---
title: "Brussels Daily Press Review — 2026-08-31"
date: 2026-08-31
lang: en
summary: "Brussels drug violence prompts protest and federal strategy talks — and more Brussels news of the day."
tags: ["news","brussels","press-review"]
image: "/news/covers/2026/08/2026-08-31-cover.png"
---
# Brussels Daily Press Review — 2026-08-31
*Partly cloudy, 15 to 22 degrees: perfect Brussels weather for politics to end recess and traffic to start sweating.*

## TL;DR
Main Brussels stories today:
- **Brussels drug violence prompts protest and federal strategy talks.** About 500 Saint-Gilles residents mobilised against organised crime after drug-related violence in Brussels.
- **Brussels to make school surroundings safer as pupils return.** As the summer break ends, Brussels is preparing measures to make areas around schools safer.
- A Brussels Ring Road exit is set to close permanently as major roadworks begin.
- **Job discrimination persists in Brussels against older and veiled candidates.** Discrimination on the Brussels job market continues, with candidates rejected for being considered too old or for wearing a headscarf.

## 🌤️ Weather
⛅ Partly Cloudy in Brussels today — between 15°C and 22°C (now 15°C).

## Brussels drug violence prompts protest and federal strategy talks
About 500 Saint-Gilles residents mobilised against organised crime after drug-related violence in Brussels. A strategic committee on Brussels shootings met on Friday afternoon at 16 Rue de la Loi, while King's Prosecutor Julien Moinil warned that anyone could be hit by a bullet.

Sources:
- [Violences liées à la drogue : quelque 500 habitants de Saint-Gilles se mobilisent con... - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/violences-liees-a-la-drogue-quelque-500-habitants-de-saint-gilles-se-mobilisent-contre-le-crime-organise/)
- [Fusillades à Bruxelles : un comité stratégique réuni ce vendredi après-midi au 16, ru... - RTBF](https://www.rtbf.be/article/fusillades-a-bruxelles-un-comite-strategique-reuni-ce-vendredi-apres-midi-au-16-rue-de-la-loi-11776710)
- [Fusillades à Bruxelles : "N’importe qui peut se prendre une balle", s’inquiète le pro... - RTBF](https://www.rtbf.be/article/fusillades-a-bruxelles-n-importe-qui-peut-se-prendre-une-balle-s-inquiete-le-procureur-du-roi-julien-moinil-11776542)
- [About 500 protest against organised crime in Brussels - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2294814/about-500-protest-against-organised-crime-in-brussels/)

## Brussels to make school surroundings safer as pupils return
As the summer break ends, Brussels is preparing measures to make areas around schools safer. The rentrée puts school streets, crossings and daily child mobility back at the centre of the city's public-safety agenda.

Source:
- [Summer's over: Brussels to make school surroundings safer - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/2290756/back-to-school-brussels-focuses-on-safer-school-environments/)

## Brussels Ring Road exit to close permanently as major roadworks begin
A Brussels Ring Road exit is set to close permanently as major roadworks begin. The closure will affect drivers using the Ring and adds another mobility disruption around the capital.

Source:
- [Brussels Ring Road exit to close permanently as major roadworks begin - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2292250/brussels-ring-road-exit-to-close-permanently-as-major-roadworks-begin/)

## Job discrimination persists in Brussels against older and veiled candidates
Discrimination on the Brussels job market continues, with candidates rejected for being considered too old or for wearing a headscarf. The problem affects access to work in the capital and remains a civic issue for equal treatment in hiring.

Source:
- [Rejected for being ‘too old’ or wearing a headscarf: Discrimination on Brussels’ job... - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2290898/rejected-for-being-too-old-or-wearing-a-headscarf-discrimination-on-brussels-job-market-persists/)

## New criminal code changes take effect on 1 September
Belgium's new criminal code brings concrete changes from 1 September. The reform affects how offences and penalties are handled, with direct relevance for Brussels residents, police, courts and victims.

Source:
- [Nouveau code pénal : ce qui changera concrètement dès le 1er septembre - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/nouveau-code-penal-ce-qui-changera-concretement-des-le-1er-septembre/)

## Suspicious death of a woman in Anderlecht under investigation
An investigation has been opened after a woman died in suspicious circumstances in Anderlecht. The case adds to a series of public-safety incidents reported in Brussels.

Sources:
- [Une enquête ouverte après la mort suspecte d’une femme à Anderlecht - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/une-enquete-ouverte-apres-la-mort-suspecte-dune-femme-a-anderlecht/)
- [Woman dies in suspicious circumstances in Brussels - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2294721/woman-dies-in-suspicious-circumstances-in-brussels/)

## Anders wants Brussels Parliament summer recess cut to one month
Opposition party Anders wants the parliamentary calendar reformed so the political summer recess lasts only one month, from mid-July to mid-August. Party president Frédéric De Gucht says the current arrangement is no longer up to date and that restarting in mid-August would better match the working world.

Sources:
- [Anders veut limiter à un mois la trêve estivale et avancer la rentrée parlementaire - BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/anders-veut-limiter-a-un-mois-la-treve-estivale-et-avancer-la-rentree-parlementaire/)
- [Anders wil politiek zomerreces inkorten: 'Vier weken vakantie volstaat' - BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/politiek/anders-wil-politiek-zomerreces-inkorten-vier-weken-vakantie-volstaat-2026-08-31)

## Four Brussels municipalities win Bloomberg funding for youth climate projects
Four Brussels municipalities have won funding from Bloomberg for youth climate projects. The money is aimed at local climate action involving young people in the Brussels Region.

Source:
- [Four Brussels municipalities win Bloomberg fund for youth climate projects - Brussels Times](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2287269/brussels-municipalities-win-funds-for-local-youth-climate-projects/)