This bench stores water and irrigates plants while you rest
The innovative project received funding from the participatory budget in Lille, France
France / Development / Public Spaces
Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism
Brussels sends actors in pyjamas to calm nightlife noise
They will roam the city streets looking for rowdy partygoers, asking them to sing a quiet lullaby
Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism / Public Spaces
This year, the Flower Carpet will bloom again in Brussels
As it is the semicentennial anniversary of the event, the 2022 pattern will mimic the very first flower carpet from 1971
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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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 / 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
Belgium / Brussels / Education and Sport / Green City
Brussels gets permanent outdoor swimming pond
Brussels citizens will be able to go to the park for a swim, starting in 2024
Belgium / Brussels / Mobility / Politics and Reforms
Uber is banned in Brussels from Friday
The controversial court decision sends some 2,000 drivers to a spontaneous protest in the Belgian capital
Belgium / Brussels / Green City
Brussels makes climate leap forward into accepting zero-waste strategy
The move makes the Belgian capital the largest city in the European Union to join the European Zero Waste Charter
Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism / Green City
‘Tree Week’ in Brussels will help the city gain 1,000 new trees during a city-wide campaign
Local authorities will hand out the plants to people who want to help make their city get greener
Belgium / Brussels / Mobility / Welfare and Health
Low Emissions Zone is making Brussels a healthier city
An assessment report on the effectiveness of Low Emission Zones between 2018 and 2020 found a sustained and significant reduction in emissions in the city
Belgium / Amsterdam / Brussels / Hamburg / Paris / Mobility / Politics and Reforms
Belgium introduces tax for flights under 500 kilometres
The tax will affect passengers traveling to some of the biggest transit hubs in Europe, such as London and Frankfurt
Belgium / Brussels / Green City
Donate old electronics and get trees – a new push to reforest Flanders
Odisee University of Applied Sciences is launching a campaign to collect old electronics that will go towards planting a new forest
Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism
Gallery: Two comic book legends in Brussels get 75th-anniversary mural and exhibition
The iconic duo of Blake and Mortimer is coming back to the streets of Brussels with a mural on the Comic Book Route
Belgium / Brussels / Green City
Brussels finds life after trash for 900,000 cigarette butts
Cigarette butts take 15 years to decompose and can contaminate up to 500 litres of water with their heavy chemicals
Brussels / Green City / Politics and Reforms
Slay the EU plastic waste dragon! – Rethink Plastic Alliance calling for waste trade ban
The European Union is consistently among the highest exporters of plastic waste across the world, shifting the burden of pollution to far away countries.
Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism / Welfare and Health
Psychiatrists in Brussels can now prescribe museum visits for mental health issues
Alderwoman for Culture, Tourism and Big events Delphine Houba launched the new programme in the hope to reverse some of the mental damage caused by the pandemic
Belgium / Brussels / Development / Social City
Brussels mayor unveils for-profit public apartments amid criticism for lack of social housing
According to the mayor, the new building represents a countermeasure to Brusselisation in the European Quarter
Belgium / Finland / Germany / Ireland / Lithuania / Netherlands / Portugal / Spain / Braga / Brussels / Dublin / Vantaa / Vilnius / Innovation and Research
European Capital of Innovation Awards 2021 semi-finalists announced
16 cities from 10 countries have made it to the semi-final stage
Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism
Brussels covered in flowers for the first time since the pandemic start
The 'Bruxelles en Fleurs' festival will create a floral journey in the heart of the Belgian capital
Belgium / Brussels / Development
Brussels sex hotel to turn into student accommodation
The sex hotels have been a point of contempt for the locals for years but now they are going away
Belgium / Brussels / Liège / Politics and Reforms / Welfare and Health
Belgium declares national day of mourning for the victims of the flood
The day of mourning comes right before the Belgian National Day commemorating the country’s independence
Belgium / Brussels / Culture and Tourism / Mobility
Brussels Airport reports best month since the pandemic started
What are the top tourist destinations for Belgians at the tail end of the pandemic?
Belgium / Luxembourg / Brussels / Luxembourg / Development / Mobility
EU Commission joins Luxembourg and Brussels in building faster rail link
The train ride between the two cities currently takes three hours – way longer than it used to back in the 1970s
Belgium / Brussels / Development / Green City
Meet Van Praet - Brussels’ new sustainable swamp neighbourhood
The city is developing the Van Praet in a way that all amenities are a 10-minute walk аway
Belgium / Brussels / Forest / Ixelles / Culture and Tourism
Brussels unveils strategy to become Art Nouveau capital
Also, a themed pass makes Art Nouveau sites more accessible