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.
Tag: Politics
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.
BRUSSELS PRIDE 2026 | “When times get darker, we shine brighter”
Brussels Pride will return to Belgium‘s capital on Saturday 16 May 2026, celebrating its 30th anniversary with a strong political message about visibility, solidarity and resistance. Organisers expect around 200,000 people to gather in the city centre for the annual march and celebrations.
ANTWERP | M HKA opens new season with exhibition on censorship and artistic resistance
The Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp or M HKA opens its new exhibition season today with a programme focused on censorship, artistic freedom and political expression. At the centre of the season is the international group exhibition we refuse_d, which brings together fifteen artists whose work explores resistance, persistence and the necessity of artistic expression.
EU study assesses progress and prospects for hyperloop technology
On 12 November 2025, the European Commission presented a new fact-finding study assessing the current state of the European hyperloop sector and exploring possible avenues for European Union support.
BELGIUM | Rise of international trains puts pressure on the rail network: domestic services must not disappear
In three years, demand for train paths for international services in Belgium has almost doubled, De Standaard noticed. This is increasing pressure on the Belgian rail network, where more and more sections are being declared saturated, and it is also affecting the availability of domestic train services.
ANTWERP | Redevelopment of the Stuivenberg site takes further shape
The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp has reviewed an extensive feasibility study concerning the Stuivenberg site in Antwerp-North. The ambition is to create a mixed-use project with extensive shared space and strong interaction between different users and the surrounding neighbourhood.
EU survey reveals large majority of citizens would swap planes for high-speed trains to travel in Europe
A recent European Union survey, made public on 1 July 2025, shows that a large majority of European citizens would like to travel faster and more easily between European countries, preferring to travel by high-speed rail instead of flying.
Thailand happy with Belgian visitor numbers and welcomes Tomorrowland
Belgium continues to strengthen its position as a key European source market for Thailand, TravMagazine reports. In 2025, no fewer than 122,347 Belgian travellers visited Thailand, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.24%.