Belgium hikes long-stay (D-type) visa fee to €250 from 1 July 2026
Final ETIAS rules confirmed: €20 fee and biometric passport for Belgium-bound visa-exempt travellers
Heatwave forces NMBS to cancel 100 peak-hour trains a day and replace rural services with buses
Latest News
Technical failure strands Eurostar near Leuven; 400 passengers evacuated onto track
A Cologne–Paris Eurostar broke down near Leuven on 26 June, forcing the evacuation of 400 people and causing delays across the Brussels corridor. The incident, likely heat-related, compounds earlier train cancellations and shows that high-speed rail is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather. Companies should prepare fallback travel plans and monitor Eurostar’s upcoming technical report.
Brussels suburb seeks police action over online hate targeting new 230-bed asylum centre
Uccle has formally asked police to trace and prosecute social-media users who posted violent threats against a 230-place Fedasil asylum centre opening next month. The municipality fears the online hate could escalate into real-world attacks and wants to deter similar campaigns elsewhere. For global-mobility teams, the row underscores how local opposition can disrupt staff moves to Belgium and lengthen lead-times for securing housing and registrations.
Waterloo battle reenactment cancelled as Belgium joins Europe-wide heat curbs
Belgian authorities have cancelled this weekend’s Waterloo battle reenactment due to a red heat alert, wiping out a major tourism draw and prompting wider transport and labour-safety measures. The decision eases rail crowding but hits hospitality and coach operators, underscoring how extreme weather is reshaping event-driven mobility planning.