Aiming lasers at aircraft is against the law in Belgium and across Europe. Considered a serious criminal offence that endangers air traffic, it is punishable by imprisonment and hefty fines. Just as bright headlights can dazzle a car driver at night, lasers can distract and disorient aircraft pilots.

The European air traffic control body Skeyes told Het Laatste Nieuws that the pilots “all had a laser pointed at their faces between 20:45 and 02:45.” The lasers reportedly came from the district of Dilbeek, in Flemish Brabant, just west of the Belgian capital Brussels.

The Dilbeek area is at the centre of an ongoing row between local residents and the Belgian state over noise pollution due to the increased use of the so-called RNP 07L flight path, an advanced satellite-based approach on which 96% of flights (and 100% at night) have been shown by research to violate Brussels’ noise standards. It is unknown whether the noise controversy was linked in any way to the laser incidents.

Police immediately conducted a search for the offenders, DPG Media said, but police commissioner Koen Luppens did not hold out much hope of identifying or arresting those at fault. “Without the exact location, it’s a hopeless task. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” he said.

Laser incidents rose 80% in 2025

Laser attacks on aircraft are far from a new phenomenon. The number of incidents had been falling in the decade to 2025, when there was a sharp rise, with 169 reports of lasers used against planes in Belgian airspace, representing a steep increase of 80% over the previous year and making lasers the third most common aviation safety event after bird strikes and unauthorised use of airspace.

Despite the surprisingly high number of laser incidents in 2025, authorities say that five incidents in one night are unusual. Officers continue to investigate the evening’s incidents, while monitoring is expected to continue in the coming weeks and months.

Solar panels caused similar dazzling problem

Unintentional dazzling can be a problem for plane crew too, as shown in 2025, when pilots approaching Amsterdam Schiphol found they were being blinded by reflections from a solar panel installation in the Green Energy Corridor. A plan was put in place to remove the offending panels and cover them with a non-reflective film, to allow both the Dutch airport and the Belgian-owned solar facility to operate safely. 

L’article Brussels Airport pilots targeted in series of laser attacks est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Belgian carrier announced on Monday, 17 August, that the three destinations will join its winter timetable, giving passengers direct access to Norway’s Nordland region and Finnish Lapland. Brussels Airlines already operates charter flights to the Arctic in cooperation with travel agencies, but the new services will also be available as regular scheduled passenger flights.

Kittilä will receive the largest capacity, with three weekly flights between 10 December 2026 and 27 March 2027. Kemi will be served up to twice a week from 25 December until 10 March, while Evenes will receive one weekly flight during February and March.

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“The Arctic region in winter is no less than magical. Brussels Airlines has been offering these winter wonderland destinations in cooperation with travel agencies, but as demand grows, flights to the region will from now on also be offered as scheduled passenger flights, allowing travellers even more choice to discover outdoor adventures and distinctive local culture,” said Greet Vandebos, Head of Leisure Sales at Brussels Airlines.

Both Nordland and Lapland are popular winter tourism destinations, offering snow-covered landscapes, outdoor activities and opportunities to see the Northern Lights.

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Tackling aviation seasonality

The expansion is also part of Brussels Airlines’ strategy to address the pronounced seasonality of European aviation. Passenger demand typically peaks during the summer months, leaving airlines with the challenge of making efficient use of aircraft and staff throughout the quieter winter season.

Brussels Airlines has introduced several measures to address the imbalance, ranging from employing student cabin crew members to provide additional capacity during the summer peak to developing a stronger winter leisure network.

Since winter 2024, the airline has offered four destinations in the Canary Islands, including Fuerteventura. Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madeira, was also added to the schedule as a destination offering mild temperatures throughout the year.

The addition of the Nordic routes marks a further diversification of the strategy, targeting travellers looking for winter experiences rather than warmer climates.

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Brussels Airlines prepares for Starlink Wi-Fi

The network expansion comes as Brussels Airlines also prepares for an upgrade to its onboard connectivity as part of Lufthansa Group’s investment in Starlink-powered high-speed internet.

As Travel Tomorrow recently reported, Lufthansa Group is beginning the rollout of free Starlink Wi-Fi across around 850 aircraft, with the first equipped Lufthansa Airbus A320neo due to enter service on 19 August. 

Brussels Airlines is among the first group carriers scheduled to receive the technology, alongside Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines. ITA Airways, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa City Airlines and Eurowings will follow.

The group plans to equip both existing aircraft and new deliveries, with the full rollout expected to be completed by 2029. Once finished, Lufthansa Group says it will operate Europe’s largest airline fleet equipped with Starlink.

L’article Brussels Airlines adds three Nordic destinations to winter network est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Between 4 and 13 September 2026, a series of festivities will take place, including an opening weekend of now customary celebrations at Brussels’ Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral and an educational event at Brussels City Hall, not to mention the transformation of the city’s Grand Place into a showcase allowing attendees to sample  more than 500 beers from 49 breweries.

The festival website boasts: “For three days, more than 50 breweries from across Belgium gather to present their beers in a unique setting. From legendary Trappist brewers to innovative microbreweries, Belgian Beer Weekend celebrates the diversity, craftsmanship and culture of Belgian beer.”

Entrance to the Belgian Beer Weekend is free. However, attendees need to pay to taste the different offerings. On arrival, guests receive a payment card that can be charged with tokens via a QR code or at a payment booth. Prepaid cards can also be ordered and charged with set amounts, then supplied to allow corporate hosts to treat their team or clients for example, removing any need for on-the-spot payments.

Visitors to the festival should be aware that, for safety reasons, backpacks and luggage are not allowed on site, and there are no lockers in-situ, but festival partner Radical Storage offers nearby luggage storage from €6.99/day with insurance up to €3,000. The festival organisers recommend “travelling light and leaving valuables at home.” It’s also important to note that pets cannot be permitted on site, with the exception of certified assistance dogs.

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Over the entire 10-day period, enthusiasts and the simply curious can also visit the “Belgian Beer Culture Bar” installed in Beursplein in the heart of the Belgian capital, where approximately 40 breweries will be represented, and visitors can get involved in a variety of brewing-related activities. Inside the capital’s historic Bourse building, Belgian Beer World offers a deep dive into Belgium’s brewing culture (before, during, or after the festivities) through interactive exhibits, tastings, and rooftop views.

The dose of culture doesn’t end there. The last weekend of the ten-day festival, over 12 and 13 September, will see the historic Belgian city of Bruges hosting its own Bruges Beer Festival.

For aficionados who cannot make it to the September celebrations, Belgian Beer World is in fact, open all year, as are hundreds of breweries across the country, who welcome visitors for tours and tastings.

L’article Belgian Beer Weekend celebrates 10 years of UNESCO recognition with 10-day event est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Sprankelend Hageland, organised across the wine-producing region of Flemish Brabant, features 21 activities this year, giving visitors the opportunity to meet local winemakers and discover vineyards that are not always accessible to the public. Many participating estates can be visited without an appointment, while the programme also includes organised tastings, guided walks and special events.

Located between Leuven, Aarschot, Diest and Tienen, Hageland is Belgium’s oldest recognised wine region. Its iron-rich sandstone soils, rolling hills and favourable microclimate have helped create a distinctive local terroir. In 1997, Hagelandse wijn became the first Belgian wine to receive a protected designation of origin.

22–23 August: Start in the vineyards of Tielt-Winge

The opening weekend puts the spotlight on Tielt-Winge and particularly the vineyards around Houwaart, making it possible to visit several producers during the same day.

At Wijngaard ten Gaerde, visitors can taste the new vintage of 100% Belgian wines and settle down among the vines, while winemakers Danny and André introduce guests to Hageland wine production. The vineyard is open from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, with admission free.

Nearby, Het Eikenvat will offer tastings of its white, red and rosé wines throughout the weekend. Visitors can walk through the vineyard and enjoy the surrounding views, with a guided vineyard walk also planned for Sunday 23 August.

Wijndomein den Eeckhout is putting together an especially extensive programme. Alongside tastings of seven wines from the 2025 harvest, there will be free guided tours, live piano music among the vines, an outdoor photography exhibition, art, children’s activities and local food. The estate also highlights its biodiversity initiatives, including a flower meadow, pond and natural water purification system.

At Houwaartse Wijngaard, visitors can enjoy estate-produced Hageland wines among the vines overlooking the rolling landscape of the Houwaartse Berg. Oysters and small regional dishes will accompany the wines, while photography will be displayed among the vines.

Wijndomein Haksberg completes a particularly concentrated cluster of participating vineyards in Tielt-Winge.

On Sunday, visitors can also head to Wezemaal for a visit to the Steenen Muur vineyards and the Hageland Wine Visitor Centre. The programme runs from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm and can be rounded off with a tasting of Hageland wines in the wine cellar beneath the visitor centre.

29–30 August: Wine festivals, music and vineyard walks

The second weekend is particularly varied, combining open vineyards with food, live music, walking and one of the region’s established wine celebrations.

On Saturday 29 August, the Wezemaalse Wijnfeesten bring wine festivities to Wezemaal from 2:00 pm until midnight.

Another option for Saturday is the summer bar at Wijndomein Franckenberg in Meensel-Kiezegem, where visitors can combine local wines with fresh pizza and views across the vineyards from 3:00 pm until 10:00 pm.

Wine estates opening their doors during the weekend also include Wijndomein Liemau, Wijnfaktorij, Wijndomein Chartreuzenberg and Wijndomein Graevenberger.

For visitors who want to combine wine with walking, Sunday 30 August brings a free guided walk across the Wijngaardberg in Wezemaal. The route passes through the vineyards towards the historic ironstone wine wall, including a section that has been carefully restored.

Before or after the walk, visitors can explore the Hageland Wine Visitor Centre and head downstairs to its wine cellar to taste wines produced around the Wijngaardberg.

5–6 September: Discover another side of Hageland wine

Sprankelend Hageland continues into the first weekend of September, offering another opportunity to go behind the scenes of the region’s wine industry.

On Sunday 6 September, the Steenen Muur vineyards and Hageland Wine Visitor Centre once again welcome visitors between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Guests can explore the vineyards and visitor centre before finishing in the cellar with a tasting of wines produced in the region.

The weekend is a good opportunity to slow the pace and combine a vineyard visit with one of Hageland’s walking or cycling routes, exploring the hills and landscapes that shape the character of its wines.

12–13 September: A final weekend among the vines

Sprankelend Hageland concludes on 12 and 13 September, providing a final opportunity to experience the region as summer begins to give way to the grape harvest.

At Wijndomein Franckenberg in Meensel-Kiezegem, the estate opens to the public on both days. Visitors can join guided tours and taste the wines while looking out across the vineyards.

Wijndomein Petrushoeve in Molenbeek-Wersbeek is another option for the closing weekend. Visitors can explore the estate, take part in guided tours running hourly between noon and 5:00 pm and taste its wines. Pizza prepared in the estate’s own wood-fired oven will also be available.

Walk between the vineyards

The wine itself is only part of Hageland’s appeal. The vineyards are scattered across a rolling landscape of hills, forests, sunken lanes and villages that makes the region particularly well suited to walking and cycling.

Travel Tomorrow previously explored five walks through Hageland’s vineyards, ranging from the 7-km Chartreuzenberg Walk to the 12-km Speelberg Walk.

One of the most accessible introductions is the 7.4-km Wijngaardberg Walk from Wezemaal, which combines vineyard landscapes with the region’s distinctive ironstone wine wall. The 9.2-km Houwaartseberg Walk, meanwhile, passes a particularly dense concentration of vineyards before reaching the Wijnbank, a giant wine bench overlooking the surrounding landscape.

More ambitious walkers can opt for the 10.7-km From Hill to Hill Walk, which combines the Houwaartseberg vineyards with the wetlands and woodland of the Walen Forest.

The walks make it possible to turn Sprankelend Hageland into more than a wine-tasting excursion, combining local food and drink with a day or weekend exploring the Flemish Brabant countryside.

With 21 activities spread across four weekends, Sprankelend Hageland offers more than a traditional wine festival. It is an opportunity to travel through one of Belgium’s most distinctive wine landscapes, meet the people producing its increasingly recognised wines and discover how viticulture has become part of the region’s tourism identity.

The full programme runs from 22 August to 13 September 2026. Visitors can consult the complete Sprankelend Hageland activities programme before travelling, particularly for guided tours and experiences where advance registration may be required.

L’article Hageland celebrates Belgian wine with four weekends of tastings and vineyard tours est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

For Tervoerke, that story started with a home-brewing experiment. Sitting on a terrace at the heart of Tervuren, just outside Brussels, I met co-founder Dimitri Tips to discuss how a shared interest in beer gradually developed into a commercial venture.

From beer mats to brewing

His fascination with beer goes back much further than Tervoerke. As a child, he collected beer mats, helped by his grandfather and parents, eventually accumulating around a thousand different examples. Beer returned to his life during his university studies in industrial engineering and biochemistry, where a course introduced him to brewing.

He later completed his thesis at what is now AB InBev, working on a filtration project involving Leffe Brune and getting a first-hand look at industrial brewing on a very different scale. Yet becoming a brewer was still not the plan.

That changed after he met Anirudh Bobbili through work in 2017. The pair discovered a shared interest in beer and beverage development, and in 2019 tried home brewing on Tips’ terrace with a simple fermentation setup. The first result was hardly going to transform Belgian brewing overnight, but the process hooked them.

Equipment followed and, during the Covid-19 period, experimentation intensified. Every few months they brewed another batch, gradually pursuing one objective: creating their own tripel. By 2021, they were refining the recipe through repeated tastings and experimenting with spices and yeast. Six different yeast prototypes were tested by two separate tasting panels, which independently selected the same version.

“We thought spices would be nice,” he explains. “It’s also a good way to differentiate.” After further feedback, including from people in the brewing world, the decision was made to take the beer commercial, with Tervoerke Tripel launching in March 2022.

A beer built around Tervuren

The beer itself was only part of the project. The founders wanted a brand that people could immediately associate with the place where it had been conceived, and a closer look at a Tervoerke label reveals that Tervuren is everywhere.

At its centre is Tram 44, the scenic line connecting Brussels with Tervuren. The tram has served the area in different forms since the late 19^th century and remains one of its most recognisable symbols. The label also depicts the building housing the Royal Museum for Central Africa, surrounded by Tervuren’s extensive parkland.

In the background, small waves represent the Voer, the river that rises in the Sonian Forest and passes through Tervuren before continuing through Vossem, Leefdaal and Bertem towards Leuven. The river also helps explain the beer’s unusual name. The Voer was historically known as the “Fura”, while Tervuren’s name is linked to the idea of being close to that river.

To this, the founders added the Flemish diminutive “ke”, familiar from the colloquial “pinke”, referring to a pint or “pintje”. The result was Tervoerke, a name designed to sound unmistakably local.

For Tips, that local identity has proved important commercially too. “People from here want to identify themselves with products from here,” he says. “I don’t believe that if we didn’t have this local edge, it would have been that easy.”

Local first

Tervoerke does not have its own brewery. Its recipes are developed and tested on a small scale before production is expanded at Brouwerij Craywinckelhof in Lubbeek, near Leuven. Crucially, the recipes remain Tervoerke’s own, with the company working closely with the brewery on the production process rather than simply commissioning a generic beer under its name.

Getting the finished product into bars and shops presented another challenge. Tips describes himself as an engineer and product developer rather than a natural salesman, yet building Tervoerke meant approaching café owners, retailers and potential customers personally.

“It required a lot of effort, which is out of my comfort zone,” he admits, although the experience also revealed another side to the business that he enjoyed. “By doing it, I felt that I kind of like the social aspect,” he says, referring to the relationships developed with bar and shop owners.

One early breakthrough was Carrefour in Tervuren. Tips and his then-business partner had to pitch the beer to the retailer during the Covid period, presenting their case online. Local retailers and the Streekproducten Vlaams-Brabant network also helped expand distribution.

The beer can now be found across Tervuren and surrounding municipalities, as well as at selected locations towards Leuven and in parts of the Brussels periphery. However, Tips has deliberately resisted the temptation to turn expansion into an objective in itself.

From Tripel to IPA and Grand Cru

Tervoerke’s original Tripel remains particularly close to its creator. “It’s the first beer. It’s like the baby,” Tips says, although the flagship beer no longer stands alone and has since been joined by an IPA and the seasonal Grand Cru.

In June 2023, the company introduced Tervoerke IPA, a 5.7% hazy, juicy IPA designed to be approachable rather than overwhelmingly bitter. Its development took roughly a year and followed the same philosophy of repeated experimentation. Today, sales of the Tripel and IPA are roughly evenly divided, something Tips admits surprised him. While the Tripel remains the flagship, he says he personally now drinks more of the IPA.

The third creation took Tervoerke in another direction. For its Grand Cru, the company placed its Tripel in bourbon barrels imported from the United States, allowing the beer to mature until the desired balance emerged. The result is a 9.2% winter beer combining the spicy character of the Tripel with notes imparted by the barrels, including vanilla, caramel and bourbon. Initially produced in only a few hundred litres and sold in larger bottles, the Grand Cru proved particularly successful at Tervuren’s Christmas market.

All three beers follow the same principle: start with a recognisable beer style, then find a way to give it a creative twist, whether through spices, hops, barrel ageing or adjustments to the brewing process.

Staying small in a country of beer giants

The Belgian beer landscape is both an advantage and a challenge for a producer like Tervoerke. Small brewers compete for space alongside some of the world’s most recognisable beer brands, and for an independent producer, matching the prices offered to hospitality businesses by major brewers is unrealistic.

Tips says he eventually learned not to spend too much energy trying to convince every reluctant bar or retailer. “Let me put energy in the people that really believe in the beer and in the brand and in the company,” he recalls deciding.

There is also a strong sense of community among Belgium’s smaller brewers. Tips describes fellow producers with the Dutch expression “conculegas”: competitors, but colleagues at the same time. Small beer festivals offer an opportunity not only to reach consumers but also for brewers to taste each other’s creations, exchange ideas and learn from one another.

For now, Tervoerke’s ambitions remain deliberately modest. Exporting is possible, but excise rules make it complicated, while increasing sales dramatically would create pressure on production capacity. Tips would rather protect relationships with existing customers, add a few new outlets and maintain the character that made the project work in the first place.

“Let’s keep it small, let’s keep it relatively small, let’s keep it local,” he says. “If my friends and family and people around can enjoy it, I’m super happy.” A little more growth over the next two or three years would be welcome, he adds, but without fundamentally changing the nature of the project.

Perhaps that is also what makes Tervoerke interesting. This is not a story about a Belgian beer brand plotting international domination, but about something considerably more local: an interest in beer that started with childhood collections, recipes developed on a terrace and in a garage, and a town whose tram, river and landmarks eventually found their way onto a bottle.

In a country with thousands of beers competing for attention, Tervoerke has found its identity by staying remarkably close to home.

L’article How Tervoerke is putting Tervuren on Belgium’s beer map est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since its inauguration in 1826, the Waterloo battlefield and the Lion’s Mound have become some of the best-known destinations in Wallonia. The Mound alone attracts some 175,000 visitors annually.

As a prominent site of historical and symbolic value, the imposing Lion of Waterloo (which is located in Braine-l’Alleud) was the start of a larger project on the grounds of the battlefield, which also includes the historical Hougoumont Farm and the Memorial 1815, a modern underground museum featuring immersive exhibitions. Every year, a number of events and historical weekends bring the history of the grounds alive.

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In order to prepare the Lion’s Mound for its 200^th anniversary, the monument underwent a series of major restoration works between the end of 2025 and May 2026. The works involved repairs to the long staircase to the top, including its steps, balustrade, and handrail. Stone and cast-iron elements were refurbished, as well as the statue of the lion itself. The works cost the Belgian federal government some €650,000, with funding contributed by the National Lottery.

The reopening of the Lion of Waterloo on 22 May 2026 also kicked off a year of celebrations, honouring the Lion’s bicentenary. Several events have been and will be organised in order to put the special occasion in the spotlight it deserves. We selected some unmissable happenings.

Iconic Lion, a photo exhibition

Until 31 December 2026, the Waterloo Battlefield Estate hosts Iconic Lion, an extensive photographic exhibition dedicated to the Lion’s Mound. The first part features the work of two professional photographers, Samuel Bouchoms and Jean-François Schmitz, and is on display at the underground museum Memorial 1815. Outdoors, the photo exhibition takes visitors on a journey past some of the battlefield’s most iconic locations. The selection of shots on show was captured by the public and gathered through a social media contest.

A festive and family-friendly weekend

For the time of a weekend, on 15 and 16 August 2026, the Waterloo Battlefield Estate will be organising a series of family-friendly activities on and around the Lion’s Mound. The programme includes a bouncy castle, games, a climbing wall, and a giant zip line launched from the top of the Lion’s Mound. Visitors will get to enjoy historical activities with the 1815 reenactors, including rifle and cannon firing demonstrations, and tickets (ranging from €0 to €27 per person) include a concert by the band Mister Cover on the evening of 15 August.

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A show for the 200^th anniversary of the Lion’s Mound

On 12 September 2026, the Lion’s Mound’s bicentenary will be celebrated through a grand show, narrated by Patrick Weber. Through a combination of storytelling, historical scenes, projections, and spectacular staging, the events that shaped the iconic site since 1826 will be brought back to life. The event is accessible to all (tickets cost €26 per person), and the experience will be elevated by a musical performance by students from Musica Mundi.

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A little history

On 18 June 1815, a stretch of land located in what is now known as the towns of Braine-l’Alleud and Lasne (just south of Brussels) was the stage of a battle that went on to make history. On that day, the French Imperial Army under the command of Napoleon was met by two allied forces of the Seventh Coalition, led by the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal Blücher.

The French were defeated; the Battle of Waterloo meant the end of Napoleon’s Hundred Days return from exile, and thereby the end of the Napoleonic Wars. A relative sense of peace came over Europe, but 40,000 men lost their lives on the battlefield, while many more were wounded. One of those men was the then Prince of Orange, William, the eldest son of King William I of the Netherlands. During the battle, the prince was hit in the shoulder by a musket ball and knocked from his horse as a result.

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In 1823, King William I decided to build a monument to commemorate the victory of the Seventh Coalition and to remember the fallen soldiers. For the design, he commissioned his architect, Charles Vander Straeten, who planned the project in such a way as to position it on the spot where the Prince of Orange got hurt.

Over the next three years, the monument took shape. Some 290.486 cubic meters of earth were taken from the battlefield to shape the 40-meter-high mound, a move criticised by many at the time as it undeniably altered the original outlook of the location, chosen precisely because of its rolling landscape. The hill was crowned by a triumphant cast-iron lion – looking towards defeated France – designed by sculptor Jean-Louis van Geel, while 226 steps completed the project.

For more information about Wallonia and to plan your trip, see VISITWallonia.com, the official tourism website for Belgium’s southern region, offering inspiration on destinations, attractions, accommodation, outdoor activities, cultural heritage and local gastronomy.

L’article Lion of Waterloo celebrates 200th anniversary with photo exhibition and grand show est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The event usually attracts visitors from around the world, and this 24^th edition promises to delight flower lovers, admirers of the celebrated Japanese artist, and anyone eager to witness one of Belgium’s most colourful traditions. Covering nearly 1,680 m², the carpet will be composed of around 700,000 flowers.

This year’s edition introduces two major changes. The traditional begonias have been replaced by dahlias, as begonia cultivation in Belgium has declined in recent years. Dahlias were also chosen for their wider range of vibrant colours. And for the first time, a second flower carpet, inspired by hops as a tribute to Belgium’s brewing heritage, will be installed at the Brussels Bourse.

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The design for the main carpet was proposed by Japan, an honour traditionally reserved for the partner country, while the planting itself is carried out by the Belgian non-profit organisation Tapis de Fleurs. Each flower is inserted by hand into rolls of turf and watered throughout the event, particularly during periods of intense summer heat.

More than 100 volunteer gardeners assemble the carpet in under six hours before filling the remaining gaps with turf the day before the opening. Packed so densely, the flowers create their own microclimate, allowing the display to remain fresh throughout its four-day run.

The reinterpretation of Hokusai’s masterpiece was created by Japanese contemporary artist and Kyoto University of the Arts lecturer Hiro Sugiyama together with his Tokyo-based creative collective Enlightenment, known for blending pop culture with contemporary Japanese aesthetics.

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Sugiyama, who began producing digital art after co-founding Enlightenment before returning primarily to analogue painting in 2010, said the project seeks to bridge tradition and modernity.

“Through this synthesis, I seek to connect the past and the future, the analogue and the digital, Japanese culture and contemporary art. In this pivotal year marking 160 years of friendship between Belgium and Japan, I am delighted to bring this work to life in the form of a Flower carpet,” he said.

Japan’s ambassador to Belgium, Takeshi Osuga, highlighted the symbolic role that flowers play in both Japan and Belgium.

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“The love of flowers is a universal language. In both Japan and Belgium, flowers hold a special place in our cultural and social lives,” he said.

The Grand-Place, often described as one of the world’s most beautiful squares, combines Gothic, Baroque and neo-Gothic architecture. Dating back to the 15^th century, it was rebuilt by the city’s guilds after the French bombardment of 1695 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

This is the second Flower Carpet celebrating Belgium-Japan friendship. In 2016, the Grand-Place was transformed into a Japanese-inspired landscape featuring traditional motifs, birds, koi carp and natural scenery to mark 150 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Those eager for an early glimpse can already head to nearby Mini-Europe, where a miniature version of the 2026 Flower Carpet has been recreated on its scale replica of the Grand-Place ahead of the official opening on 13 August.

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Practical info

Open 13–16 August 2026. Access to the Grand-Place is free. A panoramic view of the carpet is available from the balcony of the Hôtel de Ville (tickets required). For a full 360° view over the city and the carpet, the separate View Tower Experience takes visitors up the 200 steps of the City Hall Tower.

L’article Brussels Flower Carpet 2026: Hokusai’s Great Wave to take shape in thousands of dahlias est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Described by Patrick De Corte, president of the Brussels Showmen’s Union, as one of the biggest events of its kind, and “part of Brussels’ identity,” the traditional travelling fairground has been recognised since 2024 on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The event brings classic family-friendly entertainment and treats to the Belgian capital every summer, and this year is expected by organisers to attract over a million visitors.

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The Royal Wheel is back with fully enclosed cabins, and this year boasts an accessible pod for visitors with reduced mobility. Popular fairground attractions such as shooting galleries and children’s amusements will also be in the mix alongside the time-honoured haunted house and a giant Hawaiian-themed ride dubbed “Tiki Ville.” The usual refreshments such as Belgian mussels, fries, waffles, and ice cream will be available, as well as a range of other food stall offerings.

But due to infrastructure works taking place around Eurostar station Gare du Midi, this year’s event, like those in the last seven years since the roadworks began, will be compromised. The fairground area will be split in two, with some attractions relocated towards the Arts et Métiers area.

Other changes this year include additional safety and security measures in the form of a Red Cross station, a permanent police presence on site and more patrols. Reducing noise pollution is also high on the agenda, with 31 attractions fitted with monitors and amplified sound capped at 90 decibels in daytime hours, dropping to 75 decibels after 10 pm.

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The site is free to enter. Visitors can arrive in the fair’s vicinity by bus, metro, tram, and train, as well as by car, with reduced-price parking (€5 flat rate) available at the Porte de Hal Interparking facility.

And on 12 August, in another annual tradition, the fair will welcome 360 disabled, disadvantaged or poorly children, completely free-of-charge. The goodwill day is run by the fairground managers in partnership with sponsoring charity “Make A Wish.”

In keeping with that spirit of open access, the fair’s 2026 motto is We will all, all, all go to the Foire du Midi, a nod to the song Torremolinos by the Belgian comic rock band Sttellla. Lead vocalist Jean-Luc Fonck is this year’s event patron.

L’article Over one million visitors expected to attend Brussels’ Midi summer fair in 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Brussels has closed to vehicles on one Sunday per year since September 1999, in a Mobility Week initiative to draw attention to the impact of vehicle traffic and pollution on the city, reduce car use, and highlight alternative ways people can get around.

Often taking place in early autumn, the event’s 2026 edition is no exception, scheduled for 20 September this year. For 2027, an additional date in May is on the cards. However, original proposals for the additional Car-Free Sunday to fall on 9 May 2027 have caused some backlash, with critics pointing out that it coincides with significant spring holidays and risks making the city inaccessible to visitors during that time.

The “Non au plan Good Move Committee” said the choice of “the spring half-term for French-speaking schools, a period when many families take the opportunity to travel, visit relatives or spend time together” was not optimal and noted: “above all, it would also coincide with Mother’s Day. In practical terms, this means that families who sometimes travel from afar to visit their mothers, parents or grandparents in Brussels will once again face roadblocks, restrictions and additional complications.”

In response, the regional government has opted for 2 May 2027 instead, according to reporting in Le Soir, but the move still faces another hurdle in the form of approval by all of the capital’s 19 municipalities.

If it goes ahead, there will be two days in the yearly calendar, probably in May and September, when the Belgian capital becomes Europe’s largest no-car zone. Brussels transport operator STIB offers reinforced and free public transport on those days.

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Exemptions to the ban are issued for public transport, taxis, buses, emergency and security forces, as well as for diplomatic vehicles. For everyone else, it’s no cars from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm, and authorities advise that “the closing and the re-opening of the entrances to the Region and the tunnels will happen gradually. Therefore, there might be some traffic nuisance outside these times.”

Officials also warn that “As a result of the activities and celebrations, the streets in certain neighbourhoods might also be closed longer. So it is no use hurrying to the entrances to Brussels; this is to avoid congestion and safety problems.” 

The Brussels Mobility service describes the day as “an opportunity to (re)discover the pleasure of walking, riding on a bike or scooter, or travelling on public transport in a peaceful and pleasant city.”

L’article Brussels could double car-free Sundays from 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Belgium’s second-busiest airport, Brussels South Charleroi Airport, is one of Europe’s leading low-cost hubs, handling over 10 million passengers each year. Serving as Ryanair’s main Belgian base, it offers affordable flights to dozens of European and Mediterranean destinations, playing a pivotal role in Belgium’s aviation network and facilitating inbound tourism.

The announcement has come as a shock to trade unions, airport staff and travellers alike, unfolding amid ongoing tensions between the Walloon government and Ryanair.

The regional government has recently urged Charleroi to diversify its carrier base after Ryanair announced it would cut two million seats due to disputes over local taxes and fees. However, the airport authorities maintain that the 11-week shutdown is strictly a matter of necessity.

The airport’s sole runway is nearing the end of its operational life, with airport authorities noting that it has a lifespan of around 25 years. Airport authorities described the works as “historic”. Other modernisation projects are planned alongside the rebuild, including upgrades to the drainage system and renewal of the runway lighting, markings, and other airfield infrastructure. These improvements are intended to ensure operational stability and safety for decades to come.

“These investments are necessary to ensure the long-term safety, performance and attractiveness of the airport,” said the airport.

To minimise disruption, several projects will run simultaneously, though this will also mean that air traffic will be completely halted for the duration.

Walloon Minister of Airports Cécile Neven responded to the unions’ criticism by stressing that preparations have been under way for some time. “SOWAER [the Walloon organisation responsible for managing infrastructure and spatial planning around the Liège and Charleroi airports] and Charleroi Airport have been studying the runway renovation for years. In November 2024, a joint decision was made on how the works in 2028 will be organised,” her office said.

Trade unions, however, remain concerned about both the airport’s future and the impact on employees.

SETCa representative Alain Goelens accused the Walloon government of lacking a clear long-term strategy for the airport and questioned whether airlines would restore all routes once operations resume.

“What guarantees are there that all destinations will return after reopening? And what about the wages of employees who are temporarily laid off? Despite questions from the unions, there remains a lot of uncertainty,” he said.

The closure is expected to affect airlines, passengers and airport businesses alike. While Brussels Airport could absorb some of the lost traffic, the number of available slots there is limited. Other regional airports, including Liège, Lille and Maastricht Aachen, may also take on some of the displaced traffic, although airlines have yet to announce their contingency plans.

Passengers with bookings during the closure will likely be offered alternative flights or relocated to other airports, or they will receive refunds.

The airport has said that it will publish a detailed timetable for the works well in advance, to allow sufficient time for airlines, passengers, and commercial partners to prepare.

L’article Brussels Charleroi Airport to close for months in 2028 for major runway reconstruction est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.