During the last Council of Ministers – a weekly meeting of government ministers – before the 2026 summer recess, the Belgian Government has approved the strategy and guiding principles for a far-reaching reform of Belgium‘s passenger rail market, marking the first formal step towards opening public rail services to competition after the current public service…
Tag: Politics
ANTWERP | More than 500,000 visitors enjoyed The Tall Ships Races 2026
The Tall Ships Races, which visited Antwerp for the eighth time, turned the city into a major public celebration. Until the 14th of July, the 34 sailing ships were moored along the Scheldt Quays and in the Docks. Over four days, they attracted more than 500,000 visitors who came to enjoy not only the ships…
NMBS / SNCB turns 100 on 23 July and holds nationwide celebrations in the coming months
Belgium‘s national railway operator NMBS / SNCB will celebrate a major milestone next week as it marks the 100th anniversary of its creation. On 23 July 2026, exactly one century after the Belgian Parliament approved the law establishing the railway company in 1926, passengers and railway staff will be treated to special anniversary activities, while…
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE | Europe must defend diversity and democracy against growing pressure, says professor Hendrik Vos
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.
First Mechelen Canal Pride on Saturday 25 July
Mechelen will make Belgian LGBTQIA+ history on Saturday 25 July 2026 when it hosts the country’s first-ever Canal Pride. Inspired by Amsterdam‘s famous canal parade but on a much smaller scale, the event will see decorated boats and canoes travel along the city’s Binnendijle waterway in a celebration of diversity, visibility and inclusion.
Fearless in uncertain times: Antwerp Pride confronts fear with hope
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.
VILNIUS | Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
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…
ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Lien Van de Kelder: “Antwerp is a sanctuary and refuge”
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.
Arriva expands Paris rail ambitions with extra The Hague to Belgium connections
Dutch rail operator Arriva has unveiled plans to significantly expand its international rail ambitions by adding direct services from The Hague and Amersfoort to Paris, complementing its previously announced Groningen to Paris route. The company is now targeting a launch in early 2028, although it acknowledges that the timeline remains uncertain.
Antwerp’s Museum Plantin-Moretus to close for four-month renovation ahead of anniversary relaunch
Antwerp’s Museum Plantin-Moretus will close its doors from 3 August 2026 for a four-month renovation as it prepares to unveil a completely redesigned permanent exhibition later this year.