The number of fish in the River Zenne is now back to the level reached before the incident at the end of last year when a water treatment plant in Brussels released tonnes of untreated sewage into the river. A census of the living creatures in the water carried out last week by the Institute for Nature and Forestry Research (Inbo) at testing points at Leest and Vilvoorde revealed 119 eels, three flounder, 17 common roach, three sticklebacks and a few unidentified species.

The University of Ghent will spend €12.5 million on five research projects designed to bring together scientists from different disciplines. Each project will receive €2.5 million from reserves, rector Paul Van Cauwenberge said. The five groups, which will be staffed in the course of the summer, will cover research in nano- and biophotonics, biotechnology for a sustainable economy, infections and immunity, neuroscience and bio-informatics.

Flemish public transport authority De Lijn is examining a proposal to rent out low-cost folding bicycles to pass holders, similar to a system already operated by the Walloon bus company TEC. Under the TEC scheme, those with a transport pass can rent a folding bike for €5, which they can take on the bus. “It’s those short distances between home and the bus-stop or between the bus and the workplace which can put people off using public transport,” mobility minister Hilde Crevits said. Passengers can currently carry their own folding bikes free on De Lijn buses.

Two men in Hasselt were last week fined €825 and given a three-month suspended sentence for stealing shares from a safedeposit box. The men, both locksmiths, had been brought in to open the box for the owners. Although one of the accused had the nerve to ask if the shares were worth anything before stealing them, it later emerged that they were worthless. The €7,500 claim against the thieves by the security company that employed them was rejected. The firm claimed its good name and reputation had been ruined.

Flemish beers last week won four gold and three silver medals at the World Beer Cup in Boulder, Colorado. The Witte Noire Imperial Amber Wheat Ale brewed by De Proef Brouwerij in Lochristi, East Flanders, won gold in the category Belgian-style dark strong ale. Gold also went to the Troubadour Blond by The Musketeers brewery in Ursel, East Flanders; to Geuze Mariage Parfait by Brouwerij Boon in Lembeek, Flemish Brabant; and to Omer Traditional Blond by Bockor Brewery in Bellegem, West Flanders. Silver awards went to Rodenbach Vintage Palm Breweries in Steenhuffel, Flemish Brabant in the category wood and barrel-aged sour beer; Brugse Zot Blond brewed by Brouwerij de Halve Maan in Bruges; and Oude Geuze Boon brewed by Brouwerij Boon in Halle, Flemish Brabant. In all, 3,330 beers in 90 categories were submitted by 642 breweries from 44 countries. www.worldbeercup.org