21/7/15 - A holiday atmosphere reigns in Brussels as the city prepares for the military march past at 4PM and the fireworks on Tuesday night. A people’s festival is being held in the Park of Brussels outside the Royal Palace and King Filip and Queen Mathilde are expected this evening. Meanwhile the crowds are soaking up the sun and enjoying the many interesting displays.

A 36-year-old Algerian pickpocket has been detained at the Ghent Festival after he was recognised by German police officers in Ghent as part of a Europol exchange project.

Newcastle United have signed Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic from Belgian side Anderlecht, subject to a work permit, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

21/7/15 - King Filip and Queen Mathilde attended the outdoor Bal National in the Marollen District of Brussels on the eve of the national holiday. National treasures Nicole and Hugo are among the performers.

21/7/15 - Belgium's armed forces held a final rehearsal for today national day march past on Monday. This year's special guest is the British army and the Household cavalry regiment that fought in Belgium during the Battle of Waterloo and the 1st and 2nd world wars.

21/7/15 - Slovakia’s Peter Sagan enthralled cycling fans on Monday as they watched his spectacular descent in the Tour de France. By Monday evening he had joined VRT’s Lieven Van Gils fora n openhearted chat. Bear with us as the video starts with a short introduction in the Dutch language.

King Filip and Queen Mathilde attended a concert in Brussels last night before heading off to the Marollen district for an open air ball that is traditionally staged on the eve of Belgium's national holiday.

Rail drivers’ union ASTB has ditched its plan to strike each and every Saturday until the end of August. The decision comes after a first strike failed to make much impact.

20/7/15 - King has addressed the people of Belgium on the eve of the national holiday. The king was keen to warn Belgium's European partners including Germany and Greece saying that countries should not be set against each other.

World’s young inventors converge on Brussels 20/7/15 – Until Thursday you can discover some of the world’s most fascinating new inventions. Young inventors from across the globe have headed for Expo Sciences at Thurn and Taxis in Brussels.

20/7/15 – The Animals were among the bands performing at this year’s Blues Festival in Peer. Kevin Major spoke with frontman Eric Burdon, who seems none too bothered about his status as a rock legend.

President Barack Obama of the United States has sent King Filip a special message on the occasion of Belgium's national day. In the message that we reproduce here in full President Obama speaks of the values that Belgium and the US share that include free speech and civil society. The president also speaks of the challenges that the two countries have overcome together from the Great War, over the Second World War to today's challenges in Afghanistan.

King Filip has addressed the people of Belgium on the occasion of Tuesday's national holiday. The king spoke of the internet society and the need for real life relationships, stressed the need for strong ties between peoples and warned that countries should not be set against each other when the European project experiences difficult times.

The trial of the former Chadian president Hissène Habré starts in Senegal today. Habré stands accused of ordering the torture and murder of over 40,000 people.

Peter Decuypere, the founder of the I Love Techno rave, has written an open letter in which he calls for the legalisation of soft drugs. Mr Decuypere intervenes in the debate after police made massive seizures of drugs at the Dour music festival in Wallonia.

One of the key riders responsible for a Flemish success story during this year's Tour de France has quit the race. Greg Van Avermaet is off home to be with his girlfriend as she is about to give birth to their first child.

If the European Union does not succeed in a further political integration, it would be better to drop the euro and return to our national currencies. That's according to Guy Verhofstadt, the floor leader of the liberal ALDE fraction (Alliance for Liberals and Democrats in Europe) in the European Parliament.

Liverpool FC have agreed a 32.5 million pounds (46.8 million euros) deal with Aston Villa for the Belgian striker Christian Benteke. When the deal has been finalised, Benteke will become the most expensive Belgian player ever, as no bigger transfer fee was ever paid for any Belgian football player.

Next Tuesday, 21 July, is the Belgian national holiday. But what about Monday? Which services will be available? Trains will run according to the normal schedule for the summer holidays, but post offices will be closed.

19/07/15 - The Flemish region should have full-fledged Foreign Office. This was decided by the Flemish government. The Flemish PM Geert Bourgeois (nationalist) wants Flanders to be more visible abroad. The Flemish government is led by a coalition of N-VA (Flemish nationalists), Open VLD (liberals) and CD&V (Christian democrats).