Workers in Belgium will have the option of four-day work weeks
We previously wrote about Belgium passing a law that would make it illegal for employers to contact workers after hours. Now, in a similar attempt to encourage a healthier work-life balance, the country’s multi-party coalition government has passed an entire reform package that would give Read More...
Belgium's "right to disconnect" protects workers from burnout
In November of last year, we shared a story about how Portugal has made it illegal for employers to contact workers outside of working hours in an effort to encourage a healthier work-life balance. Now, Belgium’s Minister of Civil Service Petra De Sutter has introduced a similar law for the Read More...
Lost your ball over the fence? Belgian law gives you the right to retrieve it
Have you ever lost a ball because you’ve accidentally kicked it over the fence and into your unfriendly neighbor’s yard? Well, from the first of September, if this happens to anyone in Belgium, they’ll have the legal right to retrieve it (though this probably won’t temper the reaction of Read More...
Climate campaigners claim victory over Belgium's inadequate climate policy
Climate campaigners in Brussels came out on top last Thursday in court against the Belgian government in another victory that demonstrates how, when it comes to climate policies, the people can overturn the presiding authority of their countries. The campaigners claimed that Belgium’s climate Read More...
Animal park welcomes birth of critically endangered Sumatran orangutan
To maximize the odds of survival for the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan species, a special program was set up at the Pairi Daiza animal park in Belgium to help stimulate the birth of new Sumatran orangutans. The program works by studying the DNA of orangutans that already live in the park Read More...
Construction project completes the world’s first 3D printed two-story home
Considered one of the largest sources of environmental pollution in the world, it’s no secret that the construction industry is in need of a green revamp. One way the sector could shift towards more sustainable practices is by integrating 3D printing technology within its modus operandi. A recent Read More...
How a llama in Belgium brought us one step closer to neutralizing COVID-19
While llamas are proving to be a funny addition to your Zoom call, it seems these creatures might wind up playing a bigger role in the coronavirus pandemic. According to a peer-reviewed study, llama blood might hold the key to unlocking new treatments for COVID-19. The study details how special Read More...
Belgium welcomes new wolves as it becomes the “wolf crossroads of Europe”
Belgium is becoming “the wolf crossroads of Europe”, a conservation charity has said as it reported new sightings from France and Germany, while Flemish authorities separately announced the imminent arrival of wolf puppies. Over the weekend the charity Welkom Wolf announced that four wolves Read More...
Brussels is encouraging its commuters to hitchhike to work
Being one of the smallest truly global cities in Europe, it’s no surprise that Brussels is also one of the continent’s most congested ones. To help clear up traffic jams and the air pollution linked to it, the local government has recently taken on an ambitious commitment to encourage its Read More...
This bike path allows its cyclists to become one with nature
How do you get people to cycle more? Well, you could offer them the opportunity to do it in harmony with the natural environment. At least, that’s what the Belgian government had in mind when building a bike path through the trees of one of the country’s rural woods. The path, which has been Read More...