September 08, 2026
Anyone logging into the Belgian platform Just-on-web from Monday onward to pay a speeding fine will receive testimonials from mothers of children killed in accidents, alongside the federal speeding violation notices. In addition, the federal letters on speeding violations include cards with personal messages from witnesses. That is the core of a new road safety […]
September 04, 2026
According to the federal police, the latest Bob campaign conducted in Belgium during the summer has once again presented encouraging results, with ‘only’ 1.36% of drivers testing positive for alcohol. When the first campaign was launched in 1995 – 31 years ago – that figure was still 6.4%. The message is certainly getting through, then […]
September 03, 2026
The federal energy regulator CREG, the Commission for Electricity and Gas Regulation, warns that the numerous projects planned by high-voltage grid operator Elia over the coming years will lead to high electricity rates for households and businesses. The plans include, among other things, the energy island, new high-voltage lines such as Ventilus and Boucle du […]
September 03, 2026
America’s Robot.com is proud to present R-dog, the new delivery robot with a friendly face and WALL-E-like eyes, a red cap, and an approachable design. It can wiggle its furry tail and then ‘poop’ your package onto your porch. The R-dog has four articulated legs with wheels at the ends, so it can roll efficiently […]
September 02, 2026
Belgian employees spend more than one hour a day traveling to and from work, making Belgium once again Europe’s commuting champion. But the explanation is not simply that Belgians live farther from their jobs. In fact, Dutch employees often cover even greater distances. Belgium’s problem is that those kilometers take unusually long to cover. According […]
August 28, 2026
A recent study by the Belgian road safety institute Vias shows that electric vehicles are more frequently involved in accidents with vulnerable road users. They are involved in 42% of injury-causing accidents involving electric cars, compared with 27% for all car types. Vias analyzed whether the lower noise levels of electric and hybrid vehicles could affect the […]
August 27, 2026
In 2024, 13,581 traffic casualties in Belgium were hospitalized following a traffic accident. Of these casualties, 3,232 people suffered serious injuries. That is 7% fewer than in 2023, and 17% fewer than in 2016, while total hospitalizations fell by 17%. The figures come from a new report published by Vias, the Belgian road safety institute. The […]
August 26, 2026
Although large employers will be required to offer a mobility budget starting in 2027, Belgian companies do not expect a mass switch. The mobility budget may well be presented as an alternative to the company car, but employers do not believe that employees will adopt it en masse. According to a study by SD Worx among […]
August 26, 2026
Flanders wants to create 500 to 800 additional truck parking spaces along its motorways over the next ten years. But that ambition falls well short of what its own research says is needed: at least 1,800 extra spaces within five to ten years. The expansion is part of the new Strategic Network Plan for Service […]
August 25, 2026
On August 22, seawater temperature (between 60 degrees south and 60 degrees north latitude) reached its highest level ever – 21.10°C, the highest sea surface temperature ever measured. The European Earth observation service Copernicus announced this in a press release on Monday. The new figures even break the previous record of 21.09°C set in March 2024. […]
August 24, 2026
Scientists at Leiden University have found evidence that plants grow faster due to increased CO2. The flip side is that they become higher in calories but less nutritious. The nutritional value of virtually all crops has declined – plants contain less protein, iron, and other nutrients. The Leiden study pooled thousands of observations across dozens of crops […]
August 24, 2026
The city of Genk (Belgium) will be among the first to establish an energy community in which residents, associations, and companies can buy and sell locally generated renewable electricity. Genk calls the initiative “a Belgian first for a public authority,” but municipalities including Ganshoren and Ixelles have already launched similar initiatives. For the Genk project, the […]
August 20, 2026
Air quality in London has improved significantly since the expansion of the Ultra-Low-Emission Zone – an area within the city where polluting vehicles must pay a fee to enter. The ULEZ was first established under current London Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2019, was expanded in 2021 and 2023, and now covers all of Greater London, […]
August 19, 2026
A new phenomenon has emerged in the Netherlands: the skinnybike – the counterpart to the fatbike. Skinnybikes have tires that are up to six centimeters narrower than those of a fatbike. Like fatbikes, they are theoretically electric bikes with pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour. You therefore have to keep pedaling to move […]
August 18, 2026
Belgium requires virtually every driver diagnosed with diabetes to obtain a medically restricted license, while neighboring countries increasingly focus only on those whose condition or treatment creates a real driving risk. Yet according to the Belgian road safety institute Vias, one in five people with diabetes is driving without the required adapted license. That discrepancy […]
August 17, 2026
Europe’s major oil companies have more than doubled their profits in the latest quarter of 2026, reigniting the debate over whether governments should tax part of those gains while simultaneously spending public money to shield motorists from high fuel prices. According to an analysis by the environmental lobby group Transport & Environment, eight major oil […]
August 14, 2026
The federal police are sounding the alarm about TripRank, an app that rewards street racing – the latest craze among street racers. The police are warning of life-threatening situations on the road. TripRank records speed, routes traveled, and driving behavior, among other things. The faster users drive on public roads, the more points they receive, and […]
August 13, 2026
The rapid growth of electric cars is often blamed for putting more pressure on electricity grids. But a new Dutch analysis suggests the biggest problem is not simply how many EVs are plugged in, but how many start charging at the same time. Mobility provider Shuttel analyzed almost two million charging sessions from around 25,000 […]
August 12, 2026
Tailgating is one of the biggest annoyances in traffic. It is a widespread European and international road-safety problem and not a Belgian or Dutch peculiarity. In the Netherlands, more than one in six motorists (16.2%) cite it as their primary source of irritation. Next come making non-hands-free calls while driving (15.8%) and failing to use […]
August 11, 2026
Paris has tightened safety measures for electric scooter users through traffic regulations, speed limits, and enforcement. Riders are now also required to wear helmets and high-visibility vests while riding their scooters on public roads. Without an approved helmet, they risk a 135-euro fine; not wearing a reflective jacket can result in a 35-euro penalty. The […]
August 10, 2026
In July 2026, prolonged hot and dry conditions in western Europe led to the spread and intensification of extreme wildfires. Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record, and July saw the third and fourth heatwaves since May, marking an exceptional run of extreme heat this summer. Globally, the month was the joint second […]
August 10, 2026
Four German federal states are temporarily lifting the driving ban that has kept trucks off the highways on Sundays and public holidays since 1956. The measure came into effect this weekend and is intended to provide an alternative to waterborne transport, given the extremely low water levels of the Rhine. The states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North […]
August 06, 2026
An increasing number of Dutch people living in the border region with Belgium are filling up their tanks in Belgium, according to research by ABN AMRO. By now, approximately 15 percent of gasoline consumption in that region has shifted to Belgium. The Dutch are flocking to Belgium to fill up their tanks, now that the price […]
August 06, 2026
Starting this autumn, young drivers in France will no longer be allowed to drive powerful cars. France is banning young drivers from operating a vehicle “with engine power exceeding a specified threshold.” This ban applies to any car a novice driver operates, including borrowed or rented vehicles. The trigger is a series of serious accidents involving young […]
August 05, 2026
On Tuesday, August 4, the Brabo III high-voltage line in the Port of Antwerp was officially opened, with the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Dutch Minister Rob Jetten in attendance. Elia and TenneT have inaugurated the Brabo project – an upgrade to the electricity interconnection between Belgium and the Netherlands – in […]
August 04, 2026
Anyone who thought we could turn back the climate clock and return to the old ‘normal’ is in for a disappointment. Even if we stop driving gasoline-fueled cars and having barbecues, no one alive today will ever experience that former normal again. The sobering message comes from Bart Strengers, a climate scientist at the Netherlands Environmental […]
August 04, 2026
According to research by the telecom regulator BIPT, Bpost is by far the most eco-friendly parcel delivery service in Belgium. BIPT was commissioned to map out the environmental footprint of parcel delivery in the country. According to the BIPT study, Bpost performs remarkably well compared to other parcel services. The reason? Bpost is investing heavily in […]
August 03, 2026
In one out of four traffic accidents in Belgium involving pedestrian injuries, the person responsible flees the scene. Cyclists also frequently fall victim to hit-and-run accidents. Although most perpetrators are caught, the phenomenon remains alarmingly widespread, the Vias Institute reported on Sunday. Belgium has the worst record among its neighboring countries for hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians. In […]
August 03, 2026
After eight days of blood, sweat, and tears, the Innoptus Solar Team can finally claim victory. They are incredibly proud to have concluded their American adventure by achieving the goal they set out with a year ago: clinching the overall victory. “We knew that a great deal of work would have to be done on the […]
July 31, 2026
On Wednesday, the Belgian Innoptus Solar Team grabbed first place in the American Solar Challenge, and one day later, it maintained that position despite a significant change in weather conditions. On Thursday, the Belgian team finished 38 kilometers ahead of their Dutch rivals from Delft. Today, two days before the end of the American Solar Challenge, […]
July 31, 2026
The prolonged heat is leading to low water levels in rivers. This year has been marked not only by low water levels, but also by their remaining below the minimum navigable level for an extended period. This, in turn, is developing into a combined transport, industrial, agricultural, and water-management crisis. The immediate problem is that […]
July 30, 2026
On Wednesday, we reported that the Belgian Innoptus Solar Team grabbed first place on the fourth day of the American Solar Challenge. Today, the team announced that its position in the race remained unchanged, despite a significant change in weather conditions. Calculated risk The grey sky and thick fog – far from ideal for charging […]
July 30, 2026
Mobility federation TRAXIO, which also represents carwashes in Belgium, is calling for responsible water use and for cars to be washed in a ‘water-conscious’ manner. The federation advocates using a professional carwash instead of setting to work with a bucket and garden hose. “Professional car wash systems use up to 95% recycled water that is […]
July 29, 2026
On the fourth day of the American Solar Challenge, the Belgian Innoptus Solar Team took first place. What began as a major setback turned into a surprising turnaround. Once the team was on the road, it faced several challenges. The route was full of hills, which really put both the vehicle – Infinite Apollo – […]
July 29, 2026
Climate change has long since ceased to be an abstract threat, and yet politicians hardly ever mention it. More than thirty years after the first alarm bells were raised, the political establishment still shrugs off the extreme temperatures. “Two thousand people are dead, yet not even a minute of silence was observed,” said Jean-Pascal van Ypersele […]
July 27, 2026
Climate change is no longer an abstract threat but a harsh reality. Forest fires are raging so fiercely in Spain, France, and other European countries that some have declared a state of emergency. Meanwhile, roughly 300,000 to 360,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain due to wildfires. In Belgium, the June 27 heatwave […]
July 24, 2026
Figures from the European statistical office Eurostat show that renewable energy accounted for more than a quarter (26.2%) of final energy consumption in the European Union in 2025. A year earlier, that figure was 25.2%, and the EU binding target for 2030 is 42.5%, with an ambition to reach 45%. Eurostat calculated that the EU share […]
July 23, 2026
Last week, the Flemish government reached an agreement on a new Air Policy Plan, intended to prepare Flanders for the stricter European air-quality standards that take effect in 2030. The new plan is an update of the text drafted by the previous Flemish government, and will be re-evaluated in 2027. The most important change is […]
July 23, 2026
More than half (51%) of Belgian SMEs are feeling the impact of rising energy and mobility costs and expect further increases. Companies in the secondary sector, construction, and logistics, in particular, are feeling the pressure mount. Yet, compensation for employees remains the exception rather than the rule. Research by HR service provider SD Worx shows that only […]
July 21, 2026
The share of electrical energy has remained stuck at 23 percent over the past ten years, and that needs to increase. The European Commission aims to double the share of electricity in energy consumption to 46 percent by 2040, thereby reducing the European Union’s dependence on gas and oil imports. “The current heatwaves in Europe […]
July 20, 2026
The European Commission wants to give heavy industry more time to curb CO2 emissions. This became apparent on Friday during the presentation of the long-awaited reform of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS1). Companies in the most energy-intensive sectors – chemicals, cement, steel, glass, etc. – have for years been required to pay for the CO2 […]
July 15, 2026
The German company Siemens Energy, which specializes in energy technology and has grown into one of the most valuable companies on the Frankfurt stock exchange, is changing its name. In the future, the current entities Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy will be united under a single name and brand umbrella: Omterra. The rebranding process […]
July 14, 2026
The market for new motorcycles grew by 13.2% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year – with 16,368 new vehicles, this is the highest growth level in fifteen years. Thanks in part to the Brussels Motor Show, 2026 got off to a strong start. According to the mobility federation Traxio, increases […]
July 14, 2026
Air conditioners are generally considered ‘environmentally unfriendly’ due to their high electricity consumption. However, using them in winter can reduce CO2 emissions. Air conditioners, which function as heat pumps, owe this positive contribution to their efficient operation. A portion of the heating provided by a heat pump, therefore, counts as renewable energy, allowing users with […]
July 10, 2026
The Dutch company Giga Storage has secured almost €700 million in financing to construct Europe’s largest battery park in Dilsen-Stokkem (Belgium) – 3.5 times the size of the current record-holder, the battery park Engie commissioned in Vilvoorde late last year. The ‘Green Turtle’, as the gigantic project will be called, is intended to store enormous quantities of electricity […]
July 09, 2026
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), June 2026 was the hottest June on record for Western Europe and the second-warmest globally. The heatwave that hit much of Europe during the second half of June came only a few weeks after a particularly intense heatwave in May, followed by another in early July. The […]
July 09, 2026
Shock absorber manufacturer Tenneco, better known by the brand name Monroe, is set to lay off 120 employees at its Sint-Truiden plant – 101 manual workers and 19 white-collar staff. The dismissals would reportedly be phased from September 2026 until the end of 2027. The announcement had been anticipated for some time, but the company confirmed its […]
July 08, 2026
Biodiversity in Belgian coastal waters has changed fundamentally over the past few decades due to global warming. Typical cold-water species, such as brown shrimp, gobies, and herring/sprat, are now far less abundant, whereas warm-water species (like the venomous lesser weever) and comb jellies are thriving. This is shown by research conducted by biologist Ward Stellamans […]
July 07, 2026
Barely three weeks after entrepreneur Gerrit den Otter purchased the 30-hectare site of the bankrupt bus manufacturer Van Hool, he has already resold the land. The new owner is the Antwerp-based construction group Mourik. The purchase price was not disclosed, although, according to some sources, the land was reportedly sold “at a profit.” Biddit The Van Hool […]
July 06, 2026
The Genk-based transport and logistics company H.Essers is acquiring the American company Palmer, a leading provider of chemical warehousing and value-added logistics services. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. With this acquisition, H.Essers strengthens its transatlantic service offering and further expands its own operational presence in the chemical sector. The combination establishes H.Essers’ […]
July 06, 2026
The number of used car registrations fell slightly in the first six months of the year compared with last year (-3.6%) and the year before (-2.8%). “What stands out in this regard is the yo-yo effect, month after month,” explains Filip Rylant, spokesperson for mobility federation Traxio. Geopolitical tensions, in particular, appear to be affecting […]
July 03, 2026
Dutch EV riders are increasingly driving electric outside the Netherlands – and covering greater distances – during the summer holidays. That is the conclusion of Travelcard, a B2B mobility provider in the Netherlands. For instance, the number of charging sessions abroad by Dutch EV drivers rose by 55% across 31 countries over a three-year period. […]
July 02, 2026
According to figures published by Statistics Flanders on Wednesday, the environmental impact of transport in Flanders is estimated to have fallen by 7% between 2013 and 2024. The decline is primarily due to reduced air pollution. The MITRANS index is calculated to map the total impact of transport and transport infrastructure on people, the environment, and […]
June 30, 2026
According to a new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the world could save 8.8 million human lives through 2050 with a more ambitious plan toward electrification. The new report tallies up the massive amounts of deaths caused by vehicle pollution, finding that one person dies globally every 45 seconds as a […]
June 29, 2026
On Thursday, the Maritime Services and Coast Agency (Maritieme Dienstverlening en Kust, MDK) unveiled its newest electric ferry, the Scheldestroom, in Antwerp. With the introduction of the new ferry, MDK is taking a step toward making its ferry services more eco-friendly. “The ‘Scheldestroom’ is the result of a well-considered investment of approximately 7.5 million euros […]
June 29, 2026
The Flemish government is set to invest €1.2 billion in companies that want to capture their CO2 emissions rather than release them. Minister-President Matthias Diependaele announced the planned investment. In February, the government announced a €2 billion investment in Flemish industry. These funds are intended to support struggling companies and make them future-proof. One billion will […]
June 26, 2026
Last year, almost one in five used cars failed the pre-sale vehicle inspection due to a major or dangerous defect. Goca Flanders, the industry federation for vehicle inspections and driving tests, reported this on Thursday in its 2025 annual report. In 2025, a total of 3,600,249 cars underwent inspection, of which 482,809 were used vehicles, 2% […]
June 25, 2026
A new study by KU Leuven and Sciensano, published in the scientific journal ‘Environment International’, reveals that pollen allergy and asthma should not be treated as a ‘pollen-only’ problem but as a climate-health issue. It shows that the combination of higher temperatures, higher pollen concentrations, and air pollution leads to increased allergic symptoms and asthma in […]
June 25, 2026
From July 1, the Flemish kilometer charge for trucks will be linked to the vehicle’s CO2 emissions – the more environmentally friendly the truck, the lower the rate. In reality, the new measure will represent a material cost increase for many conventional trucks, leading the political parties Anders and Vlaams Belang to view this as a […]
June 24, 2026
Yesterday, we reported that electricity prices are rising sharply due to the massive demand for power to run air conditioners. The heat of the past few days and the demand for cooling are driving power prices to record highs. Prices above 1,000 euros per megawatt-hour have not been seen since 2020. However, to obtain electricity on […]
