Key Carnival moments in 2025

The 2025 carnival season kicks off on Sunday 23 February with the Bastogne carnival and ends on Monday 31 March with the Stavelot Laetare. There are numerous carnivals between these two dates in a whole range of communes, towns and villages in Wallonia. There are also carnivals in Flanders and Brussels. 

Carnivals not to be missed

• Binche Carnival (2 to 4 March 2025): listed as a UNESCO intangible heritage site, this carnival is famous for its Gilles, characters in richly decorated costumes and wax masks who throw oranges at the crowd. 
• Cwarmê de Malmedy (1 to 4 March 2025): this four-day carnival features a large procession with over 1,500 participants and 15 traditional costumes. The Haguète, the emblematic character, immobilises passers-by with a « Happe-chair ». 
• Carnaval de La Louvière (9 to 11 March 2025): this mid-Lent celebration features Gilles, traditional music and a grand parade, starting at 3am on Sunday. 
• Laetare de Stavelot (29 to 31 March 2025): This carnival is famous for its « Blancs Moussis« , characters dressed entirely in white with long noses, who parade around throwing confetti. Laetare is a festival full of humour. The Confrérie Folklorique des Blancs Moussis has over 350 members who are dedicated to promoting the Blanc Moussi tradition, developing tourism and the economy in Stavelot and promoting brotherhood. 

How a Carnival Day unfolds and the enthusiasm of citizens

The festivities begin at dawn with the gathering of costumed participants. Parades, led by brass bands and folk groups, take over the streets. Street performances, dances and songs punctuate the day. The traditional throwing of oranges and confetti adds to the festive atmosphere. The evening often ends with fireworks or the symbolic burning of an effigy. In other words, carnival is more than just a party for many Walloons; it’s a time for intergenerational transmission and conviviality. The people of Wallonia take great pride in these traditions.

Focus on the Dragon Carnival in Emines (near Namur)

The Knights of Emines Carnival will take place on 1 and 2 February 2025. On Saturday 1 February, from 1pm, there will be a children’s carnival with a medieval village and indoor games. On Sunday 2 February at 12.30pm, a carnival dinner will be held at the Emines cultural centre. At 3pm, there will be a carnival procession. From 6pm, there will be a clash of children, ladies and titans, the lighting of the bonfire and a fireworks display. Information on the history of the Emines carnival is not given in the sources, but you can keep up to date via their website. 

For your information: Calendar of carnivals in Wallonia

The post Carnivals in Wallonia: a lively and colourful tradition appeared first on Brussels Express.

Start your adventure with a shopping spree at L’Esplanade, Louvain-la-Neuve’s must-visit shopping centre. With shops ranging from fashion to technology, there’s something for everyone. Shops such as Zara, H&M and FNAC await you for a complete shopping experience.

After shopping, it’s time for a visit to the Hergé Museum shop. The Hergé Museum (but that’s for another time!) dedicated to the creator of Tintin is a real treasure trove for comic book fans. The shop, which was the focus of our escape, offers a variety of related items, perfect for unique and original Christmas gifts.

After your visit to the world of Tintin, take a beauty break at VIP Coiffure. This hairdressing salon, located in the heart of Louvain-la-Neuve between the Museum and the Esplanade, offers high-quality services to get you ready for the Christmas festivities. Whether you need a cut, colour or blow-dry, you’ll be in safe hands. What’s more, the owner, Calogero, will welcome Brussels-Express customers with a cup of coffee (but shhh, don’t tell anyone else!).

Round off your afternoon with a trip to the festive atmosphere of the Louvain-la-Neige Christmas Market. Situated between the Grand-Place and the Place de l’Université, this market features chalets filled with craft products, delicious treats and entertainment for all the family. Stroll around the stalls, sample local specialities and let yourself be enchanted by the magic of Christmas.

This programme guarantees you a pleasant and festive afternoon, just 25 kilometres south of Brussels. Keep an eye on your watch so you don’t miss a spot!

Suggested timetable:

• 14:00 – 15:30: Shopping at the Esplanade
• 15:45 – 16:30: Visit to the Hergé Museum shop
• 16:45 – 17:30: Get your hair cut at the VIP Hairdresser’s
• 17:45 – 19:00: Stroll around the Christmas Market

Enjoy your visit and have a Merry Christmas! 🎄✨

The post A Magical Afternoon in Louvain-la-Neuve before Christmas: Shopping, Culture, Hairdressing and Christmas Market appeared first on Brussels Express.

Fancy a trip to Knokke for the festive season? Two books, published twenty years apart, explore the fascinating history of this seaside resort: Alain Zenner‘s ‘La Côte belge de Knokke à La Panne, guide ludique et érudit’ (2024) and Marc Pasteger‘s ‘La mer qui se souvient: Les plus belles histoires de la Côte belge’ (2004) offer unique insights into Knokke’s transformation from barren wasteland to popular destination.

A. Zenner takes us on a journey along the Belgian coast, highlighting Knokke’s architectural evolution and the anecdotes that have shaped its identity. In particular, he recalls the ambitious project of Paul Lippens, who hoped to discover coal or oil in the subsoil of Knokke. The failure of this venture did not prevent Knokke from becoming the chic seaside resort it is today. The train arrived in Ostend in 1834 and the city became known as ‘The Queen of the Beaches’ thanks to this new accessibility. It arrived in Blankenberge in 1963 and did not reach Knokke before 1920. From barren, uncultivated land, worthless at the time and sought after only as a hunting ground, it was transformed into wonderful boulevards that enabled investors to realise huge capital gains ».

A. Zenner’s book also highlights the importance of nature reserves for the Belgian coast, with Knokke being home to the Zwin, a nature reserve that has been extended in 2019 and which attracts many visitors. In total, there are around 40 of these protected areas on the Belgian coast, offering a peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of the seaside resorts.

Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover or just looking for a relaxing getaway, Knokke will charm you. 

M. Pasteger, meanwhile, immerses us in the captivating stories that have marked the history of the Belgian coast, from the royal love affairs of Leopold II to the promising debut of Charles Aznavour. These anecdotes, rich in detail, transport us into the past and give us a better understanding of the soul of Knokke.

The post Holiday Charm in Knokke: A Blend of History and Natural Beauty appeared first on Brussels Express.

Its belfry is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a total height of 60 meters, it is the only remnant of a collegiate church razed to the ground in 1811. It dominates the two valleys of the Sambre and Biesmelle rivers and the view from its summit is wonderful! You will truly appreciate its meticulous restoration works for a visit always appreciated. Prolong your visit to the narrow streets of the Hanging Gardens and the medieval city. You will discover works of contemporary art all over the city.

The hanging gardens are located on the southern bank of the historic center of the upper town of Thuin, perfectly oriented and exposed to sun exposure on the slope and right bank of the Biesmelle, a tributary of the Sambre. Several narrow cobblestoned streets such as the Posty Arlequin and the Grand Mont run along part of these gardens. You will find about 210 gardens spread over several levels between the various sandstone fortification walls. They can be seen through open gates. A vineyard was replanted in 2001 , the vineyard produces a natural sweet wine called: Le Clos des Zouaves.

The visit of the gardens is free of charge along a route marked out with eleven explanatory panels.

The town is one of the hubs of the waterway transport industry, since many barge owners are from this area and choose this place to stay when the time comes to retire to the boatmen’s quarter. Walking or cycling on the towpath is very pleasant from Thuin to the Abbey of Aulne.

The ruins of the Abbey of Aulne, – a Cistercian monks monastery  dating  back to 1147- are also  located on the ground of Gozee’s entity. Take the time to visit, discover Aulne, go on a boat trips, play mini golf and enjoy the numerous terraces on the banks of the Sambre where you can taste the local beer “l’ADA” @bebeer

• And many other things to discover in the four corners of the entity of Thuin: the Wood “ du Grand Bon Dieu”, the tram museum, Leers Fosteau and its castle whith a museum of pharmacy, Ragnies, one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia with its Biercée Distillery, etc.

• The village of Biercée known for its cherries party, with its beautiful kiosk and its hundred-year-old lime tree.

• They are Two craft brewery in the village of Thuillies :
• « Le Fou du Roy » with The beer «  La Galipette »

• “La Rogère” with the beer “La Beerat” and « Saqwé »

The post Beautiful visits in Wallonia: To the discovery of Thuin, located in the province of Hainaut appeared first on Brussels Express.

Throughout July, 4.4 million passengers flew to destinations across Europe.  Ryanair will continue to increase its flight frequencies throughout August with more than 1,600 routes and over 11,000 weekly flights across its network.

RyanAir’s CEO Eddie Wildon stated:

« We were pleased to see our people and customers adopt to our healthy flying measures, and encourage all those travelling with us in August to continue to do so. As traveller confidence returns, we look forward to welcoming back our customers, who can fly on the lowest fares to over 200 destinations across Europe. We’re also proud to play our part in helping Europe’s tourism industry take off again.. »

Since the resumption of our schedule in late June, passenger numbers have continued to grow and as a result, we’re delighted to announce that our flight schedule is set to increase to more than 60% in August 🛫

— Ryanair (@Ryanair) August 6, 2020

The post RyanAir restores 60% of its flights in August appeared first on Brussels Express.

Dinant is located in the heart of the province of Namur, halfway between Givet and the capital of Wallonia Namur crossed by the river Meuse, the city and its villages have a population of some 13,000 inhabitants. The nature, patrimony, curiosities, and gastronomy make the city one of the most popular destinations in Wallonia.

Birthplace of Adolphe Sax (inventor of the saxophone) or of Père Pire (Nobel Peace Prize in 1958), it reveals its many assets to the people who stop there.

The sport people will enjoy of the park of Dinant-adventure, with the famous descent of the Lesse river or the marked walks for pedestrians and cyclists (more than 300 kms are possible!).

During a cruise on the Meuse, you can admire – and even visit – the citadel, the Collegiate Church, or the Bayard Rock.

Don’t hesitate either to walk (also accessible to People with reduced mobility) through the different streets of the town center; without forgetting to take advantage of the charms of the new  riverside to take a drink or to taste one of the local specialties (including the famous “couque de Dinant”).

Other sites to be discovered in the town center or in the neighboring villages:

– the cave « La merveilleuse »

– the Mosan orchards and apiaries

– the ruins of Crèvecoeur

– The Vineyard “Bon Baron”

– The brewery « La Caracole

– the salted meats of the “Pont d’Amour”

You will find more information on the tourism office website: www.valleedelameuse-tourisme.be.

#boat #channel #tourism #tugboat #beautifuldestination #waterway #watercraft #vehiclegram #travelstagram #bebeer #Dinant #BrusselsExpress #wallonia

The post Beautiful visits in Wallonia: Discover Dinant, birthplace of Adolphe Sax appeared first on Brussels Express.

Even after a year of prize winning professors at UCLA, it wasn’t every day that I got the chance to attend an event with the likes of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, the Guest of Honor at this year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse, Margaret Atwood, recently announced Booker Prize winner 2019, and renowned award-winning authors Maja Lunde, Elif Shafak, Colson Whitehead and Ken Follett.

Amidst the enormity, I most enjoyed talking to one of the Norway writers who was concentrating on things really small. Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson, a Norweigian scientist and the author of Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects (Simon and Schuster), described our dependence on insects along with fascinating facts about seemingly normal creatures like the house fly. Did you know it has tongues underneath its feet?

“When they walk on your food,” she said, “that’s because they want to taste, ‘Maybe this is something nice for me to eat’.”

The fair was really nice, albeit very professional. With publishers promoting particular ways of thinking, some for the greater good, many just for profit via books on an incredible variety of subjects inviting my mind to wander, it didn’t take long to realize I was in a two-birds-one-stone situation, since one of my best friends from the European School was studying nearby in Leipzig.

The more I thought about Ben and my childhood growing up in Brussels, the more I longed for the old days at the European School with its diverse and very open-minded culture, due to all the different languages and ways of thinking from original sources (kids!) from different countries. In my Brussels days, my friends were from Germany, France, England, Greece…mostly ‘mixed’ like me. We shared our common ground because we were all different, but living in the same place. Ben is half German and half Nicaraguan, from Brussels, like me.

I decided to sacrifice a few hours of sleep to go see Ben for a night in Leipzig. The train took about three hours. I watched the green countryside, garden houses and occasional industrial buildings go by as I read my books. My mind kept wandering to what a long time it had been since I’d seen Ben–almost four years–and then he was there in front of me! We were really happy to see each other. Ben hadn’t changed much; he’s still a student. I told him about the power of the self and what I believe to be true inside, not according to the book or just what’s outside in current society, or only possible scientifically according to certified organizations. We stayed up all night, then slept for two hours before I had to catch the train. On the way back, I told myself, it’s OK if we don’t see each other every day, but whenever I get the chance to see him in these types of situations, I will.

The post Traveling to the Frankfurt Book Fair and on to see a Brussels friend appeared first on Brussels Express.

Leonardo arrived in Milano around his thirties in search of fame and fortune. The legend says that to be accepted at the court of Milano’s Duke, Ludovico il Moro, he brought a rare gift. It was a lira, a musical instrument that nobody knew how to play in Italy. Apparently, the gift impressed the court, because from that moment Leonardo lived and worked in Milano for almost 20 years.

So, there is no better occasion than the fifth centenary of his death to discover Leonardo da Vinci in the city that hosted him the longest. In order to do that, here it is a short itinerary not only to enjoy all the artistic, engineering and cultural production of Leonardo da Vinci but also to discover a Milano that you might not know.

Leonardo da Vinci’s statue

The itinerary can only start from the statue of Leonardo da Vinci in Piazza della Scala, exactly in front of the lyric theatre. The monument, offers a solemn and austere image of the scientist with four of his disciples. More than three centuries after Leonardo’s death, Milano still felt the need to celebrate the genius that gave so much to its city, calling a competition to make a monument to honor him. The competition was won by Pietro Magni, that finished the statue in 1872. The statue was made with white Carrara marble, while granite from Baveno was used for the basement. Located in the center of the city, this statue is the perfect symbol of the unbreakable bond between Leonardo and Milano.

The Last Supper

The second step brings us to one of the most famous and discussed masterpieces of Leonardo: “The Cenacle”, or “The Last Supper”. The enormous fresco is located in the refectory of the church Santa Maria delle Grazie. It was commissioned to Leonardo by Ludovico Sforza, that intended to place his burial in the Church.

The Last Supper was a traditional theme used to decorate convent refectories, used as a constant reminder to the friars that the life of the religious community is an extension of the life of Christ and the Apostles. However, Leonardo presented the subject in a completely innovative form and technique making radical and creative variations to the layout of the scene. Nonetheless, what has made the fresco so famous in the centuries, are the mysteries behind it, such as the “phantom hand” that holds a knife on the table or the suspicious resemblance between John and Mary Magdalene – of which also Dan Brown speaks.

Castello Sforzesco

From Santa Maria delle Grazie, let’s move to the Castello Sforzesco, defensive fortress and residence of the Lords of Milano. The castle’s “Sala delle Asse”, encloses another Leonardo’s fresco that represents vegetable plots with fruits and monochromes of roots and rocks. To celebrate the fifth centenary of his death, in the « Sala » visitors will be guided in reading the space through a scenic multimedia installation.

Inside the Castle there is also the Vinciana Collection of books dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci. However, the largest and most astonishing collection of Leonardo’s sheets is the Codex Atlanticus. It is possible to see the Codex during temporary thematic exhibitions that take place every three months both at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and at the Sacristy of Bramante, within the Santa Maria delle Grazie complex.

Leonardo Da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology

To discover the Leonardo engineer and inventor, you have to visit the Leonardo Da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. Housed in an Olivetan monastery of the sixteenth century, it is the largest Italian scientific and technological museum.

The Museum’s collection of Leonardo’s historical models was born to celebrate the fifth centenary of the birth of Leonardo. The models on display in the Leonardo Gallery were made on the basis of the Vincian manuscripts. The exhibition of the models is enriched by a series of drawings of the artist. Leonardo’s drawings show not only his projects for machines but also surveys on existing works, improvement proposals or studies on nature.

The Museum also hosts a laboratory where it is possible to use some interactive models to understand their functioning and experiment with the artistic techniques used in the Renaissance.

Conca dell’ Incoronata

What not everybody knows, is that the sophisticated system of canals (« Navigli ») of Milano, was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. In fact, Ludovico il Moro asked him to find a way to connect the city with the Lake of Como. Leonardo, designed a system of locks to overcome the problem of the land’s unevenness making the navigation possible. The sketches of the project are now kept at he Navigli Museum.

At the Conca dell’ Incoronata, built in 1496, you can still see an ancient bridge in the Adda log and the sluice, without water, with its wooden gates. These are called « Porte Vinciane » because they are identical to those designed by Leonardo da Vinci and today visible in the Atlantic Codex of the Ambrosian Library.

Leonardo’s horse

Last but not least, you cannot miss « Leonardo’s horse ». A large bronze statue of a horse, inspired by Leonardo’s drawings. The work was placed here in 1999 in front of the beautiful Milano’s Hippodrome.

The importance of this work is given by the fact that Leonardo intended to create the largest equestrian statue in the world, a demanding job with which he planned to combine the skill and artistic flair with the technical knowledge of the period.

The idea of carrying out this work to celebrate the enterprises of Francesco Sforza came to Galeazzo Maria Sforza, who thought of creating a life-size horse statue to be placed inside the Castello Sforzesco. After contacting various artists, the project failed to take off. The idea was subsequently carried out by his brother Ludovico, who entrusted the project to Leonardo. However, the hopes of completing the work vanished completely in 1499, with the fall of Ludovico il Moro. That year, Leonardo left Milan and the horse clay model was destroyed by the French soldiers who had chosen him as a target for their crossbows.

In 1977 Charles Dent, an amateur artist and art collector, decided Leonardo’s dream after five centuries. In 1999, the giant statue was finally ready and placed in the city where it was first thought of.

Until January 31st, Milano will also host several exhibitions dedicated to the renaissance genius. You can find the complete program here.

The post Leonardo Da Vinci and Milano: The unbreakable bond appeared first on Brussels Express.

All the way to Saty, a village located south east of Almaty, strings of horses appeared left and right of the road, often scattered like insects on the backs of the hills. They grazed in peace, shook their tails and pricked their ears in alert, a spasm sometimes running across their flanks.

In the fall I traveled to the Almaty Region in Kazakhstan to explore some of its natural treasures, learn more about its nomadic ancient traditions. The horizon was clear and expansive, only the velvety plains and the ragged surface of the mountains were constant companions. I felt as if I had landed on a friendly asteroid or a verdant planet in a distant galaxy.

Saty is one of the first villages in Kazakhstan to adopt the model of Community Based Tourism (CBT), in which the village families join efforts with tour operators to offer food and board, entertainment, arts and crafts workshops, all of it conducted by the local community. It’s a way to get everyone involved and develop a sense of belonging and caring for their place of origin. The Kazakh government has invested in the improvement and extension of the highways and roads so that convenient access from cities such as Almaty can bring not only tourism to the region, but also goods and services.

Inside a yurt, the traditional nomadic home of the Kazakh nomadic people, I enjoyed typical songs performed by a music teacher from the local school who played the dombra, a traditional string instrument, as well as a dance by young girls and boys. One thing that caught my attention about the yurt was the center of the ceiling which has a circular shape and is called Shanerak. It is, symbolically, the most important part of the dwelling and its shape means union. Union of the family but also of the nation. A family-size yurt can be disassembled in about 2 hours by people familiar with its structure, which has a weight of approximately 350 kilos. The yurt can be transported on the back of either one camel or a couple of strong horses.

It is believed that the horse was originally domesticated by the Scythians, a group of peoples living in this area of Central Asia as far back as the 11th century BC. The Scythians were so deft at horse riding that some scholars have entertained the possibility that the myth of the Centaur, created by the Greeks, found its origin in this part of the world.

At the table I tried the manties (dumplings filled with vegetables or spiced meat), as well as tomato and cucumber salad. There was also Kurt, which is made from dried salty cheese and has a very sour taste. Several kinds of sweets we offered for dessert including irimshik and zhent which are sweets made with a mix of millet flour, curd and sugar.

After dinner, when everyone had gone to bed, I went for a walk near the compound where the cabins stood, and even if the cold air gave me a runny nose, I stopped for a moment under the moonlight and filled my lungs with the smells of the night, a blanket of peace falling over me. Only the murmur of the Chilik river could be heard.

On the voyage I encountered landscapes of sheer dramatic beauty. The turquoise waters of the Kaindy lake with its solitary trees standing like frozen sentinels draw an image I will never forget. Formed after an earthquake in 1887 which destroyed a natural-formed dam upstream, the lake holds a snapshot of nineteenth century Kazakhstan: the trunks of the trees still standing in the middle of the lake’s waters date from a time when the Russian Empire still lay claim to these lands.

Not far from Kaindy, one can also visit the Kolsai lakes. Found only a few kilometers from the border with Kyrgyzstan, the three Kolsai lakes are at altitudes of 1700, 2500 and 2800 meters respectively. One can reach the first one by car and from there, hiking to the second lake would take about two and a half hours. A final stretch of two hours would be needed to reach the final one. Horses for rent are also available on site during the high season.

To reach Saty and the lakes, travelers can either rent a car in the city of Almaty or contact a tour operator. At this time, bus transport services are still being planned and developed. To Almaty I flew via Istanbul where I was able to see the brand new airport. “It’s a city within a city,” told me a flight attendant from Turkish Airlines when I asked her about it. The ceilings are high and stylized, and they look like the inner skeleton of a futuristic beast. During my couple of hours layover, I saw droves of people walking by, shopping for souvenirs, slurping soda, and in the maelstrom of so many passengers plenty had difficulty finding a seat. But despite its monumental size, the place was kept impeccable by the cleaning services team.

On the drive back to the city of Almaty I saw shepherds on horses looking after their sheep. On the face of the hills, they seemed like tiny fluffs of cotton pinned to the surface. Not far from them attentive dogs barked. They ran back and forth like short-tempered foremen. Far away into the distance I saw the silhouette of two solitary horses, and I wondered why they were so isolated from any other string of horses. After a moment I saw one of them raise its front legs and mount the other one. They had become a single shape.

The largest city in the country, Almaty is nevertheless full of trees and green areas. Because Almaty lies at the foot of the mountains, several streams run through the city — the melted snow feeds the Bolshaya Almatinka, Malaya Almatinka and Esentai rivers. There is a legend stating that in the 19th century, men could only get married after having planted a dozen trees. Not for nothing is Almaty also referred to as the Garden City.

On a day trip from Almaty, I visited a Kazakh Ethno Village called The Huns where I was able to know more about the nomadic traditions. I saw horse riders, both men and women, demonstrate acrobatic tricks and traditions. For instance there is Kyz Kuu, or “Girl chasing”, a game where the horseman can either steal a kiss or get a whipping from the horsewoman.

There are also simulated man to man fights while they ride their horses. Travelers can visit the Ethno Village for half a day or spend the night. There are yurtages (yurt + cottage) for those wanting additional comfort, and guests can choose to go on a horseback riding tour, relax in the steam room, follow masterclasses on “how to be a nomad”, or simply wander around and enjoy the sweet fragrance from the apple tree orchards. The juicy Aport, which is a mix of Russian and Kazakh varieties, grows in these fields.

Also on the outskirts of city, I visited a falconry where I learned about the Golden Eagle and why it is the national symbol of Kazakhstan. Nomadic tribes saw the need to protect their herds from the attacks of wolves and began taming and training eagles. Young eagles would be trained to hunt wolves by the neck or at least deter them from getting near the livestock. For centuries the tradition has passed on and thus the eagle symbolizes the nomadic culture of the country.

On the last day, I visited the Green Bazar (Zelionyj), which sits close to the intersection of Pushkin Street and Zhibek Zholy Avenue. Inside I tried dried apricots and figs and different nuts offered by chatty sellers, many of them Uzbek or Tajik, whose hands are always full of dried fruits for every passerby.

One can find pickled vegetables (carrot, peppers, cucumbers) as well as honey and many different kinds of dairy products, including the famous kumis or fermented horse milk. Before leaving I glanced one last time at the stands full of fresh fruits and vegetables all of them streaked by the mid-morning sunlight and I took with me the sounds, the smells, hoping to be back again in Almaty.

The post Discovering the natural beauty and nomadic traditions of Kazakhstan appeared first on Brussels Express.

Voyages Léonard is entering the world of passenger transport with electric vehicles. The first journeys, which began on 27 October, are trials to assess the range of these vehicles.

According to Paul DE MUYNCK, Director of flibco.com Belgium: « During these trials, we want to challenge the vehicles, including in particular when it comes to how much time they need to charge and their range. The charging time is estimated to be 2.5 hours for 200km journeys. These trials will help us see if this is feasible for long journeys. »

By using electric coaches, the two companies are keen to reduce their CO2 emissions by 127 tonnes/year per vehicle, and make their journeys to/from Brussels South Charleroi Airport greener. By travelling long distances with electric vehicles, 48,000 litres of diesel can be saved every year. A 100% electric coach also makes less noise and so has less of a sound impact.

The comfort and service on board remain identical to a traditional coach.

Philippe VERDONCK, Chief Executive Officer of Brussels South Charleroi Airport explains: « It is important for Brussels South Charleroi Airport to reduce its ecological footprint. Measures have already been taken in terms of our facilities, and we are continuing on this path to reduce the carbon impact of our activities. It is clear that road travel to/from the airport is another factor we need to work on, and we are delighted that a major partner like flibco.com is choosing electric vehicles. »

The post Link between Brussels-Midi station and Charleroi Airport with a 100% electric bus appeared first on Brussels Express.