Hallo and bonjour everyone!
It's Maïthé Chini at the helm of Belgium in Brief today, guiding you through the second part of the working week, ahead of what will be a long Easter weekend for many.
After the rubbish situation in Brussels got a little out of hand following the three-day strike of the city's collection services at the end of March, Avenue Louise and its surroundings seem to be slightly cleaner this week.
According to the people of the aptly-named citizens' collective Brussel (Pou)belle, however, much more needs to happen before we can stop calling the Belgian capital dirty.
Sick and tired of stumbling over stray rubbish, they decided to stop complaining and start doing something. Yesterday, I sat down with two of the collective members, Ksenia Goncharova and Thorfinn Stainforth, to listen to their take on the city's fragmented approach to waste.
"There are so many layers of power, yet no one seems to be responsible," Goncharova said. When she first came to the city, she thought it came down to a mentality issue. But 13 years later, she has come to understand that it is also "an institutional one".
Rubbish collection might seem trivial in a city where shootings, drug crime and poverty make headlines on a weekly basis, but Brussel (Pou)belle argues that it is all connected: "If a city cannot sort out something as simple as keeping the streets clean, how can you trust them with anything else?"
Another very important piece on our website today covers Belgium's euthanasia legislation, specifically in the case of dementia. Our Health and Social Affairs reporter Rita Alves took a look at the story of one man, and how it might lead to a change in the country's law.
Lode Deconinck was 51 years old when, in 2023, he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. In early February, he died through euthanasia.
In a posthumous letter, he explained that he "would have liked to live a little longer" but said that the current law left him in a position where he had to end his life earlier than he would have wanted. Now, change might be on the horizon.
On a lighter note, our reporter Anas El Baye looked at Belgium's place on a new global ranking of the world's most polite countries. The countries that ranked in the top three came as no surprise. But what about the land of Manneken Pis?
Before I let you go, here are our weekly recommendations of things to do this weekend – if you're not stuck at Easter brunch like most of us Belgians will be.
Do you have any comments, tips or suggestions to improve our coverage? You can reach me via email at m.chini@brusselstimes.com.
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. ‘If a city cannot even keep its streets clean, how can you trust it with anything else?’
Sick and tired of stumbling over stray rubbish on the streets of Brussels, representatives of Brussel (Pou)belle have decided enough is enough. Read more.
2. Man claimed he was made to ‘say goodbye too soon’ because Belgium’s euthanasia laws are outdated
A posthumous letter has fuelled discussions in Belgium over the rules on euthanasia for people with early-onset dementia. Read more.
3. What to do in Brussels this weekend: 3 – 5 April
Whether you are a raver, an art lover, a horror film fan, or a seasonal beer tasting enthusiast, there is plenty to do in Brussels this weekend! Read more.
4. How polite are Belgians compared with other nationalities?
According to a global survey, Belgians could learn a thing or two from the Japanese when it comes to politeness. Read more.
5. Taxi drivers launch Belgian rival to Uber in Brussels
A cooperative of Belgian taxi drivers has launched a new ride-sharing app in Brussels, which they are presenting as a Belgian alternative to Uber and Bolt. Read more.
6. SNCB laments ‘societal problem’ as violence around Belgian train stations rises
Almost all stations in Belgium have become more unsafe over the last ten years, according to a survey published by Het Laatste Nieuws on Thursday. Read more.
7. Traffic disruption expected in Brussels as taxi drivers go on strike
The sector is facing a "critical situation" according to the Union of Taxi Drivers of Belgium. Read more.
