Brussels Daily Press Review

24 March 2026 · 🌟 Manneken Pis

🏛️ Politics & Government

Boris Dilliès Gives First Interview as Brussels Minister-President

The new Minister-President of Brussels gives his first interview since taking office, outlining his priorities for the capital region. The interview with BRUZZ touches on housing, mobility, and the region’s international role. (BRUZZ)

Brussels Parliament Finance Committee Approves Budget 2026

The Finance Committee of the Brussels Parliament has given the green light to the 2026 regional budget. The vote clears the way for continued investment in mobility, climate, and social policies across the capital. (RTBF)

Military Deployment Near Jewish Community Sites Sparks Debate

The return of soldiers to the streets around locations frequented by the Jewish community is a “political battlehorse,” according to the SLFP Défense union. The deployment — the first soldiers posted near the Great Synagogue — follows heightened alert levels. (RTBF) · (BRUZZ)

🚨 Security

Brussels-Midi Station Evacuated — Suspicious Packages Found Harmless

Brussels-Midi was evacuated Monday evening after three suspicious packages were discovered. The railway police and bomb disposal unit were deployed. All packages were later confirmed harmless; rail traffic resumed with only Platforms 19 and 20 remaining inaccessible for a time. (BX1) · (RTBF) · (BRUZZ)

Grenade Found Outside Café in Saint-Gilles — Investigation Open

A live grenade was discovered in the early hours of Monday morning outside a café on the Chaussée d’Alsemberg in Saint-Gilles. Police were called around 05:20. An investigation is underway, with the incident linked to a second throwing of a grenade at another café in the commune. (BX1) · (RTBF) · (BRUZZ)

Koekelberg Stabbing — Woman Fighting for Life

A woman was stabbed by her ex-partner in Koekelberg and is in a life-threatening condition. Emergency services responded to the scene. The attacker fled and a manhunt was underway. (BRUZZ)

36th Victim of 2016 Brussels Attacks Formally Recognised

Nearly ten years after the 22 March 2016 bombings, a 36th victim has been officially recognised: Katarina Viktorsson, who died by suicide. The recognition comes as commemorations mark a decade since the attacks that killed 32 people in Brussels. (RTBF)

Violent End to Molenbeek Carnival — Injuries Among Police and Revellers

Carnaval Sauvage in Molenbeek ended in violence on Sunday, with both police officers and festival-goers injured. The commune has been the scene of repeated unrest during carnival celebrations in recent years. (BRUZZ)

🚇 Transport

Trams 10, 25 & 55 Disrupted After Pantograph Fault in Schaerbeek

A problem with a tram pantograph in Schaerbeek caused significant disruption to lines 10, 25 and 55 on Monday morning. Services gradually resumed by midday. Passengers were advised to use alternative routes during the peak morning period. (RTBF)

🏙️ Urban Life

Major Crackdown on Illegal Dumping Along Boulevard du Midi

The City of Brussels, in collaboration with regional services and police, carried out a large-scale operation against illegal waste deposits on Boulevard du Midi on Monday morning. The action targeted both waste dumpers and unmaintained sites in the busy corridor. (BX1)

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert Windmill Back in Action — With Green Turbine

The Lindekemale water mill, one of the last surviving water mills in Brussels, has been restored with a brand new wheel. It is now paired with an electric turbine producing 100% green electricity, combining heritage and renewable energy in a single project. (BX1)

Saint-Gilles Iconic Bars Ordered to Close Early — Gentrification Fears Grow

Authorities have ordered several historic bars in Saint-Gilles to shut earlier than usual, sparking outrage from local owners and residents. Critics say the measure will accelerate gentrification in a commune already grappling with rising rents and disappearing nightlife culture. (Brussels Times)

Brussels Tunnels to Close for 9-Hour Underground Rave

In an extraordinary move, Brussels authorities will shut down city tunnels to host a 9-hour underground electronic music event. The rave is part of a push to animate underused urban spaces and attract younger audiences to the city centre. (Brussels Times)

Book Reveals Near-Absence of Maghreb Names Among Brussels Streets

A new book documents the striking lack of street names referencing the Maghreb community in Brussels, despite a large and long-established North African population in the capital. The findings highlight ongoing questions about representation and recognition in Brussels’ public memory. (BRUZZ)

Bral Movement Builds Alternative to NEO Shopping Centre Project

The activist group Bral is developing a counter-proposal to the planned NEO shopping and leisure development. The group argues the project would drain spending from existing neighbourhoods and calls for alternative uses of the site. (BRUZZ)

Concrete Blocks Installed Without Permit in Protected Zone of Bois de la Cambre

Blocks of concrete have been laid without authorisation in a classified green zone of the Bois de la Cambre, sparking an investigation. The protected forest — one of Brussels’ most treasured green spaces — is subject to strict planning rules. (RTBF)

⚽ Sport

Union Saint-Gilloise Tops Classic Phase — Anderlecht Sixth Ahead of Playoffs

Union Saint-Gilloise has officially clinched first place in the Pro League’s classic phase after a convincing win against Saint-Trond (1–3). RSC Anderlecht finished sixth after a 2–3 defeat to Cercle de Bruges. Both clubs now turn their attention to the championship playoffs, where the real fight for European places begins. (BX1) · (RTBF)

RSCA CEO Bornauw: “Europe Through Top 4 or the Cup — Ambition Unchanged”

RSC Anderlecht’s CEO Kenneth Bornauw insists the club’s ambitions remain intact despite a turbulent season. The Brussels side is targeting European qualification via a top-four Pro League finish or a Belgian Cup victory. (BX1)

⚡ Energy & Environment

Nuclear Energy Debate: Forum Nucléaire vs Greenpeace on Bonsoir Bruxelles

BX1’s Bonsoir Bruxelles brought together Serge Dauby of the Forum Nucléaire and Élodie Belleflamme of Greenpeace to debate whether nuclear energy is the right answer to Belgium’s energy challenges and the climate crisis. The broadcast reflects an intensifying national conversation. (BX1)

Flanders to Host Four Small Modular Reactors — Is Belgium Warming to Nuclear?

Belgium has announced plans to build four small modular reactors (SMRs) in Flanders, marking a potential shift in the country’s long-controversial nuclear policy. The announcement has divided politicians and the public alike. (Brussels Times)

Dutch Drivers Warned Over Fuel Tourism to Belgium

Belgian authorities have warned Dutch drivers against crossing the border to stock up on cheaper petrol in Belgium. The fuel tourism phenomenon has grown amid the ongoing energy crisis affecting Europe. (Brussels Times)

🌸 Culture & Society

Cherry Blossom Festival Opens at Japan’s Largest Garden in Belgium

The annual hanami season is underway at Belgium’s largest Japanese garden, drawing crowds for the short but spectacular bloom. The festival is a highlight of Brussels’ cultural calendar, celebrating Japanese tradition in the heart of Europe. (Brussels Times)

Brussels Explorer Merlin Cerise Sets Sights on Svalbard and the Pole

Merlin Cerise, a nearly 30-year-old Brussels native, is preparing to depart for the Svalbard archipelago — the inhabited territory closest to the North Pole — for a fully autonomous expedition across the ice. A remarkable adventure from one of the world’s most connected cities to one of its most remote. (BX1)

L’Ilot Day Centre to Close Weekends — “No Funding, No Service”

The L’Ilot association, which supports people in precarious housing situations, will close its weekend day centre due to insufficient funding. Staff and beneficiaries denounce the decision as a further erosion of essential social services in Brussels. (RTBF)

🌍 EU & World

NATO Forces Withdrawing from Iraq, Security Sources Say

Security sources indicate NATO forces are reducing their presence in Iraq amid shifting geopolitical priorities in the Middle East. The drawdown, made from Brussels where NATO has its headquarters, has implications for alliance strategy in the region. (Brussels Times)

EU Women Celebrate Approval of Abortion Rights Citizens’ Initiative

Women across the EU are welcoming the approval of a European Citizens’ Initiative to enshrined abortion rights in EU law. The milestone was celebrated in Brussels — home to the European institutions — and beyond. (Brussels Times)

Ghent University Under Fire for Appointing Philosopher Linked to “Scientific Racism”

Ghent University is facing mounting criticism after appointing a US philosopher with ties to scientific racism and race realist movements. The decision has sparked a debate about academic freedom, responsibility, and the limits of controversial scholarship. (Brussels Times)

How and Why Benelux Still Matters in 2026

An in-depth analysis of the Benelux union — Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg — examining why this small trio remains a significant diplomatic force and a laboratory for European integration, 75 years after its founding. (Brussels Times)

Sources: BX1 · BRUZZ · RTBF · Brussels Times · compiled 24 March 2026