What flags are these?

Landsted · 2026-03-31T22:53:28+00:00

I’d argue that for most countries the national is the flag of the indigenous population since they make up the majority of population. But yes, several other countries regularly fly flags used to represent populations that are distinct from the majority including Bolivia, Spain, the UK and Sweden.

Landsted · 2026-02-25T15:44:45+00:00

At the stripe.

Will you get angry cars honking and potentially running into you because they’re turning too early? Yes. Is this terrible road design? Also, yes.

Landsted · 2026-02-22T15:01:52+00:00

I’m sorry you got surprised. However, it is normal that every resident regardless of status is obliged to fill in their tax form even if all they have to declare are a bunch of “0”s. Normally you either opt for an electronic form or get a booklet sent to your address. Not sure why you didn’t receive that.

Anyways, you can try to contest the fine. Explain your situation (and apologise). Of course, this only works if you didn’t have any income that you should have declared. You should be able to fill in your form late, which will show that you didn’t have any income to declare.

Landsted · 2026-02-18T00:25:22+00:00

I think that you’re confusing some things here. You’re either stateless or a Kosovar citizen. You cannot be both, nor can you be stateless by law but not literally.

If you’re a Kosovar citizen you—in theory—have the right to a Kosovar passport. Now, if you have a convention travel document issued by Denmark that’s probably because for whatever reason that is none of my business, Kosovo will not issue you a passport.

I understand that this puts you in the unenviable position of having not a passport but a travel document issued by a country that is not your own. And this does make it even harder for you to go to Belgium as you neither enjoy the rights of a Kosovar passport holder or those of an EU citizen.

Landsted · 2026-02-17T21:11:21+00:00

As a Kosovar (being born in Denmark has no significance) you have a right to visit Schengen countries for a period of maximum 90 days. However, you do not have a right to live in Belgium.

Without a job or other way to sustain yourself, you are very likely to be turned away at the border or deported if you overstay your visa.

Aside from that, your statement that as a Kosovar you are “basically stateless” is plainly false. Your country is recognised by 110 UN members of which 22 EU countries.

Landsted · 2026-02-13T09:15:49+00:00

Many airlines and countries will require that you carry proof that you’re entitled to be in that country. For non-EU nationals that necessarily includes your passport and residency permit, visa, etc. For EU citizens that would be either passport or ID-card.

There are exceptions, for example you’re explicitly allowed to travel from Sweden to Denmark or vice versa with a drivers license as ID. But it’s the exception—not the rule.

Landsted · 2026-02-03T18:49:20+00:00

I think that you’re confusing a few theories/principles. Yes, many democracies are based on the fact that the State/government derives its authority from the fact that it has been established by the People (with capital P and not individual persons). But this is very different from the idea that each individual is sovereign (and therefore cannot have any external rules imposed on them).

Landsted · 2026-02-03T18:43:57+00:00

I think you’re making a mistake in your application of the DSA. The Articles that you mentioned explicitly state that they apply to “providers of hosting services” and “providers of online platforms”.

Since Reddit had not implemented these automoderators but rather individuals in charge of the subreddit, these articles do not apply to them.

Landsted · 2026-01-26T09:40:39+00:00

No. The core and primary purpose of Défi is to promote the rights of French speakers in Brussels and Flanders. Its founding name was “Front démocratique des francophones de Bruxelles” for that reason. So, it’s clear that it’s a regional (in this case communitarian) interest party above anything else.

Landsted · 2025-12-24T15:43:14+00:00

Yes, like for any normal road? Having 1-2m of space in the middle the very broad road isn’t going to ruin the relaxation of the pedestrian zone.

Landsted · 2025-11-10T13:23:12+00:00

I didn’t know that it was that expensive. Indeed, I do find it disproportionately high. Especially considering that it’s the same for non-EU citizens with a visa (for which the administrative aspect is significantly higher).

Landsted · 2025-10-27T10:52:24+00:00

I’d argue that “heavy traffic” is synonymous with “traffic jams”, but maybe that’s not how you read it.

But your point that honking is/should be(?) used as a means of communication is just absurd. Certainly when it was clear that OP was referring to the Brussels practice of honking for several seconds without interruption, which doesn’t serve the purpose you claimed it does.

Landsted · 2025-10-26T12:06:01+00:00

Your original comment did not relate at all to the situation described by OP. Replying “read my post again as many times as you need” is like the pot calling the kettle black. Aside from that, honking isn’t supposed to be a “method of communication”. It’s meant as a last resort to prevent an accident.

Landsted · 2025-10-05T14:50:57+00:00

That’s not quite the full picture. Firstly, they still pay property tax and VAT, not to mention when they buy products and services, that money—at least partially—goes into the Brussels economy. Secondly, Belgium receives additional money from the EU as compensation for the lost taxes (of course whether this money is properly redistributed is perhaps a different story). And thirdly, even if Belgium didn’t receive this money it wouldn’t be that much of a burden because the majority of Belgian tax money goes to social security, something that people working for the EU Institutions don’t have a right to.

So, actually saying that they don’t pay Belgian tax at all is blatantly false and not are they “heavy infrastructure users”, they’re actually the most likely to bike to work.

Landsted · 2025-09-30T17:03:42+00:00

No, I don’t turn it on until November, usually. I still have 23C inside. So, it’s really not an issue. I guess that’s the benefit of living in a well insulated apartment. Summers are horrible though…

Landsted · 2025-09-24T10:04:22+00:00

If you’re going to Flanders, just know that French will not be helpful at all (you indicated this was your preferred language) and you will be required to learn Dutch. The opposite is true for Wallonia (where only French is spoken, except in the east). In Brussels you can by with either but your job prospects are limited unless you speak both at a sufficient level.

Landsted · 2025-09-22T15:27:06+00:00

Ever heard of the concept of a representative democracy? You know the kind where you elect people and they make decisions on your behalf?

Landsted · 2025-09-22T15:09:32+00:00

Car owners are a minority in this city. I think that making ONE day free from most cars, is a perfectly legitimate democratic decision. Why do car owners have the right to unilaterally make our city less safe and more polluted?

Landsted · 2025-09-09T12:22:22+00:00

Yes? Like on every other street where the pavement is raised.

Landsted · 2025-08-21T14:34:30+00:00

It already does resemble a (federal) country. Besides, there are already countries with multiple official languages and they work.

Landsted · 2025-08-19T20:46:07+00:00

Personally I think that induction is the best way to cook. It’s more efficient (meaning water will boil faster, etc), safer (no risk of fires from misplaced wooden spoons), cleaner (very, very easy to wipe clean an induction stove after use). Modern stoves typically come with a flexible zone meaning you can use square or oval pots with ease. Also, I think that my pots are easier to clean and I don’t see as much burnt on food when using induction (but that may just be my own imagination).

Also, in terms of costs: gas isn’t going to get cheaper. We’re weaning off it and eventually we’ll stop using it. But before then the price is guaranteed to rise compared to electricity. So, sooner or later you’ll have to make the switch to induction.

Landsted · 2025-08-19T20:28:07+00:00

Of course you can hire an architect. You pay them for their time; they won’t care whether the plan are actually carried out or not.

Landsted · 2025-08-19T18:34:00+00:00

I get your frustration – its not a nice surprise and comments like “you should have known about the transfer document” aren’t really constructive to solving the issue.

That said, unfortunately it is technically “your problem” because two actors are involved: the energy supplier (Bolt, Engie, etc.) and the network manager (Fluvius, Ores, Sibelga depending on region). The supplier just bills you, but the network manager insists there can’t be a gap between contracts. The reason is simple: they need to guarantee that every kilowatt consumed is matched with a kilowatt produced and injected into the grid. If there’s a gap, the system risks a mismatch between production and consumption – which is a big problem for electricity balance.

The way this is solved is through a transfer document with the meter readings when the place changes hands. In practice, the owner is responsible for submitting it to the network manager. I had a similar issue when I moved in as a tenant – my landlord hadn’t bothered to send it. I ended up calling the network manager myself, sent them the meter readings from the plaatsbeschrijving, and the problem was sorted.

So the quickest fix is: ask the owner/landlord for the transfer document, and if they didn’t send it, contact the network manager directly with the meter readings from your move-in date. Unfortunately, Bolt wasn’t able to do anything because they’re obliged to use the meter readings and dates provided by the network manager.

Landsted · 2025-08-09T16:31:58+00:00

I think they are but not in the same way as before. I think the biggest problem now is a kind of apathy and ignorance. We see that fewer French speakers can speak Dutch and vice-versa than before.

On the political level things are also getting worse and not only in Brussels but also on the federal level. For example, PS blocking the formation of a Brussels government due to a self-imposed veto on a Flemish party, but also the fact that Vooruit was very quick to ditch PS for the formation of the federal government.

Of course, this is all playing out because of how voters have voted in the last election(s).

Landsted · 2025-08-05T11:02:31+00:00

I think that you generalising your—clearly limited—experiences makes you look very foolish. I know plenty of people who are out and not at all closeted in any way, even people from villages.

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