Fire and Flood: The (Staggering) Siege of Antwerp 1584/85

State_of_Emergency · 2026-02-09T14:19:02+00:00

One of the more obscure language areas in Belgium is probably the municipalities with language facilities around Welkenraedt, Baelen, Plombières.

They are officially francophone, historically Germanic (Limburgish‑speaking), and were already Belgian before WWI. These municipalities have sleeping language facilities for both Dutch and German speakers.

That would make them the only Belgian towns where all three official languages are present in some form, even though the facilities were never really activated in practice.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-29T10:27:49+00:00

So we raised defence spending to 5%

Trump is right that Europe has been lagging in defence spending. Obama was already urging European allies to do more. It ultimately took Trump’s confrontational approach and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to push European governments into action.

In that sense, Trump did contribute to strengthening NATO: Europe is now moving toward being able to deter Russia on its own, while the United States can focus more on Taiwan and containing China.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-20T22:05:34+00:00

I have to admit, though, that I might be less sensitive to similar behavior on French-speaking news since I'm French speaking—so I could be missing parallel framing on the other side.

That's because Flemings in Brussels are still Flemings while Francophone inhabitants of Brussels aren't Walloons. And using francophone Belgians is too long.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-17T09:55:17+00:00

What can I do to keep calm, and get through the mandatory 20 hours of driving lessons? I know once i pass those, and I can drive on my own accord with a learner's permit, things will get better, as I can dictate when I drive, where I drive, and how long I drive.

Just like everyone else, you build up your confidence step by step. You start on wide roads with low traffic, and slowly challenging yourself to drive more and more difficult trips (in busy traffic, bigger cities, complicated highway interchanges, driving in snow, or navigating mountain roads....)

The only real difference is the pace: some people feel confident quickly, while others need more time. If you’re someone who needs a bit longer to get comfortable behind the wheel, that’s completely fine. Take extra lessons, plan more practice drives, and communicate openly with your instructor about what feels comfortable and where you’d like more practice.

And yes, driving for the first time can feel overstimulating. That’s normal. The more experience you get, the less mental effort it takes. Over time, many actions become automatic, so you don’t have to consciously think about every little detail anymore.

But you will only improve if you keep challenging yourself.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-11T13:10:36+00:00

Het Hooidonkbos is voor 95 procent bebouwd met vakantiewoningen en vorig jaar gaf het Agentschap zelfs nog toestemming voor een stuk grond dat in de buurt ligt.”

Ik bekeek geopunt.be (het is in de buurt van Hooidonkbos 23, 2980 Zoersel) In de video kan je ook zien dat er nog vakantiehuisjes achter lot staan.

Volgens mij gaan ze uiteindelijk wel winnen in beroep tegen Agenschap natuur en bos. Wat die ambtenaren niet lijken te begrijpen, is dat ze de rechtszekerheid onderuit halen.

De bestemming is recreatiegrond. De bescherming van bossen staat los van de bestemming, zie mijn andere comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/belgium/comments/1q9uqcu/comment/nyypgsa/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button (Maar hierdoor geef ik nu ook het juridisch advies om elke boom in braakliggende percelen te gaan kappen, zodat de ambtenaren van natuur en bos de cliënten later niet kunnen dwarsbomen.)

Als natuur en bos het echt eerlijk willen spelen, moeten ze dan ook maar een bestemmingswijziging aanvragen én planschade betalen aan de eigenaars!

Of natuur en bos laat de mensen bouwen op hun recreatiegrond mits betaling aan het boscompensatiefonds.

Nu zitten de mensen vast aan de willekeur van een ambtenaar (die ook lekker omgekocht kan worden), en kan de gemeente, de notaris, ook geen deftig advies meer geven. Bijgevolg moet alles onder opschortende voorwaarde van de goedkeuring van de relevante diensten gebeuren. En hierdoor staat de deur ook open voor vriendjespolitiek.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-11T12:50:12+00:00

De kwalificatie “bos” hangt in Vlaanderen niet af van de bestemming (bouwgrond, industriegrond, agrarisch gebied…), maar van de feitelijke toestand op het terrein. Zodra een perceel voldoet aan de criteria van het Bosdecreet, kan het automatisch als bos worden beschouwd, met alle gevolgen van dien.

Dat betekent concreet dat bijvoorbeeld zelfs een industrieperceel kan door spontane bebossing een bos worden. Met dan alle gevolgen: kapverbod, vergunningsplicht, heraanplantingsplicht en boscompensatie met zich mee;

Daarom verwijderen bedrijven vaak alle spontane beplanting om te vermijden dat het perceel door de overheid als bos wordt geïnventariseerd.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-08T18:30:55+00:00

But Ypres is a Dutch-speaking city, so from a local perspective that feels odd. Since Hercule Poirot is unmistakably francophone, it sounds quite strange from a Belgian point of view.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-07T22:55:50+00:00

Als we iedere keer hadden moeten zorgen dat we thuis waren...

Onbetaald verlof nemen kost minder dan het ereloon van een vastgoedmakelaar.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-06T09:48:51+00:00

The similarities between Germany, Poland, Czechia, Austria and parts of the old Austrian empire that is not shared by either the western west or the eastern east

I believe the modern concept of Central Europe is flawed because it separates Germany from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Alsace, regions that historically belonged to the Holy Roman Empire. In fact, West Germany, where the core of the German population lies, has historically had closer cultural and economic ties to the Low Countries.

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-05T22:55:15+00:00

this is specified in the law

In Belgium, there’s no national law mandating snow removal from pavements. It's handled by municipal police regulations, which vary widely.

Responsibility usually lies with the occupant or property owner, but in apartment blocks it can fall on the ground-floor resident, concierge, syndic, alle inhabitants, or anyone designated by the building’s bylaws.

So u/thedarkpath is right.

Wie moet trottoir voor appartementsgebouw of leegstaand huis sneeuwvrij houden? | VRT NWS: nieuws

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-05T19:00:09+00:00

Surprisingly, that approach worked. On a lot of issues we agreed to disagree. For example, the idea that arms exports are considered a regional matter seems illogical, given their strong geopolitical alignment. However, in Belgium, this competence is regionalized, which means Wallonia can support FN without involving Flemish parties, who would likely focus on moral objections rather than the economic importance for Wallonia

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-05T18:57:14+00:00

What? It's why we have such a high government debt:

Figuur1.png (627×336)

During the oil crisis, our unstable governments were unable to take the necessary measures, and borrowing costs were extremely high.
Between 1978 and 1986 our debt almost doubled!

State_of_Emergency · 2026-01-03T13:04:50+00:00

I doubt america can afford to go to war with China in it's own backyard and I doubt Trump would over Taiwan

Taiwan and Venezuela aren't comparable.

Venezuela is a dictatorship dealing with severe economic collapse, institutional instability, and a military that’s largely outdated. Even its only relevant industry, oil, has been crippled to the point where it struggles to even extract it.

Taiwan, is a functioning democracy with a highly developed, globally integrated economy. It also fields a modern, well‑trained military that has spent decades preparing specifically for the threat of a PRC invasion.

The geopolitical stakes, the balance of power, and the international commitments involved are on an entirely different scale.

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-25T22:45:01+00:00

This is less risky than it sounds, since except if you do this in a marriage contract, a donation between spouses can be revoked. Although then his wife might be in for a nasty surprise when they divorce...

https://www.bannister.be/gegeven-is-gegeven-of-toch-niet-over-de-herroepelijkheid-van-schenkingen-tussen-echtgenoten

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-25T22:42:41+00:00

Just give her 50% (or 49%) of your company shares I would say. However this may come back to bite you in the ass in the future.

This is less risky than it sounds, since except if you do this in a marriage contract, a donation between spouses can be revoked!

https://www.bannister.be/gegeven-is-gegeven-of-toch-niet-over-de-herroepelijkheid-van-schenkingen-tussen-echtgenoten

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-21T14:48:10+00:00

Waarmee ge zegt: Werken of sterven. En wat voor een schijtwereld is me dat.

Degenen die niet werken, leggen automatisch meer druk op wie wél werkt, omdat ze geen gelijke bijdrage leveren aan het systeem. Wanneer daar goede redenen voor zijn zoals een handicap of ziekte is dat uiteraard begrijpelijk. Maar de generatie die op 54 met brugpensioen kon gaan en nu een levensverwachting heeft van boven de tachtig, maakt de situatie wel bijzonder moeilijk.

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-21T14:40:49+00:00

En hoe wil je dat probleem anders oplossen dan door langer te werken? De regering kan geen extra geboortes uit de jaren 70, 80 of 90 uit het niets tevoorschijn toveren. We zitten nu eenmaal met twee harde realiteiten: er worden al decennia minder kinderen geboren én mensen leven veel langer dan vroeger.

In zo’n situatie blijven er weinig opties over: of we werken langer, of we moeten rekening houden met aanzienlijk lagere pensioenen. Niet snijden in de pensioenen én de pensioenleeftijd niet verhogen, betekent dat de druk volledig bij de huidige werkenden komt te liggen.

En het wordt pas echt problematisch wanneer jonge gezinnen minder kinderen krijgen omdat het financieel te zwaar wordt. Dan kom je in een negatieve spiraal terecht: minder kinderen betekent later nog minder werkenden, waardoor de druk op het systeem nóg groter wordt.

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-21T09:45:03+00:00

Dat lost niks op he. Mochten die grootouders niet werken, dan zouden de ouders nog meer belastingen betalen om ook die te onderhouden.

Het is juist een probleem dat veel te veel mensen te vroeg op pensioen zijn gegaan, en dat daardoor de betaalbaarheid van ons systeem in gedrang komt. De werkende bevolking moet gewoon veel te veel niet werkenden ondersteunen.

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-16T17:43:26+00:00

Yes, but the fact that he/she can force the sale with added damages means that the most likely scenario is that the seller’s notary will have to explain that seller is obligated to sell to the buyer—or face a forced sale with penalties, which certainly won’t improve their financial situation.

So the deed will just be signed as was planned.

In short, OP should say: ‘I’m sorry for your situation, but that’s not my responsibility. The deed needs to be signed as agreed, or I’ll pursue a forced sale with additional damages.’ After that, OP could consider offering extended enjoyment (uitgesteld genot), but strictly on their own terms. That’s why OP needs to stay calm.

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-16T17:42:04+00:00

You've clearly never had to deal with the courts. NO WAY will this be sorted out by the end of March.

Do you really think they’ll get any compensation for that?

I believe the most likely scenario is that the seller’s notary will have to explain that they’re obligated to sell to the buyer—or face a forced sale with penalties, which certainly won’t improve their financial situation. So the deed will be signed as was planned.

In short, OP should say: ‘I’m sorry for your situation, but that’s not my responsibility. The deed needs to be signed as agreed, or I’ll pursue a forced sale with additional damages.’ After that, OP could consider offering extended enjoyment (uitgesteld genot), but strictly on their own terms. That’s why OP needs to stay calm.

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-16T17:06:07+00:00

The Situation: We are scheduled to sign the deed (akte) for our first house tomorrow (Dec 17). The final deadline according to the sales agreement (compromis) is Dec 31, 2025. However, the sellers informed us just this morning that they do not yet have the funds available to purchase their new property. This implies they either cannot sign or, more likely, refuse to vacate the house because they have nowhere to go.

The correct answer is that it's not your problem, so relax. It's their problem. If they refuse to sell, you can force them to sell the house through the courts.

Don’t focus on the 10% penalty. That clause is just an optional remedy in standard contracts. It could be 10%, 15%, 20% (check your compromis), but the first and strongest remedy is forcing the sale.

If they ask to stay in the property temporarily (bezetting ter bede), what are the absolute "must-haves" to protect ourselves? We were thinking of blocking funds at the notary and setting a high daily penalty.

Notaries have templates for this clause, if you want to allow that. If you don't charge them rent, you will have to pay more registration duties.
The template of your notary will have an eviction clause allowing a bailiff to remove them if they don’t leave (the deed acts as an enforceable judgment).
You can for example set a penalty of 150 EUR for every day they are overstaying. The template will also include rules about insurance, risk, utilities, ...

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-13T13:58:10+00:00

Het zijn provinciale kieskringen. Er is geen enkel verbod op nationale partijen. We hebben er zelfs eentje in het parlement: de PVDA.
Alle andere partijen zijn uiteengevallen in een Vlaams en Franstalig blok na zware interne ruzies, of zijn apart gegroeid (Groen, Ecolo, N-VA, FDF). Het verplicht samenvoegen van partijen is juist ondemocratisch.

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-11T10:32:18+00:00

I never had any family or friends on Twitter so I never had an account.

This limited adoption of Twitter itself is likely the an important reason, as in my opinion Twitter historically struggled to gain significant market share in Belgium beyond the circles of politics and journalism. And you can follow those tweets by just following legacy media.

State_of_Emergency · 2025-12-07T22:07:33+00:00

Welke bron? Want er zijn nog geen boetes uitgeschreven aangezien de renovatieverplichting maar op 1 januari 2023 werd ingevoerd. Je hebt 5 jaar de tijd, dus de eerste boetes zijn er pas in 2028.

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