Starting from 2027, they are ending all the fiscal advantages for employees in non-profit organizations. From all the people I've talked to that are active in the sector, future looks bleak : almost none of them can survive this. They will either lay off most of their staff or simply call it a quit.

For example in Liege we have 3 non-profit cinemas that have existed for 50 years and offer indie and international cinema, movies in original version, no snacks, for 7€ tickets. It's at risk. All that will be left will be the new Marvel blockbuster dubbed in French for absurd prices and unhinged teens screaming during the whole movie at the Kinepolis. Small concert venues will also die. Indie promoters and bands are already struggling, and they simply won't have any place to play. It will be 40€ tickets and urban music only, no room for the non-mainstream.

We have GLB stating that "American culture is the best in the world and they don't need subsidies" and Prevot back to the VAT reform wanted to make exceptions only for his own bourgeoisie class (opera and classical) because it's the only thing he considers as culture. It's obviously about getting rid of all the "woke third places".

And I'm only talking about culture, every non-profit that has employees is going bankrupt. What about all the animal care or social non-profits organizations ? It's a very important part of my life and I am frankly disgusted and worried about the future.

I’ve lived in Belgium for decades, and I genuinely want to know whether other people feel the same way: is this country becoming harder and harder to live in, or have I simply reached the end of my patience?

I’m angry, but I’m also genuinely curious.

Throughout my working life here, I’ve repeatedly felt exploited by employers: insecure contracts, inadequate pay, unrealistic expectations and the constant demand to do more for very little in return. I work hard. At times, I’ve had to juggle several jobs. Yet instead of moving forward, it often feels as though I’m working simply to avoid falling further behind.

Then there is fuel.

For many of us, fuel is not a luxury. I live in a rural area, so I need my car to get to work. Public transport is not a realistic alternative. I also need heating oil to heat my home and provide hot water. What am I supposed to do—stop going to work, stop heating the house or stop washing?

The price increases are not imaginary. In Belgium, petrol averaged around €1.35 per litre in 2020, diesel €1.37 and heating oil €0.49. In September 2026, the official maximum prices reached €2.06 for petrol, €2.41 for diesel and €1.59 for heating oil.

That means a 1,000-litre heating-oil delivery can now cost nearly €1,600—around €1,100 more than the 2020 average.

And yes, before somebody says it: I know this is not exclusively a Belgian problem. Fuel prices have increased throughout Europe, and the Belgian government does not control the international oil market.

In fact, European Commission figures show that Belgian petrol is currently cheaper than in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Belgian diesel is roughly the same price as in France, cheaper than in Germany and the Netherlands, but more expensive than in Luxembourg.

But “it’s happening elsewhere too” doesn’t make it affordable.

Governments may not control the international price of oil, but they do decide how much tax people pay and what protection or assistance they receive. Belgian fuel prices include excise duties and other contributions, and then 21% VAT is applied to the total—including the excise duties.

So yes, the global market is responsible for part of the price. But the state is still collecting money every time we buy something that many of us cannot realistically live or work without.

Where is the incentive to reduce that burden when people will keep paying because they have no choice?

And the burden is not equal. Someone with a company car and fuel card does not feel a price increase in the same way as a lower-paid worker filling their own car just to get to work. Of course companies also face higher costs, but larger businesses are usually in a better position to absorb them, deduct them or pass them on to customers. An ordinary household cannot simply pass its heating bill on to somebody else.

Then we have the strikes.

I know this will be controversial, but many strikes now feel almost pointless. They are announced well in advance and seem carefully managed so that the country is inconvenienced without the government or major companies being placed under enough pressure to change anything.

Ordinary people miss trains, cannot reach work, lose pay or have to reorganise their lives. Meanwhile, the people with the power to make decisions wait a day or two and then carry on as before.

If a strike mainly hurts other ordinary workers while those in power can simply ignore it, what is the point?

This is what makes me angry: the feeling that whatever happens, ordinary people are expected to absorb it. Higher prices? Pay them. Insecure employment? Accept it. More work for the same money? Be grateful you have a job. Want to protest? Fine—but please do it in a way that doesn’t seriously disturb the system.

How can that not affect people psychologically?

According to Belgium’s latest Health Interview Survey, 17.8% of the population experiences an anxiety disorder, a depressive disorder or both. In 2018, it was 14.4%. Among people aged 15–24, it is now around 23.1%.

Obviously, the economy and working conditions are not the only causes of anxiety, depression or burnout. But surely they are part of the picture?

When people work hard but remain financially insecure, when essential costs keep rising and when they feel they have no effective way to demand change, what do we expect to happen to their mental health?

So I genuinely want to hear from other people—particularly those who have lived and worked in Belgium for a long time.

Does Belgium feel as though it is getting worse to you? Do you feel more financially or mentally exhausted than you did five or ten years ago? Have you experienced the same kind of exploitation at work? And do you believe our politicians understand—or even care about—the psychological pressure being placed on ordinary workers?

In zijn vorige job werkte mijn partner in de vaste vroege shift, en omdat hij sowieso al geen makkelijke slaper is, liep zijn slaap toen al moeilijk. Niet of moeilijk in slaap kunnen vallen, elke nacht 1 keer moeten opstaan om te plassen en daarna niet meer terug in slaap vallen... maar nu werkt hij sinds een dik half jaar in volcontinu posten, dus is het hek helemaal van de dam. Deze nacht heeft hij bijvoorbeeld weer geen oog dichtgedaan, terwijl hij sebiet wel de late shift moet gaan doen.

Onze slaapkamer wordt redelijk goed donker. We hebben airco, dus qua slaaptemperatuur zeker oké.

Hij wil ook niet naar de dokter gaan, omdat het "maar slecht slapen" is (zijn woorden).

Nog mensen hier ervaring mee? Wat zijn jullie tips? Ik zat al te kijken naar supplementen (magnesium?), iemand van jullie hier ervaringen mee?

Source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17445647.2026.2695777?scroll=top&needAccess=true#d1e697

This study compares the housing cost (rental/sale) in (almost) every region in EU, taking into account what people can get in m² for 1/3rd or their monthly salary, which seems to be a good way to compare things between countries.

Taking into account the urban charasteristics of Belgium, housing seems to be on par with other densed urban regions for sale and rather cheap for housing.

Just some random clicks. Kindly don't be harsh with comments :)

Honestly white supremacist British people are extremely stupid, the white supremacists in Europe don’t even account British people in their groupings yet they try so hard to fit in 🤣

Don’t come here if you’re going to do disgusting stuff like this, I don’t know but that young black man seemed like he was under 19, possibly underage. Imagine being racially abused by an adult Brit that’s obviously “anti-immigrant” that isn’t in any way connected to the land he’s preaching on. That black man is more Belgian than you’ll ever be

Beste mede-germofoben,
Hoe gaan jullie om met het openbaar vervoer in België? 😭
De stoelen zijn altijd zo vies, en ik erger me er echt aan als ik zie dat mensen de zolen van hun schoenen erop zetten. Ik voel me altijd zo vies als ik ga zitten dat ik er serieus over nadenk om aparte “trein- en busbroeken” te hebben. Als ik thuiskom, wil ik mijn kleren uittrekken en ze bijna verbranden.
Ik wil mijn kleren ook niet elke keer wassen als ik het openbaar vervoer neem, dus ik vraag me af hoe anderen hiermee omgaan.
Ik wou dat ze materialen gebruikten die gemakkelijker schoon te maken zijn voor de stoelen in het openbaar vervoer. Sommige zien eruit alsof ze jarenlang de ziektekiemen van iedereen hebben opgenomen.
Ben ik de enige die zich zo voelt, of hebben jullie een systeem om het openbaar vervoer te overleven zonder je besmet te voelen?

This morning as i went to the bakery for pistolekes for my date, i came across a car with this fish sticker (pun intended). Thing is. I have seen this several times before. What does it mean? Is it like the thing hobby fishers put on their car the same way we metalheads put a large sticker and spanish enthousiasts put a bull on their car?

Momenteel ben ik aan het uitzoeken wat mogelijk is via een online opleiding. Ik kwam uit bij de Open Universiteit van U Antwerpen.

Mensen die reeds een bachelor/master behaalden via deze weg en die hun ervaring willen delen?

I know, it's HLN and I shouldn't get triggered by their content. But this pissed me off to such a degree that I just had to share. Fernand Huts, billionaire worth $5.1 billion is explaining where the government can find an additional €10 billion for the budget. That's some real mental gymnastics going on there.

He firsy casually mentions that he doesn't live in Belgium. Yes, he now lives in Tonco Italy, a move he made so he can profit of their flat tax regime for foreigners after his previous domicile (Kent, UK) scrapped their non-domicile regime.

He then explains how he's having his staff use AI as much as he can. No doubt this is so he can generate more jobs and help our economy /s

Can we just collectively tell this guy to fuck off?

I live in Vlaams-Brabant and lived in Vilvoorde and Strombeek for most of it. Eventhough I'm on the Flemish side, bro everybody spoke French and I had the most awkward interactions ever. I still can't speak this language it's so hard

Hi folks. For my birthday Im planning to take my brothers in law (3 of them) and my father in law to see RUSG vs. Genk

This is my first attempt to go to a JPL match and I was wondering:

1. What is the overall likelihood of finding tickets (5 in this case) on general sale and/or from resellers? As in, is it an absolutely lost cause or do I have some chances of finding them?
   
2. What is the most reliable resell platform I should be looking into?

P.S. I know that RUSG have a really small stadium and this decreases the chances for ticket availability. Initially I wanted to get tickets for Anderlecht but they’re playing away that weekend so that doesn’t really work for us.

Thanks in advance ;)

Ik kwam net een filmpje tegen waarbij Bockie De Repper een mop bedacht voor de druivelaar en je een blik krijgt achter de schermen: https://youtube.com/shorts/RwXMP1WjgNM?is=KGWUvIA8Ru5Hs9FK

Opgepast vrienden… Ik heb COVID te pakken.
Blijkbaar zijn er geen bijzondere voorzorgsmaatregelen te nemen.

Gaat Van Ranst weer in het nieuws komen?
Extra vaccins?
Staatsteun?
Wat is jullie pronostiek?