Brussels Daily — Wednesday 25 March 2026
🌤️ Today’s Weather
Brussels — 8°C · Patchy rain · Feels like 4°C · Wind 31 km/h WSW · Rain all morning, clearing toward evening
No active air quality alert (IRCEL/CELINE).
🏛️ Politics & Government
Brussels government under pressure over safety and cleanliness
Residents are urging the newly-formed Brussels government to tackle spiralling insecurity and filthy streets — calling the situation “disgraceful.” The appeal comes as bin collection strikes leave rubbish piling up across the capital. (Brussels Times)
Military deployment begins — ministers visit troops on patrol
Defence Minister Quintin and State Secretary Francken visited soldiers deployed on Brussels streets, marking the start of the enhanced security operation. The initiative is part of a broader plan to reinforce public safety in the capital. (BX1 · Brussels Times)
Belgium faces €5 billion in further cuts to meet EU obligations
The federal government is bracing for an additional €5 billion in budget reductions to comply with European fiscal rules — on top of previously announced austerity measures. (Brussels Times)
Police violence case: court rejects recusal request
Brussels’ court dismissed a bid by the Brussels-Ixelles police zone to have a judge recused in a police violence case — clearing the way for proceedings to continue. (BX1)
Belgium launches 10-year plan to overhaul military sites
The government approved a sweeping 10-year programme to modernise and rebuild Belgium’s defence infrastructure — covering barracks, bases and training facilities across the country. (Brussels Times)
🚗 Transport & Mobility
Metro 3: Palais du Midi fate hinges on planning permit
The future of the Midi station on Brussels’ new Metro Line 3 will only be decided after a full planning permit is granted — slowing a project already years in the making. (Brussels Times)
Brussels Airport welcomes new Chinese airline
A new Chinese carrier has begun operating flights at Brussels Airport — expanding the airport’s long-haul connectivity amid growing demand for China-Europe routes. (Brussels Times)
💶 Economy & Energy
Bin strikes leave Brussels streets drowning in rubbish
Garbage collectors’ strikes have left bags of waste piled on pavements across multiple communes — with residents complaining of foul odours and rats. (Brussels Times)
Hard Rock Café in central Brussels closes permanently
The Hard Rock Café in Brussels’ city centre has shut its doors for good — another casualty of shifting consumer habits and post-pandemic economic pressures. (Brussels Times)
Illegal cigarette smuggling: EU uncovers global network
An EU-wide investigation has exposed a vast international cigarette smuggling ring — with Belgium among the countries worst affected by the loss of customs revenue. (Brussels Times)
ECB moves forward with digital euro pilot
The European Central Bank opened its digital euro pilot to payment firms — a key step toward a possible official EU digital currency. (Brussels Times)
⚖️ Justice
Gaza ruling: Brussels court hailed as “historic” by pro-Palestinian groups
A Brussels court ruling on Israel’s actions in Gaza was welcomed by pro-Palestinian organisations as a landmark — the first time a Belgian court had weighed in on the conflict. (Brussels Times)
Radja Nainggolan on trial for drug trafficking
Former Belgian Red Devil Radja Nainggolan appeared in court accused of involvement in a drug trafficking network — denying all charges. (Brussels Times)
Costa dossier: drug money flowed to real estate and luxury goods
Prosecutors allege millions in cocaine-trafficking proceeds were laundered through property purchases and high-end consumer goods — part of a major international drug case. (Brussels Times)
🏙️ Brussels & Communes
Social housing boost: office block converted to 80 homes
An abandoned office building in Brussels has been renovated into 80 social housing units — part of a wider push to increase affordable accommodation in the capital. (BX1)
Tuberculosis cases in Brussels three times the Belgian average
Health officials are raising alarms after data showed TB infections in Brussels running at triple the national rate — linked to overcrowding and poverty in certain neighbourhoods. (Brussels Times)
Madame Moustache nightclub faces ruling Wednesday
The fate of the iconic Madame Moustache venue — a Brussels nightlife landmark — will be decided by a court on Wednesday, amid ongoing zoning and licence disputes. (BX1)
Au Coin Vert shop to close after 126 years
The beloved Au Coin Vert — one of Brussels’ oldest neighbourhood stores — is shutting its doors after 126 years of business. The owner called the decision “not easy.” (BX1)
Integration courses in Belgium: is a test mandatory?
Brussels residents are asking whether participants in official Belgian integration courses are required to pass a final exam — and what happens if they fail. (Brussels Times)
⚽ Sport
Union Saint-Gilloise: can they retain their championship title?
The perennial Brussels favourites enter the Pro League playoffs fighting to keep their crown — with Anderlecht in sixth place and a competitive field ahead. (BX1)
🎨 Culture
Cyprus exhibition at BOZAR invites reflection on reunification hopes
A new exhibition at BOZAR invites visitors to explore Cyprus’s divided history — and the ongoing aspirations for reunification on the Mediterranean island. (Brussels Times)
Flemish writer Tijl Nuyts wins Boon Prize for debut novel
Young Flemish author Tijl Nuyts has been awarded the prestigious Boon Prize for his debut novel Grondwerk — one of Dutch-language literature’s most coveted honours. (Brussels Times)
Weekend activities for kids across Brussels — 28-29 March
Looking for half-term plans? A roundup of family-friendly events, workshops and activities taking place across Brussels this weekend. (Brussels Times)
🇪🇺 European Affairs
ECB opens Night of the Museums to the public — a rare invitation
In an unusual move, the European Central Bank announced public access for this year’s Night of the Museums — normally reserved for invited guests only. (Brussels Times)
EU defence call: over 5,200 projects submitted worth €1 billion
European defence co-operation continues to deepen — with more than 5,200 project proposals submitted in response to the EU’s billion-euro defence investment call. (Brussels Times)
EU road deaths fall slightly — but safety targets still at risk
Road fatalities across the EU edged down marginally in 2025 — but the decline is too slow to meet the bloc’s ambitious 2030 road safety goals. (Brussels Times)
EU-Australia free trade deal finalized after eight years
Brussels and Canberra finally concluded a comprehensive EU-Australia free trade agreement — eight years after negotiations began. (Brussels Times)
Europol launches new anti-smuggling centre
The Hague-based Europol inaugurated a dedicated anti-smuggling centre — responding to the growing use of encrypted messaging apps by criminal networks. (Brussels Times)
Brussels Daily — sources: BX1, BRUZZ, RTBF, Brussels Times · 25 March 2026