Those living in Brussels' European district may have noticed something unusual in their neighbourhood this morning. As part of a large farmers' protest, just over a dozen tractors are currently parked near the Place de Luxembourg.
A number of farmers are planning to spend the night right there, on the Place De Meeûs, in their tractors, until Thursday's European summit if necessary. Farmers from Charleroi are currently also heading to that same square.
The tractors are part of large demonstrations by farmers that took place in several European countries in recent days, and have now reached Belgium as well.
They are taking to the streets to protest about a variety of issues, from administrative burdens to climate regulations, but the farmers are mainly fuelled by low farm incomes.
To make themselves heard, they have been blocking traffic in several places across Belgium since the weekend, but the main impact was felt during rush hour on Monday morning, when tractors blocked access to a part of the Brussels Ring Road – resulting in long traffic jams on both the inner and outer rings.
While the blockade was initially planned to disappear after the morning rush hour, it will likely remain in place until the end of the day, said the secretary-general of the Fédération des Jeunes Agriculteurs (FJA), Guillaume Van Binst.
"[The duration of the protest] depends on the political reactions we get," he said, adding that the protesters have started to work in shifts to keep the blockade standing until the evening rush at least.
Are you experiencing trouble? Let @Maajtee know.
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. Farmer protest continues: Tractors will block Brussels Ring Road until tonight
After farmers heavily disrupted morning rush hour on Monday by blocking a part of the Brussels Ring Road with their tractors, they made it clear that they will continue to block traffic until the evening as part of a protest about a variety of issues, from administrative burdens to climate regulations. Read more.
2. 'A bad first impression of Europe': Inside Belgium's detention centres
"I visit pregnant women inside the centres from time to time. The law doesn’t even allow for them to be sent back, so why detain them in the first place?" Read more.
3. Brussels real estate sector protests social housing requirements
The Brussels-Capital Region Government has agreed on a reform of town planning charges that aim to boost the construction of affordable housing in the region. Read more.
4. Increased competition drives down supermarket prices in Belgium
Traditionally higher prices of products in Belgian supermarkets compared to neighbouring countries have experienced a notable reduction in recent years, according to a study conducted by the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA). Read more.
5. 'Concrete consequences': European study highlights issue of increasing width of cars
The expanding width of cars in various categories has become a pressing issue, hindering urban mobility and parking, as revealed in a report published by the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) on Monday. Read more.
6. Flemish man breaks world BBQ record by grilling meat for 81 hours
The world barbecue record was broken in the Flemish municipality of Haaltert this weekend, as 50-year-old Kristof De Schepper spent 81 hours grilling pieces of meat, without sleeping. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: Antwerp’s romantic squares
Some of the squares in Antwerp feel like an Italian piazza. Even if the weather is North European. The most Italianate is the Hendrik Conscienceplein named after the 19th-century Flemish writer Hendrik Conscience. Read more.
