Good afternoon!
Today is Thanksgiving for our American friends and readers. And although, of course, it's not officially celebrated here in Brussels or Belgium, there are some places we have found where you can enter into the spirit and indulge in turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.
Interestingly, there will be Belgians properly celebrating. There are some 300,000 citizens of Belgian descent in the USA; most of them clustered in and around the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio.
The biggest community is in Door County, Wisconsin, in the historic district of Namur, situated in the town of Union near Green Bay. It was settled in the mid-19th century by Walloons fleeing persecution and seeking a better life in the New World.
Modern tradition dictates that it's safe to assume that Belgians in Namur will be indulging in a meal of turkey with all the trimmings and then settling down to watch the Thanksgiving NFL game (the Packers are playing the Detroit Lions, in case you are interested).
And tomorrow I'm sure many of them will toddle off to the Thanksgiving market, where there is a glass workshop and some traditional Belgian wares for sale.
I've been to Door County, and it's beautiful. Some of it is not dissimilar to Wallonia, with its large areas of hilly wooded countryside, and lakes.
By the way, there is also a Brussels in Wisconsin – but that has a functioning local government, so there are some differences.
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:
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Brussels has 90,000 unemployed people – of whom 40,000 will lose their benefits in 2026 – but there are much more job vacancies in the capital than first thought. Read more.
2. The Congo painting that Belgium can never show again
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3. Belgium’s top league left without VAR due to rights row
The broadcasting deal collapse with DAZN sees Belgian football facing a TV blackout this weekend, including the inability to use VAR. Read more.
4. Women in EU face nearly double the risk of intimate partner killings
Women killed by partners or family outnumber men almost twofold. Read more.
5. The price Brussels pays for its success
Hundreds of languages are spoken, and 15% of the adult population is proficient in neither French nor Dutch – in a city where a good command of both languages is a crucial asset. Read more.
6. Talk turkey to me: Where to celebrate Thanksgiving in Brussels
Here are some turkey-themed celebrations in Brussels for homesick Americans, curious Belgians, or anyone who does not feel like cooking tonight. Read more.
7. What to do in Brussels this weekend: 28 – 30 November
Christmas is coming to Brussels this weekend! But for the grinches among you, there are still plenty of non-Christmassy activities on the agenda. Read more.
