Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain On Monday evening, a fire broke out at the renowned hotel-restaurant Le Sanglier des Ardennes in the heart of Durbuy originating from an air extraction duct in the Wagyu restaurant Stéphane Thiry, commander of the Luxembourg rescue zone described the extent of the destruction: “A substantial portion of the hotel was engulfed by flames Firefighters had to dismantle many elements to access the source of the fire highlighted the swift evacuation efforts: “The priority was ensuring the safety of our guests Everyone was evacuated without harm.” Guests were relocated to nearby hotels for the remainder of the night took to Instagram the following day to reassure customers and the community: Bronckart expressed gratitude to emergency services: “We sincerely thank the firefighters and local authorities for their swift and professional response.” the CEO assured patrons of the hotel’s swift recovery: “Like a phoenix Le Sanglier des Ardennes will rise stronger With the support of our shareholders at Alychlo continuing to make Durbuy the top destination for outdoor adventures and gastronomy.” Bronckart concluded with a message of hope: “This is not merely a challenge; it is an opportunity to showcase the resilience and courage that define us Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish Alex Aranburu (Movistar) was the fastest to the finish line in an uphill sprint to take the stage 4 victory at the Baloise Belgium Tour Aranburu came around runner-up Pierre Gautherat (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) to take the win as Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) punched up the climb to take third place on the day Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) maintained his overall race lead two seconds ahead of the day's late-race breakaway rider Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) and Aranburu moved up to third place at six seconds back The fourth stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour was a 177km race in Durbuy that included five hilly circuits and an uphill finish A large breakaway of 12 riders emerged mid-stage that included Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck) Tristan Scherpenbergh (Philippe Wagner/Bazin) Jasper Haest and Jago Willems (VolkerWessels) Valentin Retailleau (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) and Nathan Smith (Team Novo Nordisk) Flanders-Baloise and Movistar set the pace at the front of the field reducing the gap to under a minute inside 40km to go Several riders lost contact due to the challenging terrain and the fast pace of the breakaway but all were reeled back in with 37km to go Lidl-Trek and Visma-Lease a Bike moved to the front as counter-attacks from a new four-rider breakaway set off with Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) Joseph Blackmore (Israel-Premier Tech) and Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto Dstny) The quartet extended their lead to 30 seconds but that gap was slashed to just 10 seconds inside the final four kilometres as Visma-Lease a Bike pulled the field into the final run-in to Durbuy The breakaway was caught on the final short and steep ascent in the final kilometre as riders from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale and Israel Premier Tech ignited the final But it was Aranburu who bided his time and made his winning move in the final 100 metres to take the stage win Results powered by FirstCycling Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006 Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023 Dreams of chocolate lovers will come true in the Belgian city of Durbuy which hosts an exhibition featuring giant sculptures of elephants and flamingos all crafted from Belgian chocolate are the centerpiece of an exhibition in Belgium of around 50 chocolate pieces by 40 international artists also features a chocolate river and stalls selling macaroons and boozy chocolate drinks The festival has already attracted more than 30,000 visitors and is set to draw in plenty more over the Easter holidays until it closes on April 8 light-heartedly bills itself as “the smallest city in the world” and attracts sightseers from nearby Brussels and Luxembourg the advertising group that has organized the festival said: “The idea was to bring the biggest chocolate sculpture festival in the world to the smallest city in the world.” was severely damaged by a fire on Monday evening The hotel’s owner the multi-millionaire businessman Mark Coucke says that although the material damage to the hotel is extensive The upper floor of the building was particularly badly damaged and there is extensive water damage throughout the hotel told journalists that the fire couldn’t have come at a worse time “December is the most important month of the year for us” There are around 60 rooms at the luxury hotel All the hotel's guests were evacuated in time They spent the night at hotels in the vicinity Staff were also able to leave the premises unscathed The material damage to the building is extensive Marc Coucke told journalists that “There is severe fire damage on the top floor and to the roof of the restaurant and hotel fire fighters were able to save the rest of the building from fire damage we fear that there is a lot of damage from water used to extinguish the fire” Chef Wout Bru told journalists that “All the customers and all staff are safe and that's the main thing” Mr Bru also fears that the hotel and restaurant have been severely damaged “The edge of the hotel's roof has completely burned off and there is water down right to the basement We did manage to remove some artworks and other important things from the ground floor.” Instead of being sold out tomorrow it has been burned out today we suffered major water damage when the Ourthe flooded We had put that right but now there is this Wout Bru says that the fire started in the restaurant when the coal oven in the kitchen caught fire We are doing so well and then there is setback every time” the end-of-year period is a very important time will soon be bigger than Disneyland due to the project developed by Marc Coucke will this project truly be sustainable?  Entrepreneur Marc Coucke wants to turn the charming small Belgian city Durbuy These are the plans made by Marc Coucke for Durbuy Durbuy is a tourist destination in the province of Luxembourg that is well-known mainly because of its romantic and charming aesthetics Walking through the streets one could think that time has stopped and has frozen the town in a modern medieval look This is because of the castle towering over the town and the narrow cobbled streets that lead to it Some of the oldest buildings in Durbuy date from the 17th and 18th century which add value to the ‘traditional’ and ‘historical’ image of the town The surrounding nature valorizes it even more; all around the town are open fields rocks and the Ourthe river which encircles it (Ville de Durbuy and which developed long before it was even called Durbuy (Ville de Durbuy no wonder that tourism started to develop early on some periods were more important for the town than others Durbuy was already an important location for commerce and defense purposes and was therefore proclaimed a city in 1331 by John I making it the smallest city in the world for quite some time (d'Ursel The current castle is not the original one It has already been rebuilt three times and was restored on several occasions (d'Ursel another important period for Durbuy was when tourism started to develop during the 19th century It was visited by higher social class tourists seeking to reconnect with nature and to experience a rural lifestyle Tourism was however not developed well enough to accommodate the growing numbers of visitors so intensification of tourism took place after the first world war especially in the accommodation and leisure fields the expansion of the tourism industry continued with a focus on developing a variety of activities Although it was still visited by upper-class visitors the destination also started to accommodate middle class visitors in increasingly large numbers. By then Durbuy had become one of the main destinations in the South of Belgium (Dujardin the town has seen a decrease in the number of tourists several businesses have been struggling to remain open and some had to close (Cloot The local and regional governments had to find ways to boost the tourism industry again (LaMeuse This is not uncommon for rural tourism destinations that started to depend economically mainly on the tourism industry rural tourism is facing a new phase of development Rural spots used to be a destination for relaxation and reconnecting with nature but today the focus is more and more on activities and experiences This influence of globalization requires tourism destinations to adapt keeping the passive consumption of the rural through relaxation and nature whilst also developing modern activities such as sports and amusement parks to meet a more active demand (Butler As Durbuy was facing issues concerning its vitality as a destination the municipality tried to find new ways to rejuvenate tourism (Butler In reaction to its former status as a mass tourism destination the local and regional governments have tried to implement a form of 'green' and 'rural' tourism This niche market would also help Durbuy keep a competitive adventage (Dujardin this didn't prove enough to help businesses with financial difficulties when Marc Coucke made his offer to these businesses Marc Coucke  is a Flemish billionaire, who owns several key businesses and projects in the Benelux and who has promised to re-invest his money into the Belgian economy His plan was to create a theme park based on nature adventure and authenticity which spreads over 500 hectares making it larger than Disneyland and the largest natural park of Europe He planned on spending around 100 million euros to create this park and develop the town (LaMeuse The area is thus used for leisure and amusement and the attractions are based on nature and adventure and use the natural and cultural resources available in order to enhance the local economy All this to attract middle and upper class visitors as well as tourists on a business trip,  who will all find something they like in Durbuy (Sudinfo.be Coucke received support from the local mayor who participate in the decision-making process and manage the developments in Durbuy (L'Avenir Coucke argues that his plans will be beneficial on three levels: economic His plans shouldgive a  boost to local and regional economy Approximatively 300 new jobs should be created some seasonal and some permanent. Local products and businesses would be used including for the infrastructure improvement itself diversifying the industries in and around Durbuy Indoor activities would be built in order to deal with the issue of seasonality The numbers of visitors would increase to 10.000 a day and their expenditures would increase considerably (Meulders Coucke promises to develop the park to become sustainable and zero-waste for example by doing away with all activities that requiring an engine and cableways would be favored. Visitors and locals would then be able to enjoy the purity that nature has to offer he plans on placing solar panels and five wastewater treatment plants which will also be beneficial for the local community (Meulders job opportunities would emerge for for the locals with greater diversity of businesses in the city center improvements in the existing infrastructure and cultural development such as the promotion of traditional and local products he wants visitors to be able to experience the authentic town-center of Durbuy without it looking like a mass tourism destination This would make it also more pleasant for the local community and attract more residents who would stay and work permanently in the town instead of live elsewhere (LaMeuse Coucke's reaction was that they only delay the project but do not stop it (Meulders The situation in Durbuy at the moment is thus very dynamic and highly mediatized throughout the entire country a considerable number of people is against it Not only are they uncomfortable being part of what would resemble a game of Monopoly but they are also alarmed by the passivity of the local government and the local community to what is happening to them (RTBF and the other stakeholders all try to achieve the same goal of economic success environmental sustainability and better conditions for the local community Where did it go wrong? The remainder of this paper will take a closer look at the dynamic interplay between the economic social and environmental aspects of Durbuy Doing so permits a better understanding of why there is a mismatch between the perspective of opponents and that of Marc Coucke and his business partners it seems that the central topic of discussion is that of sustainability Sustainability is defined as practices which “meet the goals of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED tourism is one of the main (or only) sources of economic income regional and national governments choose to rely on tourism for economic development This can lead to a destination being dependent on the tourism industry and this makes it more vulnerable to external forces (Saarinen, 2003) This is why the development of sustainable tourism is important It has been perceived as a possible solution to current social environmental and economic issues for certain areas As the tourism industry mainly depends on the natural resources and the cultural attractions of a destination developing in a way that respects these is important for the tourism industry (Cooper Sustainable tourism development aims at three goals according to Hall (2008): “the conservation of tourism resource values; enhanced experiences of the visitors and their interaction with the tourism resources; and the maximization of the economic social and environmental profit to stakeholders in the host community (Hall These goals need to be implemented as much as possible in the everyday decision-making by stakeholders in order to meet the following criteria: strategic and long-term orientation in planning stakeholder participation in decision-making As Durbuy is one of the main attractions in the south of Belgium investing in the tourism industry is not only beneficial for Coucke  but is also supported by most of the local government as well as the regional and national governments the tourism industry of Durbuy is dependent on its natural and cultural resources. Not only does it differentiate the destination from other towns in the region this is also what gives Durbuy a competitive advantage Aware of the importance of the cultural and environmental resources of Durbuy and the interplay between them it seems that all stakeholders focus on the sustainable development of both types of resource By developing activities and services focussed on nature and on cultural resources Coucke has proven to be aware and motivated to create a tourism of quality and awareness Most services and activities he wants to offer are based on the natural and cultural resources available which consequently can also develop the local and regional economy sustainably Not only does this improve the tourist experience it also improves the quality of life of the locals This matches the three goals of sustainable tourism development mentioned by Hall (2008). The local community is also aware of the importance of developing its local economy through tourism but they also want to preserve the natural and cultural resources they have the natural and cultural resources of Durbuy are not only there to develop tourism: they are also a part of their heritage There is thus a common aim to develop social natural and economic sustainability in Durbuy shared by the different stakeholder groups there are other factors that create a gap between those pro and those against Coucke's project.  This gap might have been created when the local community did not get included in the decision-making process Stakeholder participation is important in sustainable tourism development to match the values attitudes and lifestyles of the local community but this aspect has often been overlooked in practice (Ruhanen the local community wasn’t even aware of what the park would actually be A presentation of the plans helped to change the attitudes of some of the locals but this did not sway all community members Those who were not convinced felt that Coucke and the local government should have shared information and asked for feedback before all plans were set in stone during closed meetings Even when the community showed their concerns and asked for a study that would look at at the actual impacts the project would have on the region the municipality did not take this into consideration (Adam Another worry of the local community was the passivity and inactivity of the local government in regulating the numerous transactions made by Coucke while some of his plans and actions were considered incoherent They wondered whether the municipality gave everything away too quickly (RTBF the local community questioned the extent to which they will be able to take part in the project nor Coucke has made plans to include active participation by the local community (RTBF 2017). This jeopardizes sustainable tourism development because while the environmental and economic development opportunities are there social sustainability has not been respected enough attitudes and practices of the local community are not reflected in the project, resulting in a loss of identity and a feeling of disrespect (Hall How sustainable is this project then really Another possible factor for tensions between the two groups is the mismatch of values and practices of both groups. Hollinshead (1999) explains that new developments often represent the values of the local and non-local tourism industry the values and identity of the local community are not necessarily represented if a large-scale tourism industry starts to develop in a rural setting the developments will not be based on the local interests and identity but on the demand side urban values are applied to the rural setting resulting in a mismatch. Consequently This can be observed in the case of Durbuy where tourism development does not come from the local tourism industry nor from the local community: urban values are applied to the rural setting through different and new uses of the space the theme park offers activities such as a tubing slide lasergame or escape rooms which are not the type of activities usually found in rural areas the theme park also offers ‘Bali tents’ and ‘Shaka tents’ which are not representative of the local culture the town center would be valorized through reducing and changing the types of businesses present but these are not necessarily locally produced. Even though the aims of Coucke and the local community are similar they seem to represent different values (non-local vs some question whether this has really anything to do with differences in values and practices or whether the criticism exists just because Coucke is a Flemish business man (RTL the way Coucke plans to develop the activities within the park and around the town shows a form of McDisneyization which does not match local values and practices of tourism development It refers to the rationalization of a destination and its culture in order to make it an idealized safe and easy to consume vacation package (Ritzer Tourists seek for a place where activities are all concentrated into one place and that place is characterized by controllability The characteristics of McDisneyization are what permit profit maximization of a tourist destination (Ritzer This is also reflected in Coucke’s project where he owns and thus can control most of the amenities available at the destination (accommodation and entertainment) and where he wants to push tourists to spend more time and money at the destination this results in inauthenticity and a loss of local identity Coucke not only imposes a radical change of concept but also of practice to the town and its community which used to have very different planning methods (Cloot there is a mismatch in the perspectives of both groups While Coucke takes a more global and innovative approach to tourism and sustainability some members of the local community are much more concerned with a local and traditional approach (Little The local community sees the changes that are taking place from a local perspective those who are concerned with the local environment see the changes taking place in their local area. They see the direct impacts on them and are not interested in Coucke's global vision which directly impact the authenticity of Durbuy On the other hand, Coucke makes such changes in order to achieve the same goals but on a higher scale such as making a project valorizing the local and regional environment or improving the aesthetic of the town for a better image Coucke imposes a radical change of scale.  the last few years Durbuy has become known for Marc Couke’s project: creating a theme park based on nature quite a few members of the local community are concerned about the impact this project will have on the social economic and environmental character of the place Coucke and the community both share the same goal of achieving sustainable tourism development but their preferred ways of getting there and their ultimate vision differ considerably One reason why there is such a difference in perspectives is the differences in values Coucke's way of working and planning and his ideas are more global innovative and urban than those of the local community. Although Coucke shows a sincere interest in developing sustainable projects and initiatives in Durbuy a part of the community fears the loss of local identity and authenticity the increase of already existing mass tourism and the monopoly Coucke has on the town and the local government. Although Coucke tried to reassure the local community that this would not be the case this is not reflected in the way he considers and co-operates with the local community It is understandable that such a small community can feel under threat and powerless regarding Coucke and the situation Sustainable tourism development also requires the respect and involvement of the local community in the project Can we therefore really talk about sustainable tourism development in Durbuy or is it just a way to gain support from key stakeholders in order to add "the smallest town in the world" to his game of Monopoly?  It could even change the negative attitudes part of the community has against the project and this could help avoid long-term social issues such as irritations and tensions between locals and tourists (Singh Although it might already be too late for Durbuy to do it right, this is not the case for La Roche-en-Ardennes. Durbuy is not the only area in the Belgian Ardennes that has transformed in order to accommodate and entertain a new wave of tourists. While writing this paper, a new plan was published by the town of La-Roche-en-Ardennes to make important changes in the city center is a small town 30 minutes away from Durbuy La Roche has a modern medieval look and a relatively high dependence on tourism some work was already undertaken by the municipality to improve infrastructure but they wanted to do more. Together with an anonymous partner the municipality of La Roche plans to transform a part of its center into a pedestrian zone underground parking and a three to four-story hotel All of this is supposed to blend in with the rest of the town The aim is to attract more visitors and to have them walk all the way through the center along the river and enjoying the shopping opportunities (Orianne & Lecoyer While the municipality claims this is a very important project that would greatly benefit a town in need of economic development an important proportion of the inhabitants of La Roche doesn’t feel so enthusiastic about these plans and has massively expressed its opinions on Facebook Although certain aspects such as improving the central square and connecting it to the river seem to be appreciated by the locals they doubt the hotel can blend in with the rest of the buildings and they don’t want to lose their view of the river they are skeptical about this anonymous investor and fear that this will result in a 'Durbuy 2.0' as again communication with the community did not take place. Therefore several citizens put their thoughts together and proposed an alternative plan to the municipality which would reflect a little more the local values and perspective It is unknown whether the alternative has been taken into consideration by the municipality it is however sure that changes will happen Durbuy and La Roche are only two examples of this trend other places such as Achouffe and Orval also share similar characteristics Will this be the future for the Belgian Ardennes where economic development is greatly needed?  Adam, B. (2016). Pétition…contre le méga projet de Marc Coucke, LPM events et Philippe Bontemps. [Blog].  (1980) The concept of the tourist area life-cycle of evolution: implications for management of resources Cloot, A. (2017). Durbuy aux mains de Marc Coucke. Le Soir.  Strategic planning for sustainable tourism: The case of the offshore islands of the UK. Journal of sustainable tourism, 3(4) Tourisme et la valorisation des ressources territoriales en milieu rural. Bulletin de la Société géographique de Liège, 50 Tourism and the countryside: dynamic relationships. New directions in rural tourism Determinants of market competitiveness in an environmentally sustainable tourism industry. Journal of travel research, 38(3) Surveillance of the worlds of tourism: Foucault and the eye-of-power. Tourism Management, 20(1) L'Avenir. (2018). Les investissements de Marc Coucke en Wallonie et à Bruxelles. L'avenir.  La Meuse. (2015). Booster le tourisme durbuysien. La Meuse.  La Meuse. (2016). Marc Coucke achète Durbuy Adventure. La Meuse.  La Meuse. (2017). Les projets au cœur de Durbuy. La Meuse.  representation and the cultural construction of rurality. Progress in Human Geography, 23(3) Rural tourism development. Trends in outdoor recreation Meulders, R. (2017). Durbuy: Marc Coucke annonce un parc d'attractions plus grand que Disneyland. La Libre.  In Global Tourism: The Next Decade, ed Orianne, O., & Lecoyer, G. (2019). La Roche : le futur visage du Quai de l’Ourthe[Image] Sociologist George Ritzer on McDisneyization and Post-tourism [In person] Encouraging responsible access to the countryside. New directions in rural tourism RTL. (2016). Qu’est devenu Durbuy Aventure depuis que le milliardaire Marc Coucke y a investi 50 millions? Réponse en vidéo [Image].  RTL. (2017). Une habitante de Durbuy a "peur" de la venue de Marc Coucke: sera-t-elle rassurée par l'associé du milliardaire?. RTL RTBF. (2017). Durbuy : non à un "Marc Coucke Land" !. RTBF. Strategic planning for local tourism destinations: An analysis of tourism plans. Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development, 1(3) The transformation of a tourist destination: Theory and case studies on the production of local geographies in tourism in Finnish Lapland.  Community participation in tourism planning. Tourism management, 15(2) Strategic planning and community involvement as contributors to sustainable tourism development. Current issues in Tourism, 4(1) (2003). Tourism in destination communities Sudinfo. (2016). Marc Coucke et son ambitieux projet à Durbuy: "Apporter une plus-value à la région et créer de nouveaux emplois". Sudinfo.  (1990) The Tourist Gaze: Leisure and Travel in Contemporary Societies d'Ursel, J. (n.d.). Historique du Château de Durbuy.  Ville de Durbuy. (2019). Terre d’histoire...   World commission on environment and development. Our common future Our newsletter arrives every Monday with fresh reviews Mathias Vacek and Soren Wærenskjold have been wrestling for Golden Kilometer time bonuses throughout the Baloise Belgium Tour they enter the final stage with the same time gap established in the time trial – two seconds Vacek started the day 11 seconds down on the leader and knew he would have to do something special to narrow the gap on his rival With almost 150 demanding kilometers in the legs and they initially worked well together to keep the chasing peloton at bay Vacek claimed all three Golden Kilometer sprints netting him the valuable nine bonus seconds but was still dreaming of holding on to the finish his breakaway companions looked to him to do the bulk of the work The Czech champion gave everything to hold on but was ultimately caught in the final kilometer as the road sharply climbed to the finish line following the strongest riders on the Mur de Durbuy and crossed the line in a solid sixth place in the process moving himself up to fourth on GC giving Lidl-Trek a double threat in the top five overall “We were ready to do some hard racing to try to break Wærenskjold Uno-X did a hard pace form the start and the breakaway went already because the wind on the second half of the lap was so strong that it wouldn’t make sense to go early who caught me before the climb with the Golden Kilometer but I managed to still take the maximum seconds there The wind was so strong that it was hard to keep the peloton away In the final 5km the collaboration between us was not so good anymore The guys were looking at me because I was going for GC but I was already alone in the start of the lap and it was hard for me to pace on the loop In the final I didn’t have the legs anymore to go for the win but I’m happy with my performance “It will be all in for the Golden Kilometer tomorrow For sure Wærenskjold is also strong on the flat and the sprints So far I’m happy with the racing I did here and I will try to take the win tomorrow The Golden Kilometer concept is quite fun actually When the GC is close together then it’s really important to go for this so you have to focus also on this.” Italian Champion puts in a great performance and is only beaten by Vollering If you prefer to stick to the main cities, read the article below which includes Maastricht, Brussels, Strasbourg, Dijon, Bonn, Cologne and Dusseldorf. just 3 hours' drive from Luxembourg City and cultural hub lies at the confluence of the Rivers Leie and Scheldt The 12th century Gravensteen Castle is one of the only remaining medieval castles with a moat and intact defence system in Flanders keep and the count’s residence are open to visitors and you can take an audio or a Visio (with tablet) guided tour In the city, you can also take in the Gothic St Bavo’s Cathedral with its majestic tower converted from a church in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Bishops of Ghent and Van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb It’s open every day from 8.30 (13.00 on Sundays) to 17.30 Get good views of the city and its architecture from St Michael’s Bridge and stroll around the Grass Quay (Graslei) and the Corn Quay (Korenlei) to see the old guildhalls in all their glory Head to the pretty Belgian towns of Dinant and Durbuy about 1.5 to 2 hours drive away (depending on weather conditions) Perched on the banks of the River Meuse, with an amazing rock promontory and the Citadel towering over it Climb the 408 steps to the top of the Citadel or take the gondola for spectacular winter views and a self-guided tour explaining it’s history (pamphlet provided in English) Built in the 11th century and then rebuilt by Vauban in the late 17th century it was more recently the scene of conflict during both World Wars It’s open at weekends and school holidays in January and then daily (except Fridays) from November to March from 10.00 to 16.30 The other imposing building, the church of Notre Dame, a 13th century Gothic affair with an onion dome, is open daily 9.00 to 18.00. Nearby you can visit the tiny museum dedicated to Adolphe Sax You can combine it with a visit to the Maison de la Pataphonie - an instrumentarium in an unexpected setting of a tropical jungle designed by Max Vandervorst to wake up the musician in you You'll be guided through musical regions including Saxofolly Metalody and Xylomania in a fun and interactive way Open Sundays during term time from 14.00 to 16.00 Also nearby, you can visit the wonderful caves “La Merveilleuse” discovered in 1904 and filled with stalactites and stalagmites In winter months they are open at weekends only or daily during the holidays from 11.00 to 15.00 and the museum is open daily 10.30 to 17.30 until mid-November Durbuy’s narrow streets are also home to some fantastic local cuisine from trout with nettles, to a quiche made with blue Adele cheese, Ardennes ham and walnuts, and Marckloff beer brewed at the Ferme du Chêne where you can take a guided tour and tasting A family friendly 10.5km walk takes you around the region Starting in Juliénas park in Barvaux-sur-Ourthe you’ll wander by the banks of the Ourthe past the Devil’s Tower that overlooks the river Stay at La Merveilleuse spa hotel located in an old convent with unique views of the river and the town of Dinant Rooms vary from standard to luxury and there is an apartment for six people and numerous activities from climbing and zipwires to laser games there's a lot you can do that’s off the beaten track For starters you can visit the Alternative Wolf and Bear Park in Schapbach (open in the winter months from 10.00 to 16.00 Most of the bears have been rehabilitated from captivity and the keepers provide insight into their recovery and their life at the park You can also visit the Mundenhof animal and nature park for free (donations welcome) Freiburg itself has a great cathedral with a Gothic tower, a history museum, picturesque squares and the Augustinermuseum which houses a renowned art collection of works ranging from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period You can also take a trip to a Grimm fairy-tale castle Berg Hohenzollern open 10.00 to 18.00 daily The ancestral seat of the Prussian Royal House and of the Hohenzollern Prince From 25 November to 8 January it will host Royal Winter Magic You can also ride Germany's longest cable car from 9.00 to 17.00 (stroller and wheelchair accessible) So close it's easy to make a day trip The town of Saarburg provides a lovely setting for a relaxed lunch Stroll past the waterfall or take a cable-car trip to the nearby hilltop and an all-weather toboggan ride The castle was built by Count Siegfried of Luxembourg in 946 and you can still walk around its ruins on a hill overlooking the town Running 23 metres above the forest floor the platform meanders some 1,250m through beeches oaks and Douglas firs to the observation tower Völklinger Hütte's old blast furnaces are now a UNESCO heritage site in Völklingen and feature an art gallery and science centre Despite the cold weather you can see lemurs and meerkats at the Saarbrucken Zoo which is open during the winter months from 9.00 to 17.00 every day of the year 1 May, Labour DayTrade unions threaten general strike in Labour Day demonstrationsThe OGBL and LCGB unions used 1 May rallies to promise nationwide protests for worker and union rights Labour DayWhich shops are allowed to open on Labour Day in Luxembourg?Many businesses will be closed in Luxembourg on Thursday due to the public holiday. Some, however, have a special agreement to remain open Holiday homesSeveral consumer protection complaints about Airbnb fraudLuxembourg police do not compile holiday home fraud data, but cases have been reported and caution is advised Weekend AwayThree perfect getaways in the Belgian ArdennesRead our itineraries for a weekend in La Roche-en-Ardennes, Celles, and Marche-en-Famenne, all less than 90 minutes from Luxembourg City Tour Luxembourg Take your visitors on these trips outside Luxembourg’s capitalDon’t have a car? Don’t worry, you can take visitors to see many places in Luxembourg by train with these itineraries Bank holidayPremiumWhy your bank will be closed on Good FridayMany days in April and May are public holidays for everyone, but the Friday before Easter only applies to the banking sector Discover LuxembourgAn afternoon out in Mondorf-les-BainsHead to this spa town for its aviation museum, some golf, boating, or a sculpture trail in the Domaine Thermal's gardens Bank holidaysThere are seven long weekends coming up in LuxembourgThere are seven public holidays coming up in the months of April, May, June and August that will give you the chance to get away 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 ©2025 Mediahuis Group. All rights reserved Kasper Asgreen cements place in the general classification top ten. Martin Svrcek had a valiant outing on the penultimate stage of the Belgium Tour, the hardest one of this edition, which comprised a total of 19 climbs, including the one to the finish in Durbuy. The young Slovak, who less than three weeks ago soloed to his first victory in the Soudal Quick-Step jersey at Gullegem Koerse, was among the first to attack, his effort being decisive in a breakaway forming. “I felt good today. I enjoyed being in the breakaway, we were a strong group there and believed in our chances, but the peloton pulled hard and caught us. Despite this, I am pretty content with my effort and with how I felt there”, Martin explained after the stage. Our best rider on the day was Kasper Asgreen, who kept hold of his sixth place on the general classification after an impressive effort on the Mur de Durbuy: “The headwind on the second half of the circuit blocked the race a bit. Without it, I think we would have had more attacks and bigger gaps. I did my best, but it was really tough. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with protecting my place in the standings with one stage to go.” Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images We use these cookies, among other things, 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. light-heartedly bills itself as "the smallest city in the world" and attracts sightseers from nearby Brussels and Luxembourg."The idea was to bring the biggest chocolate sculpture festival in the world to the smallest city in the world," said Laura Trommelen the advertising group that has organised the festival.Reporting by Natalie Rice; Writing by Samantha Koester; Editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Alison Williams Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Purchases made through our links may earn us a small commission — at no extra cost to you Tomorrowland recently announced the postponement of the 2020 festivities and that it’ll be holding a whole virtual festival experience instead this year As countries are starting to lift some of the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 everyone is hoping that some events will be happening towards the end of the year has announced that they’ll be hosting Durbuy Greenfields bringing you the DreamVille camping experience Durbuy Greenfields will allow visitors to stay in unique accommodations that are usually just available through a Tomorrowland ticket in an estate in Durbuy The estate will be transformed into a huge ‘glamping’ (a combination of the words ‘glamorous’ and ‘camping’) experience who wouldn’t like a refreshing dip into a pool when camping in 25-30°C) there will be 8 different types of accommodations offered including the famous DreamLodge that always seems to be amongst the first accommodations to be sold out in Tomorrowland ticket sales and you can pick between a 2 to 4-night stay and you can book a package throughout the whole of July a 2-night stay in a so-called ‘PomPom Room‘ includes various benefits listed below and starts at €110 (~US$125) These benefits are available in any of the packages All of this is, of course, bound to social distancing and government-imposed guidelines around the containing the spread of the virus, but, if you want to get a taste of what it’s like to camp at Tomorrowland, and can make a trip to Belgium, you might have just found your summer vacation plans. You can check out all the details on the Durbuy Greenfields website editorials & interviews from the dance music industry in our latest magazine Aris Setya is a photographer and influencer He is an official Huawei Ambassador for Belgium since 2018 His work is mainly as a freelance photographer he went to school for photography in Jakarta Aris Setya can be followed on Instagram and Twitter Having lived in Belgium for 5 years now I have realized that there are a lot of beautiful cities in this country Before the Covid-19 crisis I went to Durbuy Durbuy is snuggled in the heart of the Ardennes – the swathe of rolling hills and forest that stretches across southern Belgium At the heart of Durbuy is the meandering River Ourthe a tributary of the Meuse which originates in France when the river is running at just the right height This lovely city offers a picturesque and peaceful landscape for its visitors and a visit can be done either on foot or by small a train the city itself is beautiful with Ardennaise houses surrounded by forest and plenty of restaurants be sure to look out for the Ardennes specialties: rabbit with Belgian beer Created in 2018 to offer a new cultural angle on Durbuy the MAMCD (Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Durbuy) is a big attraction for tourists don’t miss the Durbuy Adventure Park or the Topiary Park which offers a nice view of Durbuy Castle and is home to hundreds of plant sculptures Not far from Durbuy you can find the famous Labyrinthe (don’t be afraid Here are some of my photos from my trip to beautiful Durbuy Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website Play Mart International is pleased to announce the upcoming installation of the biggest Fast Tag attraction in the world which will take place at the largest adventure centre in the world – Adventure Valley Park in Belgium The popular adventure park has added a new indoor hall called La Fabrique which This new installation of Play Mart’s successful Fast Tag indoor assault course will measure over 1000 square metres and will reach a height of 7 metres This makes it the largest of its kind in the world It will feature a game arena divided into three zones where players collect points by finding and hitting illuminated transponders hidden around the space These are added up by RFID wristbands as visitors play and compete TAG Active Technology means that players can try to beat their own high score play as a group or try to top the leaderboard The Zone 2 main arena includes fun elements like a giant quarter pipe and a huge ball hop in Zone 1 players can enjoy a brand new escape room-style challenge where they must solve puzzles to reveal the point-scoring transponders that are hidden away Visitors will find a fun experience that challenges their fitness one that is suitable for both children and adults Play Mart is part of the iPlayCO family of companies. iPlayCO is a worldwide leader in the design and supply of quality, fun, safe and reliable indoor play structures suitable for the whole family and guests of all ages to enjoy Get the latest attractions industry
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purple leader's jersey into the final day of racing for stage 5's 194km race in Brussels The fourth stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour offered the field 172km in Durbuy The peloton raced on long circuits that included three climbs; Côte de Hermanne Côte Grand Houmart and Mur de Durbuy The race opened with a series of attacks until an early breakaway formed 20km into the stage that included Asbjørn Hellemose (Trek-Segafredo) Logan Currie (Bolton Equities Black Spoke) and Andreas Goeman (Tarteletto-Isorex) The five riders built a lead out to just over two minutes but that advantage was slashed to just 10 seconds as the race hit the 100km to-go mark.  two more riders escaped with Aime De Gendt (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) and Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Dstny) The small gap was closed down immediately shut down by Alpecin-Deceuninck Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) sensed an opportunity to attack and jumped ahead of the field with 36km to go.  even as an unorganised chase group formed behind which included Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X) Tibau Nys (Trek-Segafredo) at 40 seconds back.  That group was followed by Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Ben Hermans (Israel-Premier Tech) at 50 seconds holding on to 16 seconds ahead of runner-up Nys and then Pedersen in Durbuy Results powered by FirstCycling Often referred to as the smallest town in the world Durbuy wants to prepare for the future by investing in connectivity it can count on the support of Proximus and La Petite Merveille (LPM) the company of Bart Maerten and Marc Coucke which has been active in Durbuy for many years the town and the two companies unveiled their plans to offer inhabitants and visitors of Durbuy even better services and experiences while respecting the city's unique and authentic character and Digital Wallonia are delighted with this partnership between two players with strong roots in the Belgian and local economy known for its family feel and friendly character is a favorite destination among Belgian and foreign tourists it has established itself as one of the major tourist centers in the Walloon Region supported by the major investments made by entrepreneur Marc Coucke These investments are part of a comprehensive approach that puts the emphasis on quality The agreement between Proximus and LPM presented today should further consolidate Durbuy’s growing reputation as a jewel in the crown of Walloon tourism The partnership will place Durbuy at the forefront of future network connectivity in Wallonia driven by an accelerated roll-out of fiber and an overall improvement of mobile coverage in and around the town These investments should also be valuable to local merchants and ensure better functioning digital payments for small and medium-sized businesses Proximus intends to activate 5G in the old town as well as in Adventure Valley as soon as possible respecting the standards and regulations defined by the Walloon Region This would make Durbuy the first Walloon town to benefit from 5G coverage in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band which will be essential for large-scale deployment in the coming years and the town of Durbuy and Proximus are confident that the necessary authorizations will be granted in the near future This investment responds to the growing demand for quality connectivity in Durbuy town center and its surrounding area the partnership will facilitate the development of new innovative applications in the tourism sector The objective is to integrate new technologies (such as augmented or virtual reality) into several tourist attractions or applications where they have an added value and to offer a differentiating digital experience for inhabitants This will of course be done with due respect for the family-friendly feel that gives the Ardennes its unrivaled charm A third pillar of the cooperation concerns data analytics which will allow to better adapt the tourist offer to the expectations and preferences of visitors and improve safety the two companies will work together on the organization and promotion of events which naturally make use of these new technologies Today's announcement is good news for Durbuy and its inhabitants the town of Durbuy has become a major tourist draw in Wallonia and welcomes many people because of its wide variety of leisure self-catering accommodation and premium tourist facilities We can now offer additional comfort by investing in 5G and fiber optics I am particularly pleased with this partnership with LPM which will become even more appealing for residents They will be able to enjoy an excellent digital experience and discover new technological applications during their stay But this collaboration will also be important for Wallonia as a whole as Durbuy will be one of the first towns in the south of the country where 5G will be deployed thanks to the new emission standard that is expected to come into force by the end of the year it will soon be possible to extend 5G to other towns This will help the Region to enhance its attractiveness accelerate its economic development and meet the rapidly changing needs of citizens and businesses we are investing in initiatives where sustainability and entrepreneurship play a central role the people are friendly and all the facilities are at the ready We now want and need to invest in improving the experience local partner with which we can achieve these dreams I am already looking forward to the new experiences we can offer our visitors This project is totally in line with the Walloon Government's desire to perfect optimal connectivity throughout the Walloon region Thanks to this exemplary partnership between the city in line with the region's digital strategy Durbuy will be able to demonstrate the value of new technologies not only for its inhabitants but also for all visitors to its tourist attractions through original use cases Get all our press releases delivered straight to your inbox officials in this medieval Flemish gem were worried about Bruges becoming a tourist trap; now they're terrified that visitors won't be back 8.3 million people a year visited the Unesco world heritage site we had days with up to 50,000 or 60,000 visitors while only 20,000 live in the city center," said Bruges Mayor Dirk De fauw "We had to find a way to avoid Bruges becoming overwhelmed with tourists.” is under tight local COVID restrictions and was also hit by flash floods earlier this summer That's laid waste to the country's tourism sector Instead of big spending tourists from the U.S. businesses are having to rely on short-term visitors from neighboring countries like the Netherlands and Germany — and even many of them are being scared away by travel restrictions has strategically positioned a stack of umbrellas in the doorway He has had some luck selling them to Dutch customers but the lack of overseas tourists is bad for business "July and August are normally the best months but European tourists don’t generally buy these kinds of souvenirs," he said "They spend their money on restaurants or museums.”  Peter De Wilde, who leads the Flemish government agency for tourism “We don’t expect the same number of business events until 2023 and we don’t expect the same [level of] overnight stays until 2025 or even 2026,” he said He feels the impact of the pandemic will end up being even more cataclysmic than the 2016 terrorist attacks “The aftermath of the attacks struck the tourism sector very hard but a year later the numbers were the same as before,” he said The lack of international tourists is also bad news for Brussels which is barely 20 percent occupied,” said Fabian Hermans director of the Brussels federation of hotels Bruges still sees a lot of day visitors to local restaurants French and Dutch tourists booked 3.5 million nights in Bruges’ hotels; it was a third of that last year “We have thought about giving up several times since the pandemic,” said the owner of a small family hotel in the center She asked to remain anonymous so as not to upset city officials she accuses of not doing enough to support local hotels as other European tourists still struggle with travel restrictions “Each country has its own rules that constantly change," she said "People don’t want to risk quarantine when they get back this pandemic has proved that there is no Europe As if the pandemic weren't enough, the country was hit by floods that killed dozens of people in mid-July. Wallonia saw dozens of buildings washed away plus families needing to be relocated, households lost gas and electricity, and tons of garbage are still waiting to be cleared.  The region will take time and money to recover hurting the already struggling tourism sector.  “These floods took place just before the most profitable week for Walloon tourism just before the week of July 21 [Belgium’s National Day] It is a very important week in terms of attendance and sales revenues,” said Valérie De Bue the tourism minister for the Wallonia regional government nestled in the Ardennes and calling itself the “smallest town on earth," is popular with local tourists It was hammered by the floods — many of its hotels and restaurants were submerged The sector is keen to reopen: “In three to four days 80 percent of the businesses have reopened and are operating,” said Philippe Bontemps “There are still 20 percent of businesses that have been more impacted — they will reopen in a few days and the last ones will reopen in early September.” the sector sees salvation in going green — relying more on people making shorter trips but staying longer rather than carbon-spewing visitors from across the ocean; in Bruges people coming in from cruise ships would only snap a couple of photos and buy a few items before heading back the season between last May and October was “exceptional,” said Bontemps as local tourism exploded between the two waves of the pandemic the sector will have to focus on quality rather than quantity of tourists De Bue said it’s one of Wallonia's priorities for the future: “We must foster this type of tourism .. the recovery will have to be “sustainable." "We think about which offer we want to develop that will also benefit the local population and respect the soul of our destination," he said and just want to attract as many tourists as possible “Our emphasis will remain on quality tourism,” said De fauw to compensate the loss of income from overseas visitors Bruges wants to convince future visitors to spend a few days in the city." The Christmas market is the highlight of the season: “If in September everything can be reopened," he said "if the weather is fine and if we can do a Christmas market with guaranteed sanitary conditions Bruges' mayor admits there's still a lot of insecurity “Of course we hope all the best for 2022," he said EU executive is planning a two-track approach of incentives and retaliatory measures to convince the White House to strike a deal The draft U.K.-EU agreement is one of several being drawn up ahead of a May 19 summit Even the EU’s most protectionist countries are realizing that they need new friends to trade with as their oldest ally goes rogue Brussels suspended its countermeasures against the U.S president’s steel and aluminum tariffs before they even took effect Now the two sides have 90 days to do a deal travelling just one and a half hours from the Luxembourg border towards the smallest city in the world And although we have been to Durbuy before and a dreamland captured our emotions in the best way possible We started our journey on a Friday morning during the last week of Christmas holidays in Luxembourg First stop was a little cute town I had read about called Weris It is the place where you can observe original neolithic structures I immediately thought of Asterix and Obelix Having been named one of the most beautiful villages in Wallonia it is indeed a very picturesque little village peaceful surroundings and one of the cutest cafes we have tried in the area wintry weather could take away from its beauty Weris is one of those places that are beautiful at any time of the year But Weris is also the base of the Museum of Megaliths and the hiking trails that lead to the neolithic standing stones A series of menhirs and dolmens (which served as tombs) are fascinating to visit on foot that ancient people placed without almost any tools who viewed the whole experience like a treasure hunt visit first the museum where you can learn about the history of the site from films and exhibits You will be also provided with a map of the hiking trails and where to locate the megaliths In Weris, you will find the cutest little café, Creations Gourmandes, where its owner makes delicious omelettes we had one more stop: the ‘’Maison de Hary Cot” This particular building comes out of the fantasy world although it is still not clear to me if it is a hotel it seems it can be booked as accommodation via Airbnb we stopped to admire it and take some photos The overnight stay was really amazing. We chose to stay at La balades des Gnomes The accommodation has twelve unique rooms straight out of a fairy tale and is only 15 minutes’ drive from Durbuy Each room has its own theme: from a cabin in the forest to a trojan horse The owners have taken care of every little detail in this dream-like hotel but there are a pair of family rooms available (the trojan horse and the wine room)  If you like fairy tales and fantasy worlds this hotel will become one of your favourite We will never forget our stay there: it created a magical atmosphere for the whole family and we will definitely like to be back The trojan horse is very popular with families so you need to book at least two to three months in advance For dinner we tried Marmite des Trolls It was designed by the same architect and is another dream-like place with fireplaces After a long day of exploration a good meal was definitely needed There is even a play corner for the children Next day we were ready for more action discoveries In the morning we arrived at Adventure Valley Durbuy It is the biggest adventure park in Belgium and is based in different locations around the city There are many activities to try with the family We tried out bowling and laser tag and had lots of fun Adventure Valley Durbuy also has a great restaurant and impressive If you go with the children I am sure you will all love it The final stop of our getaway is the smallest city in the world: Durbuy A popular destination for Luxembourg residents and has a Christmas market lasting until the first week of January So we got lucky and also enjoyed the Christmas market atmosphere Lunch was delicious Belgian fries and a cocktail (mocktail for kids) at the iconic pirate’s bar La Tortuga Durbuy Toy Museum Ferrieres Parc Chlorophylle Caves of Hotton Le Labyrinthe de Barvaux-sur-Ourthe (seasonal, normally open from July to October) Battle Kart Wex Archeoparc de Rochefort, Malagne Les Grottes de Remouchamps Parc des Topiaires 24-year-old Margaux Balemans from Vosselaar (Antwerp Province) has won the title of ‘Best Sommelier of Belgium 2024’ Ms Balemans is a sommelier at the celebrated Sangliers des Ardennes restaurant in Durbuy (Wallonia) A sommelier or wine waiter recommends the best wines to accompany a customer's dish Ms Balemans studied at Hotel School Ter Groene Poorte in Bruges (West Flanders) The Belgian Guild of Sommeliers awarded the prize at the Horeca Expo Margaux Balemans just missed out on first place but this year she was crowned as winner and may call herself the 'Best Sommelier of Belgium' all year She beat Vincent Pharazijn of restaurant De Jonkman (Bruges) and Elizio Masson of Hof van Cleve (Kruisem – East Flanders) Ms Balemans also won the Young Sommelier Award of Excellence the title ‘Best Sommelier of Belgium’ is officially protected and is the only title recognised both in Belgium and internationally we obviously want to use this competition to draw attention to our wonderful profession There is a realisation that this is a profession on the occupational shortage list We want to display our profession in a positive light’ a spokesperson for the guild told VRT A sommelier can win the award only once in his or her career The winner can also compete to be selected for the European and World Sommelier Championships organised by the international sommeliers’ association Several enchanting Christmas markets continue to spread cheer with some staying open until the first week of January 2024 I've curated a list of family-friendly events to ensure you make the most of the extended yuletide season Durbuy transforms into a wonderland during this time with narrow streets adorned in illuminations and family-friendly venues make it a must-visit Share the joy with visiting friends and family during the holiday season in Luxembourg Details and Info: Durbuy Christmas Market | Belgium Travel - Christmas Markets Combine your Durbuy visit with Winter Valley Adventure at Adventure Valley Durbuy For more details, keep an eye on their Facebook page Cologne hosts the 'Heinzels Wintermärchen Weihnachtsmarkt und Eisbahn' until 7 January 2024 a New Year's Market by the Chocolate Museum kicks off on 26 December 2023 Details: Heinzels Wintermärchen | New Year's Market in Cologne This event will be open until 7 January 2024 Learn more at Christmas Garden Koblenz spreads festive joy from 16 to 30 December Discover more at Walygator Grand Est so make sure to pay a visit to this family-friendly theme park Find all the details for the 2023/24 season here Sedan Castle opens its doors with a special programme and beautiful decorations from 23 December 2023 to 7 January 2024 Explore further at Castle of Sedan Luxembourg City continues its festive fun until 7 January 2024 Explore the details of 'Winterlights' at Ville de Luxembourg Chateau de Rheinhardstein promises decorated rooms Keep an eye on updates at Rheinhardstein the newly renovated Chateau de Mirwart hosts a magical Christmas market Explore the enchanting forest surroundings before visiting the market Find details at Destination Ardenne This French city boasts one of the most beautiful historic squares Details available at jds.fr Don't miss the family spectacles at Liege Opera Learn more at VISITWallonia.be Voted one of the most beautiful markets in France Metz welcomes visitors until 30 December 2023 Explore the details at Metz Tourism.___ Feel the festive joy, explore these delightful markets, and let the holiday spirit linger a bit longer! If you have more recommendations, share them in the comments, and happy travels! And as always enjoy, and Let'z TravelmatKanner A list of Christmas market in the Grand-Duchy Jeno Del Turco of two-star restaurant Le Chalet de la Forêt in Ukkel (Brussels) has been voted best sommelier or wine steward of Belgium a nice recognition of our profession," says Del Turco The second and third places were snatched by two women The election of Best Sommelier of Belgium has been organised since 1963 and this year was staged at the Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel in Antwerp who had to prove their knowledge of wine with a number of theoretical and practical tests three candidates remained: Jeno Del Turco (Le Chalet de la Forêt Del Turco emerged victorious and can now call himself Belgium's best sommelier great recognition of our profession," says an elated Del Turco "This is a dream I never thought would come true." women are quietly taking over power," says Kris Lismont of the Belgian Sommeliers’ Guild "But a competition like this also motivates young people; not only at star level but also in wine bars we need good sommeliers to serve the right wine to the right people It’s allowed to happen in a relaxed way these days but it has to be done professionally," says Lismont "The sommelier really has an important task; he can add an extra touch to the restaurant experience." He announced that by 2020, his concept "Adventure Valley" will have changed the face of Durbuy, with the adventure park covering over 350 hectares and attracting an expected 10,000 visitors a day. The park will be spread over two separate sections 3 km apart and will be connected by a small tourist train. An indoor amusement park will be set up to welcome fans of adventure sports all year round whatever the weather conditions. Couke has teamed up with his business partner Bart Maerten to integrate the 150 hectares of Domaine de Hottemme into their project after the company bought about 20 hectares at the end of 2016.The remaining 130 hectares were leased to the Province of Luxembourg for 50 years. 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 From relaxing spa breaks to Trappist brewery tours here are some of the best weekend breaks to be had in Belgium By Sophie Pettit Want to explore all the exciting things Belgium has to offer but on a tight budget There are hundreds of incredible deals and discounts to be found on the website this is one of Belgium’s most popular tourist destinations all the water sources freeze over and become covered in snow creating one of the country’s best trails for cross-country skiing You don’t have to bring your own equipment as there are many places to rent gear near or within the resorts you can relax with a cup of hot chocolate or gluhwein at the cozy chateaus located at the end of each trail This runs from De Panne on the French border to Knokke-Heist Trams run through Ostend every 10 minutes during the summer and make almost 70 stops along the entire stretch of coastline There are many beautiful sights to see along this coastal hop-on hop-off tour making it the perfect Belgium weekend break for foodies the wild-eyed warrior led his tribe to a roaring victory against Julius Caesar’s legions around 54 BC more than 350 exhibitors and about 40 antique shops display their best merchandise for visitors seeking unique shabby chic finds Famous for touting itself as the smallest city in the world, Durbuy attracts hordes of tourists with that tagline alone. Nestled in the heart of the Ardennes, just 1.5 hours from Brussels the quaint little hamlet resembles something from the pages of a fairytale Surrounded by emerald green hills and overlooking the banks of the Ourthe River it is one of Belgium’s most picturesque cities As you stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets in the old town you will discover rows of medieval stone houses and artisanal shops for Wallonian specialties You can hop on the tourist road train and visit the castle and many other landmarks in the area and the Confiturerie Saint-Amour jam factory Durbuy is the perfect base for outdoor activities you can cycle along the Ourthe River or enjoy the water by kayak you might want to avoid visiting during peak season You can explore the area through expositions The High Fens becomes truly exceptional in spring and fall due to its astonishing flora and fauna remains closed during the spring because of the breeding season of the endangered black grouse nature lovers can revel in hiking the park’s different marked trails These take you on a tour around secluded marshlands You can also enjoy the vast scenery by renting a mountain or electrical bike at the Ardennes you can relax at the dozens of cafés and terraces in the charming nearby towns of Spa there are various holiday cottages in the area should you choose to stay locally Belgian beer is synonymous with the country and sacred to the country’s Trappist monks six of the 14 monasteries in the world that produce authentic Trappist brews are based in Belgium most of these are produced in limited quantities and are only available within the region they are produced in a weekend tour of these breweries is a must A pilgrimage will take you across the country from Westvleteren seclusion is paramount for the strict Cistercian order monks only some of the abbeys are open to the public Born and raised in the UK, Sophie is an editor and mother. Before moving to the Netherlands, she spent eight years living in Hong Kong, heading up one of the city’s biggest lifestyle websites. Over the past decade, she has written for numerous lifestyle and travel publications, including Culture Trip, Localiiz, and Discovery. Thieves broke into an apartment on Place de Durbuy in Bonnevoie in the daytime, while on Friday afternoon a burglary took place in a family home on Rue de l'Eglise in Lamadeleine. Another house was targeted between 7.30 and 10.50pm on "Am Bongert" in Clemency, where according to initial reports, an older black Mercedes with French number plates was stolen. Residents of a house on Route d'Esch in Belvaux surprised an intruder in their basement around 8.50pm, but the latter escaped before police arrived. In Luxembourg City, meanwhile, two people were targeted by muggers. The first victim was attacked by two men who threatened him with a knife, before stealing his watch and wallet. The incident happened around 9.10pm in the park between Avenue Monterey and Avenue Marie-Thérèse. The perpetrators, said to be in their mid-twenties, one with dreadlocks, escaped in the direction of  Avenue Marie-Thérèse. Another man fell victim to a mugging on  Rue de la Boucherie shortly before 5am on Saturday morning. The police arrested the two suspects shortly afterwards, who were found to be carrying a stolen watch. A lawsuit has been opened against the two perpetrators. Bonifaciusbrug | © Jan D’Hondt/Courtesy of Toerisme Brugge | © Jan D'Hondt/courtesy of Toerisme Brugge Underneath dozens of roses at Bruges’ Café Rose Red Cafe Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy While stargazing at the Beisbroek planetarium The ‘Spioenkop’ lookout post | © Luc.T/Flickr In the lush green gardens of Le Botanique Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker