride. From Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August, Antwerp in Belgium will once again be taken over by rainbow vibes. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2026 edition, the organising committee focuses on fearing less and being fearless.
ANTWERP | Final design approved for Ringpark Groene Vesten: four sub-parks in Berchem to be built from late 2027
The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp has approved the final design for Ringpark Groene Vesten, a project that will connect eight sub-parks just outside the Antwerp Ring road into a continuous green belt.
2025 North Carolina Family Visit: Leland – Wilmington – Southport – Fort Fisher – Saint James
Easter 2025. I’m visiting my uncle and aunt in Leland, North Carolina. It’s my first trip of two to the United States in 2025. I haven’t seen them live since February 2020 just before the first lockdown and I haven’t travelled to this area since 2019. I’m flying with SAS and Delta. The itinerary: Brussels…
Antwerp holds on to ‘Diamond City’ image as global trade continues to contract
Even as Antwerp’s diamond trade suffers one of the most severe downturns in its modern history, the City of Antwerp continues to promote diamonds as a cornerstone of its identity and a key tourist attraction. Through Visit Antwerpen, the city presents itself as the world’s Diamond City, inviting visitors to discover a thriving, prestigious sector…
RAIL BALTICA | Baltic operators launch joint tender for regional trains
August 2025. We’re travelling to the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and more specifically their respective capitals Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Are they interconnected by rail? Yes, but not in the most straightforward or userfriendly way possible. The Rail Baltica project should remedy this. Unsurprisingly though, this megaproject faces political and budgetary hurdles. It…
Flanders welcomed over 15 million visitors in 2025
Flanders is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. In 2025, an estimated 15.4 million people visited the region, marking a 3% increase compared to 2024, according to provisional figures from Visit Flanders (Toerisme Vlaanderen). The number of overnight stays also rose to 36.3 million.
ANTWERP | Speedpedelecs banned from Voetgangerstunnel as stricter rules announced
From early May, speedpedelecs will no longer be allowed to ride through the St Anne’s Pedestrian Tunnel, the pedestrian tunnel beneath the Scheldt in Antwerp, Gazet van Antwerpen reports. Cyclists using regular or electric bikes will also be required to move at walking pace.
Starline reimagines European rail, but can it deliver?
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.