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Development

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Greece / Thessaloniki / Development / Mobility

Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November

The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays

Sep 30, 2024 13:49
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Spain / Barcelona / Culture and Tourism / Development

These elements will crown the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona for the highest viewpoint in the city

The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death

Sep 20, 2024 17:36

Economy and Finance

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France / Digital transformation / Economy and Finance

Shops in this Bordeaux suburb accept cryptocurrency as payment

Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin

Sep 24, 2024 16:47
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Germany / Economy and Finance / Mobility

Next year, Germany's Deutschlandticket will cost 58 euros

That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass

Sep 24, 2024 13:27

Politics and Reforms

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Germany / Politics and Reforms

Voters in a Bavarian town elected a mayor whose name wasn’t on the ballot

Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality, even if he didn’t run

Sep 18, 2024 13:50
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Greece / Athens / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

Athens to ban new short-term lets

The measure, which will come into force from 1 January 2025, will be partial and temporary…for now

Sep 17, 2024 16:22

Innovation and Research

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Belgium / Brussels / Energy efficiency / Innovation and Research

Brussels tries out a novel rooftop wind turbine suitable for cities

Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape

Sep 27, 2024 12:52
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Finland / Innovation and Research

AI-powered drones in Finland could patrol the skies in search of wildfires

But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation

Sep 20, 2024 16:33

Digital transformation

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Digital transformation / Energy efficiency

New digital map showcases creative energy solutions across Europe

The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition

Sep 26, 2024 14:09
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France / Digital transformation / Economy and Finance

Shops in this Bordeaux suburb accept cryptocurrency as payment

Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin

Sep 24, 2024 16:47

Energy efficiency

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Belgium / Brussels / Energy efficiency / Innovation and Research

Brussels tries out a novel rooftop wind turbine suitable for cities

Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape

Sep 27, 2024 12:52
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Digital transformation / Energy efficiency

New digital map showcases creative energy solutions across Europe

The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition

Sep 26, 2024 14:09

Mobility

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Greece / Thessaloniki / Development / Mobility

Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November

The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays

Sep 30, 2024 13:49
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Germany / Mobility

Mannheim debuts longest tram in the world

Plus, it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train

Sep 27, 2024 17:03

Public Spaces

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France / Paris / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

The Olympic Rings have left the Eiffel Tower, but they’ll be back

At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo

Sep 30, 2024 17:57
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France / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

Marseille is home to this year's coolest neighbourhood in the world

Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds

Sep 26, 2024 17:37

Culture and Tourism

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France / Paris / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces

The Olympic Rings have left the Eiffel Tower, but they’ll be back

At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo

Sep 30, 2024 17:57
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Spain / Culture and Tourism

Oldest inn in Catalonia marked 500 years of non-stop business

Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region

Sep 30, 2024 16:57

Education and Sport

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Budapest / Prague / Education and Sport / Social City

Here are Europe’s 5 best student cities

On the eve of the new academic year, the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors

Sep 19, 2024 17:47
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Education and Sport

Kicking for the Future: How Football Clubs are Creating Sustainable Urban Spaces

Sep 19, 2024 10:06

Welfare and Health

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Belgium / Mobility / Welfare and Health

Shhh!: Belgian railways introduce silent compartments on board

Following a successful trial phase, these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country

Sep 24, 2024 18:04
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France / Education and Sport / Welfare and Health

Check out these sleeping pods at the University of Lille library

The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students

Sep 12, 2024 16:24
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Poland / Interviews

Hanna Zdanowska: We are one of the leaders in eco-transition and Łódź is much greener than before

Jul 24, 2024 14:48
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Interviews

Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh: True urban development must be inclusive and affordable, otherwise it’s not sustainable

Jun 27, 2024 12:45
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Portugal / Lisbon / Interviews

Carlos Moedas: Our ambition is to become a city where entrepreneurs can come to scale their businesses

Jun 20, 2024 13:25
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Spain / Interviews / Mayor of Europe

María José Catalá: the Green Capital mindset is transversal to all action levels and will continue in the years to come

Jun 5, 2024 15:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Estonia / Tartu / Interviews

Urmas Klaas: Arts can and must give people the ability and courage to dream of a future

Mar 6, 2024 12:18
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Interviews

Wolfgang Teubner: Тhe path towards the end of fossil fuels is irreversible

Dec 21, 2023 11:03
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
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Interviews / Read Twice

Ibrahim Kraria: While AI can play a role in combating hate speech, it can also amplify its spread

Aug 16, 2023 17:08
Mihaela Roxana GODINAC
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Interviews

Bertrand Piccard: If something looks impossible, that’s why we try do to it!

Jun 9, 2023 15:40
Denis Balgaranov
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Interviews / Read Twice

Maja Sever: Journalism is a pillar of democracy

Apr 10, 2023 13:46
Magdalena Magdić
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Interviews

Kaisa Karjalainen: “It’s better to be an imperfect zero waster for the rest of our lives than a perfect one for two weeks”

Mar 14, 2023 12:56
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

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Belgium
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Antwerp

Antwerp
Bart Albert De Wever
Mayor

Bart Albert De Wever

Biography
View old mayors

Excavations have shown that Antwerp was inhabited as long ago as the Gallo-Roman period. The city appears to have grown up around two settlements: the 'aanwerp' (alluvial mound) from which it takes its name and Caloes.

The city first experienced an economic boom in the 12th century, when the rival port of Bruges started silting up. By the first half of the 14th century, Antwerp had become the most important trading and financial centre in Western Europe, its reputation based largely on its seaport and wool market.

In 1356, the city, which had been part of the Holy Roman Empire, was annexed to the County of Flanders and lost lots of its privileges, partly to Bruges' advantage. Fifty years later, the political and economic tide turned again and as the Golden Age unfolded, Antwerp became a world class metropolis, described as 'the loveliest city in the world'.

By the second half of the 16th century, the city was the focus of politico-religious struggles between the Protestant North and Catholic South (Spain), which led to the River Scheldt being closed. From an economic point of view, this was a disaster. Yet the city continued to flourish culturally until the mid-seventeenth century thanks to painters like Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck, Jordaens and Teniers, printers such as Plantin and Moretus, and the famous Antwerp harpsichord builders.

But from 1650 till the 19th century, Antwerp went into serious decline, as the Scheldt remained closed and the city became little more than a provincial town. It was only after the fall of Napoleon at Waterloo (1815) that Antwerp entered a short period of prosperity, which ended with the Belgian Revolution (1830) and once again the closure of the Scheldt. The river was finally reopened for good in 1863, paving the way for Antwerp to return to its former glory.

Apart from interruptions during the two world wars, Antwerp has experienced steady economic growth since the start of the 20th century and is now home to the second largest port in Europe, as well as the world hub for uncut diamonds.

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Belgium / Antwerp / Green City / Politics and Reforms

Antwerp makes tyre deflation a crime

Following a period of debate on whether the tactic favoured by environmental activists represents damage to private property

Sep 17, 2024 13:41
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Public Spaces / Social City

Antwerp turns an old port dock built by Napoleon into a swimming space

But just like with Paris, there are concerns about the cleanliness of the water there

Jul 24, 2024 13:23
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Green City

Antwerp gives residents free trees

In case they have a patch of unoccupied land that they don’t know what to do with

May 09, 2024 17:39
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Social City

Antwerp will set up a 2km-long dinner table for Easter and Ramadan

The city aims to break the previous Belgian record held by a table that was 1 kilometre in length

Mar 05, 2024 15:59
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Public Spaces / Social City

Antwerp asks residents to submit ideas for the sound that defines the city

The collected ideas will then be used to create a symphony

Sep 29, 2023 12:01
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Green City / Innovation and Research

Antwerp electrocutes invasive plants

This new method for environmental preservation has been described as ‘nature-friendly’

Aug 08, 2023 16:50
TheMayor.EU
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Green City / Mobility

Green on the inside: Antwerp tram turns into a moving garden

The unique interior design seeks to inspire commuters to request their own free plants from the city

Jun 12, 2023 14:33
Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Innovation and Research / Mobility

Drone ships will sail inland form the port of Antwerp

The first two are called River Drone 1 and River Drone 2

May 17, 2023 15:54
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Brussels / Economy and Finance / Mobility

Fast charging for electric cars will be a delivery service in Belgium

A new start-up debuts on the streets of Antwerp and Brussels

May 09, 2023 16:19
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Energy efficiency / Mobility

Antwerp premiers electric ferry and it's extremely quiet

The new vessel was produced in Estonia, and it will transfer both pedestrians and bikes

Dec 09, 2022 16:35
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Culture and Tourism / Innovation and Research

Antwerp's municipal memes aim to correct public opinion on students and alcohol

According to a study, even students think they drink way more than they actually do

Nov 23, 2022 17:10
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Croatia / Finland / Italy / Poland / Antwerp / Vantaa / Warsaw / Zagreb / Development / Social City

Antwerp, Pesaro, Vantaa, Warsaw and Zagreb pledge to create inclusive cities for refugees and migrants

The Integrating Cities Charter now has 46 signatories

Nov 17, 2022 13:17
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Bruges / Energy efficiency / Politics and Reforms

Belgium’s new hydrogen strategy puts Antwerp-Bruges at the heart of Europe’s energy transit

Belgium does not have enough land to effectively build a renewable energy capacity, but it can become a vital energy import hub

Oct 19, 2022 13:01
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Denmark / Germany / Netherlands / Antwerp / Copenhagen / Utrecht / Innovation and Research / Mobility

Utrecht named most bike-friendly city in the world for 2022

According to the Global Bicycle Index 2022, most of the top 10 cities were in Europe, with Germany and the Netherlands dominating the list

Aug 15, 2022 17:31
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Energy efficiency

Antwerp will offer citizens heat without emitting a single gram of CO2

City authorities just announced that they would develop a central heating grid that will use waste energy from industry and will cover half of the city by 2050

Jun 21, 2022 14:22
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Culture and Tourism / Smart City

Young, out and loud: Antwerp says ‘Shhhh’

The Belgian city wants to quiet students partying in the streets with these smart noise metres that kindly ask people to keep it down

Jun 14, 2022 15:31
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Economy and Finance / Energy efficiency

300 million euros for a green hydrogen plant in the port of Antwerp

The facility will draw power from nearby solar and wind installations, but is that power better spent elsewhere?

Jun 09, 2022 15:39
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Antwerp / Bruges / Economy and Finance / Mobility

Largest swing bridge in Europe opened at the new Antwerp-Bruges port

Apart from car lanes, the 130-metre-long structure also features a 4-metre-wide bike lane

May 25, 2022 12:01
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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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

Apr 26, 2022 15:57
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Germany / Ireland / Netherlands / Antwerp / Hamburg / Development / Growing City

REGIOSTARS: Here are the best local EU-funded projects of 2021

From an SME-friendly 3D metal printer to a hub integrating cross-border transport

Dec 03, 2021 15:32
Denis Balgaranov
  • en
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Belgium / Netherlands / Romania / Spain / Antwerp / Barcelona / Constanta

A 25-million European project set its sights on greening European ports

The PIONEERS consortium consists of 46 partners coordinated by the Port of Antwerp

May 07, 2021 13:35
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
  • fr
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Antwerp / Culture and Tourism

Phase 4 of lockdown de-escalation in Belgium begins on 1 July

The corona social bubble now increases to 15 people

Jun 25, 2020 11:37
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
  • fr
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Antwerp / Beringen / Bruges / Brussels / Forest / Ixelles / Leuven / Liège / Mechelen / Sint-Truiden / Waterloo / Ypres / Culture and Tourism / Economy and Finance

Belgium enters phase 3 of lockdown de-escalation on Monday

Meeting up to 10 people at restaurants and cafés will be possible, so will be travelling

Jun 04, 2020 08:08
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
  • fr
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Antwerp / Beringen / Bruges / Brussels / Forest / Ixelles / Leuven / Liège / Mechelen / Sint-Truiden / Waterloo / Ypres / Economy and Finance

Belgium enters Phase 2 of lifting lockdown restrictions

Schools, cultural institutions, beauty salons and some sport restart their activities today

May 14, 2020 13:54
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
  • fr
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Antwerp / Culture and Tourism

New platform unites reading enthusiasts in Antwerp

Book recommendations, reading events or places of inspiration on Antwerpen Leest

May 13, 2020 12:18
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
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Antwerp / Politics and Reforms

Major Mayors of Europe – Bart de Wever

The Mayor of Antwerp and leader of Belgium’s largest and most popular party is at the very centre of political life in the country – and he holds its future in his hands

Feb 02, 2020 16:01
Anton Stoyanov
  • en
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Amsterdam / Antwerp / Culture and Tourism

Do you know what a City Poet is?

Yet another way to praise (or criticize) your city in a fine manner

Jan 21, 2020 10:38
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
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Antwerp / Culture and Tourism

Adult content exhibition at the Heritage library of Antwerp

Porn, pulp and literature provoke the visitor to discover a long-hidden part of Flemish literature and culture

Dec 23, 2019 10:12
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
  • fr
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Belgium / Antwerp / Beringen / Bruges / Brussels / Forest / Ixelles / Leuven / Liège / Mechelen / Waterloo / Mobility

Hydrogen-powered trains may soon come to Belgium

They could contribute to the country's reduction of greenhouse emissions

Dec 02, 2019 11:29
Aseniya Dimitrova
  • en
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Antwerp / Stockholm / Mobility

Antwerp, Bremen and Stockholm receive top mobility awards

The 16th CIVITAS awards were held yesterday in Graz

Oct 04, 2019 12:04
Aseniya Dimitrova

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