Valladolid to have Spain’s largest biomass-fed heating network
The promise is that it will save between 30% and 50% on users’ energy bills
Spain / Development / Energy efficiency
The Material Bank was able to save 40 tons of construction material to be reused in 2021, Source: City of Leuven
Leuven presents plan for a circular construction sector
Belgium
Top 6
- Etterbeek in Belgium wants to use citizen savings to fund its green policies
- Malta is Europe’s most LGBTI-friendly country for seventh year in a row
- Ghent wants to rehabilitate women who were executed as witches
- Ghent throws a ‘Thank you!’ party for Covid-volunteers
- Ghent to ask universities for a housing plan when they expand programmes
- European cities are starting to recognize English as an official language
Belgium / Brussels / Green City / Politics and Reforms
Etterbeek in Belgium wants to use citizen savings to fund its green policies
The scheme was proposed by Mayor Vincent De Wolf to help boost budgets after these were depleted during the pandemic
Belgium / Denmark / Malta / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health
Malta is Europe’s most LGBTI-friendly country for seventh year in a row
ILGA-Europe published its annual Rainbow Europe Map, ranking the LGBTI policies of European countries
Belgium / Culture and Tourism
Ghent wants to rehabilitate women who were executed as witches
The first step for local authorities is to identify the names of the victims before restoring their reputation
Belgium / Culture and Tourism / Welfare and Health
Ghent throws a ‘Thank you!’ party for Covid-volunteers
The party will be held in an ex-industrial site in the city, highlighting the local ambitions to embrace the future
Belgium / Development / Education and Sport
Ghent to ask universities for a housing plan when they expand programmes
The move came as part of an action plan to fix the city’s housing crisis and plug the gap between the housing supply and students' demand for accommodation
Belgium / Finland / Brussels / Helsinki / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms
European cities are starting to recognize English as an official language
In increasingly multi-cultural environments, the 21st-century lingua franca is hard to ignore
Belgium / Antwerp / Mechelen / Politics and Reforms
Flemish municipalities get money for mergers
The regional authorities are offering to take on municipal debts to help with the process
Belgium / Leuven / Mobility / Smart City
Pedestrians first: Leuven launches mobility plan for Kessel-Lo
The plan will focus on deprioritising cars in traffic while boosting low-speed zones and more cycling options
Belgium / Digital transformation / Education and Sport
Ghent launched digital platform to help special needs students find a school
According to Elke Decruynaere, Alderman for Education, digital registration platforms help guarantee students get the education they need
Belgium / Leuven / Development / Green City
Leuven presents plan for a circular construction sector
Local authorities want to work with private businesses and encourage the use of recyclable raw materials in building projects as a way to decarbonise the sector
Belgium / Brussels / Politics and Reforms / Social City
Brussels offers increased funding to people occupying vacant housing
The funds aim to cushion the housing crisis gripping the city and provide vulnerable groups with some additional relief
Belgium / Digital transformation / Social City
Ghent celebrates the Ombudsman service with a giant listening ear
The ear faces the door of the Ombudsman’s office at city hall
Belgium / Leuven / Development / Green City
The Urban Lab in Leuven will be driving force behind the city’s sustainability transition
The initiative will foster a tight-knit community between academia, government and private actors to pool the city’s resources
Belgium / Social City / Welfare and Health
New Ghent project wants to help save the lives of people over 65
Senior citizens will now be able to get a yellow box that will help paramedics make quicker and better decisions
Belgium / Brussels
In Brussels, poorer neighbourhoods have a lower air quality
A massive study into the air quality of the Belgian capital revealed large disparities between districts
Belgium / Brussels / Mobility
Brussels offers up to 900 euros to people willing to ditch their cars
The new and improved Bruxell’air mobility bonus will allow citizens an easier transition to sustainable mobility
Belgium / Leuven / Green City
Leuven launches campaign to save amphibians waking up after their winter sleep
When the animals wake up from winter hibernation, they head to the nearest water basin and, unfortunately, many of them have to cross busy roads
Belgium / Brussels / New European Bauhaus
New European Bauhaus to celebrate creative ideas with a Festival
The multi-platform event will take place 9-12 June
Belgium / Education and Sport / Welfare and Health
Study in Kortrijk, Belgium, shows schoolkids’ mental health improved between 2020 and 2021
The two-part study also found out that the pandemic made live contacts with friends particularly important for kids between 16 and 18
Belgium / Culture and Tourism
Late is better than never for Museum Night in Ghent
In December, authorities cancelled Museum Night due to the pandemic
Belgium / Brussels / Politics and Reforms / Social City
Belgium turns attention to public spaces glorifying colonial past
One of the first proposals is to either remove or melt down Leopold II’s statue in Brussels
Belgium / Bruges / Green City / Growing City
Bruges presents twofold climate strategy for the next 30 years
The city’s new climate strategy will work in tandem with the recently approved Spatial Policy Plan to provide a holistic vision for a sustainable future
Belgium / Education and Sport / Energy efficiency
Future swimming complex in Belgium will be powered by 100% renewable sources
Sint-Niklaas aims to build one of the biggest swimming complexes in the Benelux
Belgium / Lithuania / Poland / Culture and Tourism / Growing City
Tirana launches European Youth Capital 2022 programme with more than 1000 events
With the motto 'Activate youth' the initiative aims to tap into the creative and entrepreneurial potential of young Albanians
Belgium / Luxembourg / Luxembourg / Economy and Finance / Growing City
Housing crisis in Luxembourg spilling over to Belgium
Luxembourgers fleeing the housing crisis to neighbouring countries are pushing local prices up and pushing locals out
Belgium / Leuven / Growing City / Mobility
Nine cities and municipalities in Flanders nominated for Cycling City 2022
The awards are supposed to boost the appeal of cycling infrastructure as a point of prestige for cities
Belgium / Leuven / Growing City / Public Spaces
Leuven transforming ex-industrial site into a green oasis
The city plans to build an outdoor swimming pond on the canal between Leuven and Mechelen
Belgium / Smart City / Social City
Three new Digibanks in Ghent will help residents navigate digital tech
Using a smartphone or a computer has become an essential part of life and the city wants to help people who have fallen behind
Belgium / Germany / Ireland / Growing City / Innovation and Research
Dortmund is Germany’s first Capital of Innovation
EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel was supposed to attend the live ceremony, however, the event was cancelled at the last minute due to COVID-19
Belgium / Brussels / Digital transformation
Brussels Region launched employment platform for the public sector
The new platform will try to value experience and practical skills as much as relevant education
Latest
Belgium / Brussels / Green City / Politics and Reforms
Etterbeek in Belgium wants to use citizen savings to fund its green policies
Belgium / Denmark / Malta / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health
Malta is Europe’s most LGBTI-friendly country for seventh year in a row
Belgium / Culture and Tourism
Ghent wants to rehabilitate women who were executed as witches
Belgium / Culture and Tourism / Welfare and Health
Ghent throws a ‘Thank you!’ party for Covid-volunteers
Belgium / Development / Education and Sport
Ghent to ask universities for a housing plan when they expand programmes
Belgium / Finland / Brussels / Helsinki / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms
European cities are starting to recognize English as an official language
Belgium / Antwerp / Mechelen / Politics and Reforms
Flemish municipalities get money for mergers
Belgium / Leuven / Mobility / Smart City
Pedestrians first: Leuven launches mobility plan for Kessel-Lo
Belgium / Digital transformation / Education and Sport
Ghent launched digital platform to help special needs students find a school
Belgium / Leuven / Development / Green City