​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERALFirst snow falls in Belgium20 November 2024 The first snowflakes in Belgium were forecast for Wednesday in the higher parts of the country While most the first snow that fell in the east of the country melted quickly Wednesday afternoon saw some slips and collisions on the Route des Fagnes (N86) between Marche-en-Famenne and Aywaille sleet and snow fell in many places later in the day A small blanket of snow may form in high and even central Belgium The Royal Meteorological Institute warned of slippery conditions on Wednesday evening and during the night the clouds will clear and temperatures will quickly drop a few degrees Ice patches may form in many places due to the freezing of wet roads a code yellow warning for caution will be in force in all provinces except West Flanders The Flemish Roads and Traffic Service also started its annual winter service on Wednesday night "It is the first winter rush with gritting operations at night," the agency said on Wednesday evening "The gritting vehicles and cycle path spreaders are ready to ensure the safety of road users on motorways regional roads and cycle paths," said Flemish Mobility minister Annick De Ridder Illustrative image © BELGA PHOTO KRISTOF VAN ACCOM Copy linkGet updates in your mailboxYour email addressSubscribeBy clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media not to mention entertainment and lifestyle our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language businesses and various organisations that need reliable information Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs www.belganewsagency.eu can also be found just a few kilometers from Brussels They are all located in the east of the country waterfalls offer real moments suspended in time the path known as the “Croix Verte” (parking lot at the start of Comblain-au-Pont) winds through the countryside until it reaches the magnificent Cascade de Chanxhe The entire 10 km loop takes 3 hours to complete You can shorten your walk by parking upstream from Rue du Pont (in which case don’t hesitate to visit the ruins of Château de Fays) and walk over several small wooden bridges to reach the splendid Cascade du Bayehon The waterfall ends its course in a large pool surrounded by rock faces The complete loop (for the most courageous) is 12.6 km long winding path through the rocks: you can clearly see how the passage of water has carved the rock over the years The Reinhardstein waterfall is truly impressive in its height Although the trail isn’t the most accessible (some of the bridges are barely secured the walk has one huge advantage: the magnificent Château de Reinhardstein overlooking the waterfall The Cascade de la Chaudière (two streams flowing into the same basin) is astonishing: one of its tributaries seems to meander horizontally between the rocks This walk along the Ninglinspo is one of the most beautiful you can do in the Belgian Ardennes and is particularly easy to access for the whole family (allow 6-7 km for the total walk) If you’re looking for peace and quiet in the middle of nature you can forget all about the Cascades de Coo Surrounded by the village of the same name a campsite and the Coo-Adventure sports park they are probably the most touristic (and noisy) waterfalls in Belgium But their sheer size is impressive (although beware of the water flow From the mouth of the stream to its arrival in the basin the Cascade de Haldeboeuf spreads over an impressive 50-meter drop What’s even more surprising is that a staircase takes you up and down the various levels – but there are no barriers or safety features Please note: the waterfall is not visible in all weathers and seasons This work, Coming full circle: A chief uncovers great uncle's WWII crash site, 70 years later, by SSgt Shane S. Karp, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Professional Quick Step squad give Tornado Tom his chance Tom Boonen claimed the Belgian national title in Aywaille It was an emotional win for the Quick Step star in his eighth attempt at winning the race ASO waffled over Boonen Boonen decision postponed to Tuesday Boonen claims first national title and I knew that in order to win a race like this one I had to be having a great day and not make any mistakes Boonen overcame pre-race favourite and local hero The hilly race in the Walloon region of Belgium had been expected to suit the versatile Gilbert giving Boonen the opportunity to win the sprint finish and claim his first Belgian championship “Of course I am slightly disappointed,” Gilbert told Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad after finishing second “[But] I have not done badly and was beaten by one of the best sprinters in the world.” Quick Step’s preparation for the championships had been disrupted by the drama surrounding Boonen’s on-again-off-again participation in this year’s Tour de France Team manager Patrick Lefevere was impressed by the team’s attitude to the race “The team was under pressure the last couple of weeks and I think they’re acting like real professionals,” Lefevere told Cyclingnews Boonen is expected to find out on Tuesday whether he will have the opportunity to display his newly acquired Belgian jersey at the Tour de France A French civil court in Nanterre will hand down a ruling that will decide whether or not the former world champion will be allowed to take the start on July 4 a beloved and longtime resident of Greenwich passed away at the age of 90 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease on June 6 the cherished daughter of the late René and Amedée Dodémont where she later earned her teaching degree in the Belgian city of Liège while on a solo journey from Belgium to the United States to visit the family of an American surgeon whom her family had hosted during World War II Mimi crossed paths with her future husband After a year and a half of correspondence they tied the knot in Werner's hometown of Thun and embarked on a life together in the United States CT where they built a home and raised their six children Mimi possessed a remarkable spirit of volunteerism inspired by her father's role as the head of the Red Cross in their village during World War II she dedicated her time to volunteering for the American Red Cross she became actively involved with the PTA at Parkway School and contributed as a volunteer French teacher at Western Junior High School and Greenwich High School and traveling when she was not attending her grandchildren's numerous sporting events and recitals A celebration of Mimi's remarkable life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in her honor to The Alliance Française of Greenwich, 299 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 www.afgreenwich.org Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. the Reuters photographer Yves Herman recently visited Animatrans a funeral home that claims to be the first in Belgium designed exclusively for pets Animatrans handles a number of arrangements for pets that have passed on to death masks and taxidermy—for customers who seek a more tangible reminder of their beloved companions We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com A collection of winning and honored images from this year’s nature-photo competition A collection of amazing recent images made with the Hubble Space Telescope Mourners of Pope Francis gathered at the Vatican scenes from the the second weekend of Coachella 2025 and landscapes of the Earth’s arctic and subarctic regions The Belgian Champion will return to action this week-end The first rider in decades to win a cobbled classic and an Ardennes one in the same season Philippe Gilbert has received good news from the doctors who gave him green light to start training again The Ronde van Vlaanderen and Amstel Gold Race champion has been forced to miss Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège due to a kidney tear Quick-Step Floors' rider will make his first appearance in two weeks this Saturday which plays host to the "Tom says Thanks" event where Tom Boonen will race in front of his fans the Belgian Champion will line up at the start of the race he organizes An update on Philippe Gilbert's new racing schedule will be made in the following days to know how many times a particular page is read We only use this information to improve the content of our website These cookies are only placed after you have given your consent Irish cyclocross and road international Liam O’Brien has put in a big performance in the inaugural edition of junior Liège-Bastogne-Liège which finished around halfway up the iconic climb of La Redoute O’Brien – who rides for Fermoy CC at home and for Isorex Cycling Team when racing abroad – made the winning selection in the 138.5km race from Bastogne to Aywaille And while he was unable to move with the eventual top three after they attacked on one of the climbs nearing the finish O’Brien was among the next group fighting for the minor placings exactly one minute down on winner Tomos Pattinson (Tofauti Everyone Active) Curtis Neill (U19 Academy La Pomme Marseille Provence) was the only other Irish rider in the race and he placed 34th – from 149 starters – some 1:53 down on the winner That was a very solid result for Neill and followed a strong ride last weekend when he was 9th overall at the Isle of Man Junior Tour three-day race While a breakaway went clear yesterday in junior Liège-Bastogne-Liège it was swept up and the strongmen formed a select group on Côte de Stockeu a 1km climb averaging 13 per cent gradient crested at the 94km marker O’Brien was in that move and once that selection was made the group was trimmed back on the Côt de La Haute a 2.3km climb averaging seven per cent and crested some 98km into the race Ireland’s O’Brien again did well on that ascent holding his own and remaining in the group as a number of riders were shelled out the back on the final climb – the 4.5km Côte de La Vecquée with just 16km remaining – three riders managed to break away from the leading group Eventual winner Pattinson was there along with Victor Vaneeckhoute (Crabbé Toitures-CC Chevigny Junior) and Milan Donie (AG2R Citroën U19 Team) the cooperation lessened in O’Brien’s group which allowed a number of chasers to get on to them That meant O’Brien was in a larger group when they hit La Redoute for the finish though 12th place in such a prestigious race was a very strong ride We’re determined to make stickybottle.com much better for your enjoyment So become a ‘Stickybottle Supporter’ now from just €5 per month We’ve grown our audience significantly in recent years but the advertising market has become harder and harder each year In order to survive and grow – and create much better content – we need to develop an income from our readers By signing up to become a ‘Stickybottle Supporter’ you’ll be helping to secure independent coverage of Irish cycling for years to come Every cent collected from readers will be used to directly fund content Sign Up A pet cemetery in Aywaille, Belgium (Thierry Roge / Reuters)October 10, 2017 ShareSave When Chris Nichols was diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer, he knew exactly where he wanted to be buried: Ramsey Creek a 33-acre nature preserve just outside Westminster The pet watched as Nichols was bundled in quilts sewn by his great-grandmothers and lowered into the ground inside a coffin his father had made “He was very close to his dog,” recalls Kimberley Campbell Briar joined Nichols; the two now rest together The desire to be buried with a pet is nothing new. Eric Greene, a cultural anthropologist and the founder of the Green Pet-Burial Society first realized that humans could be buried alongside their animal companions when he learned about a Natufian burial site from 10,000 BCE in what is now northern Israel “In it lay the skeleton of a woman on her side and with a puppy’s skeleton by her head her hand gracefully resting atop his head,” Greene remembers an animal lover who’d wanted his dog present at his bar mitzvah quickly became an advocate for what he calls “whole-family cemeteries”: places where the whole family Cemeteries in this state are formed for the purpose of the burial “of the human dead.” Try going back to the families who in good faith bought their graves in the knowledge that it was people-only Try telling people of various religious faiths who believe various animals are anathema Try telling your family member who is deathly afraid of dogs that there's a good chance you're going to be buried next to a dog It’s now by far the most visited page on the site some pet lovers apparently are finding ways to make these burials happen “There are just numerous stories of people sneaking the cremains of a beloved pet into the casket of somebody who has passed,” Greene says why should people have to sneak around at a period of grief and bereavement?” Other states are interested in whole-family cemeteries Greene has contacted more than 20 different legislators in his home state of California and says many told him they would be willing to support legislation but wouldn’t introduce it “This just wasn’t a priority,” he explains Whether or not it should be depends, in part, on what people consider to be the role of pets in their lives. “It was clear to me from the beginning that people consider their pets part of their family,” says Ellen Macdonald, the owner of Eloise Woods Community Natural Burial Park in Cedar Creek Eloise Woods has a section of the park exclusively for animals and “scores of cats and dogs.” Elsewhere in the park and three animals are already buried with their owners Ramsey Creek also both has a designated pet section and allows pet burial throughout the entire park The animals-only section can be an option for people that want to bury a pet but haven’t yet decided if they want to come to rest in the same cemetery The debate over whole-family cemeteries also gets at the different ways people define the sacred Greene believes his work goes “beyond just the simple practice of trying to get the remains of pets to be buried with human family members.” In the early 1980s Greene developed—and graduated with—the very first bachelor’s and master’s in animals and culture studies and he has always had questions about humans’ relationships to animals and what these relationships say about us and our societies These questions’ entwinement with the legal system only makes answering them more complicated Requirements that pets and humans be buried simultaneously can lead to the euthanasia of healthy animals so that they can be interred in time with their owners And state bans on pet remains in human cemeteries often mean that people choose to be buried in less-regulated pet cemeteries whose land might someday be sold or developed for other purposes Greene says he has seen a growing acceptance of the idea of humans and pets being buried together I would have thought that any cemetery would do that.’” The Belgian Rail company NMBS spread a particular message yesterday about delayed trains to Aywaille (Wallonia) The reason was said to be a camel on the loose that had reached the railtracks which prompted the NMBS to sending an apology and a correction "It was a warm day for everyone" The first message about the camel was spread around noon The official tweet said the delay 'could take up to 10 minutes' but not longer The message triggered a lot of inspiration among social media users The situation could quickly be resolved: the animal was thought to have escaped from a nearby safari park "What happened to the camel?" a reader asked "It was returned to a nearby safari park." (...) "It doesn't always have to be a cow" Even climate change popped up: "Is the desert now conquering Belgium already?" a reader asked the camel we tweeted about was a dead cat" it all turned out to be a big misunderstanding as the NMBS had made a blunder It was all due to a confusion of tongues: the NMBS apparently received a French message about "un chat mort" (a dead cat) but interpreted it as "un chameau" (a camel) The NMBS tweet account sent a message later in the day to correct things The camel that we tweeted about was a dead cat" Belgian Rail wrote The pun was continued in Dutch as a reader invented the word "katmeel" a combination of kat (cat) and kameel (camel) The tasty tipple known as “Elfique” was created by four friends from the Belgian business club the “Union Royale Belge”. Today it is brewed at the “Ourdäller Brauerei”, run by the Simon brewery in Heiderscheid. But, the beer was originally created by Andrés Grolet in a micro brewery in Aywaille, near Liège, Blegium. Unable to cope with the expected demand from beer fans in Luxembourg, production moved to Heinderscheid. The idea behind the beer was to created a typically Belgian product to be served at the various events organised by the business club in Luxembourg. Anyone curious to give it a taste can buy bottles of the "Elfique" beer from Delhaize stores in Luxembourg. Innovation and educationLuxembourg opens new drone school to boost safetyEducation ministry has launched a civilian drone school, where pilots can hone their skills and share ideas EnergyEU set to propose banning Russian gas imports by end of 2027The EU purchased a total of €23 billion in Russian energy in 2024, exceeding its military assistance to Ukraine last year SOS DétresseMore and more calls to Luxembourg mental health hotlineMore calls with suicidal thoughts “particularly worrying”, says SOS Détresse Public holiday 10 things to do on the 9 May Europe Day holidayVisit Robert Schuman’s house, head to the Mult-Culti festival in Bertrange or take a guided tour of the Europa Experience In OctoberThree-day celebration to mark Guillaume’s ascension to the throne Ministry of State releases more details on ceremony and public programme in October People movesSimmons & Simmons appoints new Luxembourg country head Thierry Somma took office on 1 May, succeeding Louis-Maël Cogis Hidden infrastructure PremiumWhat happened to Luxembourg’s WW2 and Cold War bunkers?The geopolitical climate has many countries searching for underground safety solutions War Israel vows to step up Gaza fighting ahead of Trump’s Gulf tripSignificant escalation not expected until after Trump’s trip Advertiser contentTreat yourself to a stress-free holidayDreaming of a worry-free trip What if the secret to a smooth getaway was simply good preparation and the right protection Advertiser contentReal estate: Why should you take advantage of the start of 2025 to begin your real estate project?The main things we remember about the housing sector over the past 12 months are the rise in interest rates and the fall in property prices Advertiser contentProperty: I've decided to invest!The various forms of government support for investment Advertiser contentThe Luxembourg Times BusinessRun is happening again on 18th September!On Thursday 18th September with the starting gun of the 11th Luxembourg Times BusinessRun fired at the Coque at 7 pm Share this with instagramShare this with facebookShare this with linkedinSections