Brussels Daily Podcast — 27 March 2026 (EN)

SCRIPT

[MANNEKEN — Xavier voice]: Hello, I'm Xavier. And I'm Manneken, your guide to everything Brussels. Welcome to your daily Brussels podcast. It's Friday, March 27th, 2026, and it's a cold one out there — currently zero degrees in the capital, feels like minus three with a brisk north-easterly wind. Bundle up if you're heading out this morning.

[LEEN — co-host voice]: Hi, I'm Leen. And yes, zero degrees on the last Friday of March — that's Brussels for you. Let's dive into what's been happening across the city today.

[MANNEKEN]: Starting with something that affects the whole region — the mayors of all 19 Brussels communes, led by Benoît Cerexhe, have jointly called on the federal government to take real action on aircraft overflight noise. This has been going on for years: Zaventem and Melsbroek airports are federally run, so the communes have limited power, but they're tired of it. Night flights, flight paths over residential areas — it's not new, but the pressure is mounting.

[LEEN]: Also in politics, if you drive in Brussels you already know: negotiations over the Low Emission Zone reform are still deadlocked. State Secretary Ans Persoons confirmed this week that no agreement has been reached. The sticking points are the usual ones — which vehicle categories get fined, what happens to retrofitted cars, and how you enforce it across 19 different communes. She said she's still talking. That's about it for now.

[MANNEKEN]: And a darker note from this week: a so-called "Remigration March" passed through Brussels on Wednesday. It was organised by far-right groups, and it ended in violence. Counter-demonstrators clashed with police, several arrests were made, and investigators are now reviewing footage for further suspects. Local authorities condemned the march.

[LEEN]: Shifting to transport — and this one might actually make your commute a little easier. After months of stubbornly high prices, diesel is finally getting cheaper at the pump in Belgium. That matters for professional drivers, STIB buses, taxis, and shared vehicle services. It's not a revolution, but it's relief for people who've been feeling it at the tank for months.

[MANNEKEN]: The Port of Brussels has launched a new digital cartography tool — an interactive map for logistics operators and construction firms showing waterways, loading terminals, and the best routes for river freight barges. The idea is to shift heavy transport off Brussels roads and onto the Senne. Less trucks, more barges. It's part of the region's broader climate and mobility strategy.

[LEEN]: In money news: the Brussels Region has secured a new credit line with Deutsche Bank. It signals confidence in the region's finances and will fund infrastructure and climate transition projects. Not glamorous, but important — it means the Region has room to invest without panic.

[MANNEKEN]: A reminder for Sunday morning — don't forget to move your clocks forward one hour at 2 AM. Yes, it's that time again. The Belgian road safety institute AWSR is warning drivers to be careful: drowsiness goes up after the switch to summer time, and microsleeps behind the wheel are a real risk. Give yourself a few days to adjust, and maybe take a break on longer drives.

[LEEN]: And a health warning of a different kind: AI-powered legal advice platforms are now operating in Belgium. RTBF took a look at AILawyer, which offers advice from seemingly qualified — but entirely fictional — lawyers named Emma, Thomas and Arthur. Useful for basic information, maybe, but legal experts say the risk of misinformation is real. Don't replace a real lawyer with a chatbot, even a slick one.

[MANNEKEN]: Now for culture — because Brussels takes its culture seriously. The River Jazz Festival is on right now, and Thursday night saw something special: pianist Margaux Vranken performed three consecutive concerts in one evening. That's a rare treat for jazz fans, and it put Brussels firmly on the European jazz circuit this week.

[LEEN]: And the 55th Brussels Book Fair — the Foire du Livre — opened its doors on Thursday. Organisers say it's the most ambitious programme in the fair's history. New releases, debates, author encounters — it's on all weekend, and it's positioning Brussels as a genuine literary hub in Europe. Worth checking out if you're a reader.

[MANNEKEN]: One for the social media age: BX1 profiled a new generation of Brussels newsfluenceurs — people reshaping how local news is consumed. The three to watch right now: Yurbise, Askip, and En Bref. They're blending journalistic rigour with social media reach, and they're building serious audiences. The big question everyone's asking: what does this mean for traditional local media?

[LEEN]: And Brussels Times has published a guide to the best bars in the capital. From century-old brown cafés to sleek cocktail bars and hidden speakeasies. The selection is eclectic, which is very Brussels. And as the article notes — the quality of your aperitivo is a matter of civic pride here.

[MANNEKEN]: A quick look abroad now. The EU has moved forward with a controversial communication on return and deportation procedures — language that critics say normalises the concept of deportation camps for migrants awaiting expulsion. MEPs and NGOs have condemned the report, which was discussed by EU home affairs ministers in Brussels this week.

[LEEN]: And Brussels Times asked a question that sparks debate every time it comes up: are Flemish people really more right-wing than Walloons? It's a deep dive into Belgian political geography, and the answer, as usual, is more complicated than the stereotypes suggest.

[MANNEKEN]: That's our round-up for Friday, March 27th. Sources today include BX1, RTBF, Brussels Times, and BRUZZ. We'll be back tomorrow with more from Brussels. In the meantime — stay warm, watch the road if you're driving Sunday morning, and enjoy the city. This is Manneken, and I'll see you next time.

[LEEN]: Thanks for listening. Talk to you tomorrow.