Good afternoon!
Invoking Billy Idol, I need hardly remind you that this week could see eye-watering temperatures in Brussels and Belgium as a whole. By Wednesday, we could be wilting under temperatures of 37 degrees – made all the worse by the cityscape that we live and work in.
An article today in The Brussels Times says forecasters tell us we should prepare for heat for most of July. And they say this is something we will have to increasingly get used to. There could be serious implications for agriculture, and also serious health implications.
Living and working in cities during periods of excessive heat can be trying, but it can be made more bearable if there are outdoor swimming facilities, and here, Brussels is failing massively. Many of the greatest cities in Europe – north and south, east and west – have at least one outdoor swimming area. Brussels now has none. Not one.
There are many reasons for this, but a lot of it has to do with that old chestnut – the lack of a Brussels Government, and everything that entails. It is affecting so much in this city now. There is no long-term investment strategy. Projects can't get funding or planning permissions, private companies hold off on spending money or building things, everything is short-sighted, and money is restricted. Borrowing is tougher. You could argue that having somewhere to swim outdoors is a luxury, when there are so many other issues to prioritise.
I would argue differently. Countless studies conducted all over the world show that providing your population with places for them to exercise, relax, spend quality time with friends and family, especially outdoors not only makes people feel better and happier, it conversely increases productivity, reduces mental health issues and antisocial behaviour and reduces the burden on a country's health system and as a result economy.
It is not a luxury, rather, in all senses of the word, an investment. Unfortunately, it's an investment that, in Brussels at least, no one is prepared to make, it seems.
Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:
1. Belgium braces for a hot, dry summer as record heat looms
Climate models predict high temperatures across the country this summer. Read more.
2. Belgium’s waste of young talent revealed in latest jobs analysis
One in five of all young people in Belgium has a job below their skill and qualification level. While the country has the second highest job vacancy in the EU. Read more.
3. Belgium loses out on €3-6 billion due to tax treatment of company cars
"Some existing studies also estimate this cost, but the most recent one was in 2019. And things have changed quite fundamentally since then." Read more.
4. Federal Government reaches agreement on capital gains tax: What does it mean?
It is a planned tax of 10% on all profits from financial assets such as shares and cryptocurrencies. Read more.
5. Belgian festival-goers spend an average of €426 this summer
There is a striking difference between men and women: men spend on average twice as much (€578) as women (€240). Read more.
6. Syringe attacks in France: should you be worried about festival safety?
After alleged syringe attacks at Fête de la Musique events in France, how safe are festivals in Belgium? Read more.
7. Temperatures to rise to 37°C in Brussels this week
Very warm southern air has reached Belgium, leading to a code yellow warning for heat on Monday and even a code orange for Tuesday and Wednesday. Read more.
