The week in brief: 18 September

The government of Flanders has agreed to a request by the city of Ypres to be recognised as a tourist centre. This will allow the West Flemish city (pictured) more flexibility in opening hours for businesses. Ypres is at the centre of First World War tourism, best known for its daily Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. Shops in the centre of town are now allowed to open on Sundays if they choose, to serve the many tourists visiting during the centenary of the war.

Workers at Volvo Cars in Ghent staged a day-long wildcat strike last week in protest at a decision by management not to prolong the contracts of 150 short-term workers after the factory stops producing the XC60 model. Unions hammered out an agreement with management that sees most of the workers retained.

Clocks in the Brussels municipalities of Schaarbeek and Sint-Joost recently appeared to be ticking faster than usual, Bruzz has reported. Generators were brought in to service the area around a sinkhole in Leuvensesteenweg, which altered the clocks on electrical appliances, such as ovens and heating systems, power provider Sibelga said. The problem has since been resolved.

Laure Genonceaux of the Briz’l restaurant in Ukkel has been voted Lady Chef of the year by bottled water company Chaudfontaine. The name of the restaurant is a French Creole word for aubergine. She takes the title over from Julie Baekelandt of C-Jules restaurant in Zottegem, East Flanders.

Flemish media minister Sven Gatz has approved licences for four new radio stations for the Brussels area: one for a general public, one for Dutch-language music, one aimed at city-dwellers and one aimed at women.

Visitors to Bozar fine arts centre in Brussels last Friday were able to listen to the organ in the main concert hall for the first time in years. The instrument was installed in 1930 but damaged by a fire in 1967. Only in 1988 were moves undertaken to repair the damage. The performance of the restored piano featured Olivier Latry, organ curator at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, accompanied by the Belgian National Orchestra.

Almost half of all parents of children between the ages of nine and 14 in Flanders check up on their kids’ internet use without their knowing it. Parents regularly check the browsing history, and more than 40% read their children’s emails and texts. Ghent education expert Pedro De Bruyckere said that he understand parents’ concerns but that such behaviour is counterproductive. He suggests showing interest in online behaviour, which means “that they will come to you for help if something goes wrong”.

National rail authority NMBS carried 2.3 million passengers to and from Brussels Airport in the first six months of 2017, an increase of 13% on 2015. Comparisons with 2016 are not being used because of the impact of the terrorist attacks in March of that year. The increase from two years prior is being attributed to the new direct link with the EU district of Brussels.

A court in Antwerp has given the go-ahead for 54 chestnut trees on Charlottelei to be felled, contrary to a protest by local residents. The city claims the trees are old and sick, while residents argued they provide much-needed oxygen to the neighbourhood.

A new bar will open next week run by and for women in the Huis van de vrouw (Women’s House) in Brussels’ Schaarbeek municipality. The owners of Le poisson sans bicyclette (A Fish without a Bicycle), have said that male customers are also welcome.

Shoppers are not keen to hand over their purchases to cycle couriers to deliver them home, according to a six-month test project in Mechelen. Residents were invited to pay couriers to deliver their purchases to their homes, giving them a “hands-free” shopping experience. “Carrying bags appears to be part of the shopping experience,” said a spokesperson for Traject, which carried out the project.

The subject of a bust to mark Yvan Mayeur’s term as mayor of Brussels-City has never come up in council meetings, according to heritage councillor Geoffrey Coomans. Mayeur was forced to step down during the summer amid accusations of corruption. According to tradition, all mayors of the city are commemorated with a bust. A petition to deprive Mayeur of such a commemoration has been signed by more than 15,000 people.
Photo by Milo Profi