A new type of event is therefore appearing on the calendar This very first edition of the event will welcome 106 pairs for a total of 212 competitors (146 men - 66 women) Kime-No-Kata senior and Kodokan Goshin Jutsu will be in the spotlight a director of the IJF Kata Commission led by Jean-Luc Rougé said finally we arrive at this historic moment and the first edition of the Kata World Series will be held in Louvain-La-Neuve The project is to organise a series of kata competitions that in the future could have events on each continent We begin with Europe because the structure of kata tournaments already exists and after Louvain-La-Neuve Participation is excellent; we have several medal-winning pairs from the last world championships including the Germans Romswinkel and Loosen We look forward to seeing you this weekend 2025 / On Monday 14th April 2025 the International Judo Federation .. 2025 / Koshiki-no-kata (古式の形) corresponds to the form .. 2025 / Daniel De Angelis is the Director of the IJF Kata Commission 2025 / Follow the Reims IJF Kata World Series 2025 live on .. 2024 / Tina Trstenjak (SLO) is a well known name in sporting .. To celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Louvain Pope Francis is set to visit the distinct entities that foster dialogue with society in Leuven The Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) is preparing to welcome Pope Francis—and not just once The pope will visit the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) in Flanders September 27 followed by a meeting with students September 28 at the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) in Louvain-la-Neuve The university was divided in 1968 – between the Dutch-speaking branch which remained in the historic city of Leuven (Flanders) a newly constructed city about 30 kilometers south of Brussels (while the medical faculty took up residence in the capital) “It was the era of the May 1968 protests in France a time when Americans were opposing the Vietnam War with several industrial hubs like Ghent and Antwerp suffering from the decline of industries like glass and coal sought more economic autonomy,” recounted historian Françoise Hiraux who has intimate knowledge of the university's history centered around the concept of “transition,” the two universities have worked together symbolizing a peaceful relationship between them It is no coincidence that Francis intends to highlight this university is one of the oldest in Europe and even the world The idea of change and evolution is indeed ingrained in the DNA of an institution that has had to reinvent itself multiple times the university welcomed its first students making it a “complete university,” according to Hiraux were not as comprehensive because they only had one or two faculties,” she added The theology faculty was added a few years later – the necessary “green light” from Rome had taken some time after establishing itself as a center of humanist thought the university had to close its doors following the annexation of the territories of present-day Belgium to France in 1794 officially named the Catholic University of Louvain dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at UCLouvain since September lists the department’s strengths: the “quality of teaching,” the “strong links” with the research world education “in interaction with the social sciences,” and an “international reputation.” Theology faculties at both KUL and UCLouvain One is heavily oriented toward the Anglo-Saxon world while the other looks more toward the South The question of these universities' identity and Catholic character remains a topic of reflection today, as the link with the ecclesial institution becomes more diffuse, and the Catholic dimension is seen primarily as a guarantee of openness and universality. “Both institutions recognize their roots, but it’s clear that the universities have not avoided the phenomenon of secularization,” explained Father Tommy Scholtes, French-speaking spokesperson for the Belgian Bishops' Conference. “Our university is diverse, varied in the opinions of everyone, and that’s how it has become highly international and particularly attractive,” Hiraux said, adding that theology has long engaged in dialogue with various other disciplines. 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 SPIE is the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications. Our 55,000 employees are committed to achieving the energy transition and responsible digital transformation alongside our customers. In addition to its economic performance, SPIE aims to contribute to a more sustainable, responsible and inclusive world. Do you want to use your skills to contribute to projects that help society, the economy and the planet? Welcome to SPIE, a key player in the energy transition and digital transformation. We are committed to the fight against climate change and mobilised for a responsible digital transformation. Let's be part of the solution! SPIE supports its customers to design, intall and maintain energy-efficient and environmentaly-friendly facilities. Find in this section all the useful information. In this section, you can access SPIE's profile and key figures, a selection of visuals, news, articles and Group publications. Would you like to interview an SPIE spokesperson, find the press contacts by country. Anderlecht, 19 August 2024 - SPIE Belgium, a subsidiary of the SPIE Group, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, announces the signing of three contracts, which will be executed over the next ten years in Brussels, Zaventem and Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. These recently signed contracts cover the maintenance of buildings owned by Befimmo, the largest owner of offices in Belgium and Luxembourg. In 2020, SPIE Belgium’s Building Services department was awarded an initial maintenance contract by the property operator for the Brederode II building, the technical facilities of which had been installed by the Building Projects division of SPIE Belgium. The following year, building on this first success, Befimmo entrusted SPIE’s Services division with the technical management of its brand new building – the Quatuor, an avant-garde property complex built in the northern district of Brussels. These initial fruitful collaborations allowed SPIE to gain the trust of Befimmo, which decided to award SPIE three new full guarantee maintenance contracts for: All three sites will benefit from a comprehensive range of maintenance services in several key areas: Ikaros Park, a hub of 26 offices in Zaventem Ikaros Park in Zaventem is a major business hub that covers an area of 45,821 m² and is where a number of leading companies base their activities. The Ikaros Park maintenance contract was initiated on 1 June 2024 and will run until 2034. The Central Gate office complex in Brussels The Central Gate office complex, which covers an area of 32,429 m² and is located in the heart of Brussels, is the home of Befimmo and other well-known companies on the Belgian market. SPIE Belgium’s period of maintenance in this building began on 1 July 2024 and is also for a period of ten years. The Esprit Courbevoie office building in Louvain-la-Neuve This new building, which was handed over in 2024 and provides a showcase for Befimmo’s hybrid offering of services, includes 4,300 m² of offices and 4,000 m² of coworking space. SPIE started with a technical facility management assignment at the end of the project between late 2023 and the beginning of 2024 and was awarded a maintenance contract for a period of 5 years in April 2024. Thiry Pierig, Business Unit Manager at SPIE explains: “We are extremely honoured to have been selected by Befimmo to manage property complexes of such quality and scale. We are bringing our technical expertise and know-how to ensure the reliability and sustainability of Befimmo’s facilities and provide state-of-the-art technology to all occupants of these buildings.” These contracts are a reflection of Befimmo’s renewed confidence in SPIE Belgium to maintain the quality and performance of its infrastructure in Belgium. BiocSol, a Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium-based company providing microbial-based biopesticides, raised €5.2M in Seed funding. The round was led by Agri Investment Fund and VIVES IUF with participation from Invest.BW and IMBC Spinnova SA. The company intends to use the funds to expand its team, broaden its R&D pipeline and kickstart the regulatory processes for its pioneering biofungicides. Led by new CEO Denis Payen and CTO and founder Simon Caulier, BiocSol is a a UCLouvain spin-off that develops microbial-based biopesticides empowering farmers by providing an efficient biocontrol to protect their crop. By harnessing specific microbial substances, the company creates biosolutions targeting key agricultural challenges, such as mildew agents. Text description provided by the architects. Originally the post office of Louvain-la-Neuve, the characteristic building housed several teaching courses for the University of Louvain until its final occupation as a ‘school for sound’. Overcompartmentalized and acoustically insulated to meet recording standards, the clarity of the architecture and the simplicity of its materials were lost. Uncovering architecture. The first task was to dismantle the building to lay it bare: salvaging the concrete that could be salvaged, restoring the original brickwork, and preserving the joinery and frames. The volumes are decompartmentalized both functionally and spatially. The exceptional height of the roof and the interplay of the beams and light falling through the glass bricks are recovered. Ground Floor PlanThe renovation strategy aims to restore the building to its pristine condition while providing it with the technology and thermal comfort needed for the next stage in its life cycle. Following our vision for renovation, we are only intervening on walls that were already modified. The east facade is the only facade that we are adapting, to increase the spatial continuity on the ground floor. Once the results of the co-creation process were validated we began exploring the spatial possibilities of ‘activity-based design’ a program is designed in the following way: Place = Function = Activity we are proposing to do away with the permanent assignment of a place to a function Functions are mobile and people move around depending on the activity they perform (and subsequently find the right place) We choose to define places throughout the building with a strong spatial character designed to accommodate an activity rather than a function You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email The Vatican published on Friday the programme for Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to the European nations of Belgium and Luxembourg The visit will mark the Pope's 46th Apostolic Journey abroad and will follow what will be a whirlwind four-country journey throughout Asia and Oceania at the start of September According to recent figures,  some 12 million people of Belgium's population Catholics constitute about 50 percent of the country he will celebrate Mass for the nations' faithful and privately with his Jesuit confrères he will also meet with university professors of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven on 27 September before gathering the following day with the university students of Université Catholique de Louvain Here is the full Vatican-provided schedule of the Holy Father's Apostolic Journey APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO LUXEMBOURG and BELGIUM 26 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 26 September 2024 ROME - LUXEMBOURG – BRUSSELS 08:05 Departure by airplane from Rome/Fiumicino International Airport to Luxembourg 10:00 Arrival at Luxembourg/Findel International Airport 10:00 WELCOME CEREMONY 10:45 COURTESY VISIT TO THE GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG in the Grand Ducal Palace 11:15 MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER 11:50 MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS in the Cercle Cité (Address of the Holy Father) 16:30 MEETING WITH THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY in Luxembourg Cathedral of Notre-Dame (Address of the Holy Father) 17:45 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Luxembourg/Findel International Airport 18:15 Departure by airplane from Luxembourg/Findel International Airport to Brussels 19:10 Arrival at Melsbroek Air Base 19:10 WELCOME CEREMONY 09:15 COURTESY VISIT TO THE KING OF THE BELGIANS in the Castle of Laeken 09:45 MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER 10:00 MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY (Address of the Holy Father) 16:30 MEETING WITH UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS in the Promotiezaal of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Address of the Holy Father) 28 September 2024 BRUSSELS – LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE SEMINARIANS AND PASTORAL WORKERS in Koekelberg at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Address of the Holy Father) 16:30 MEETING WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS in the Aula Magna of the Université Catholique de Louvain (Address of the Holy Father) 18:15 PRIVATE MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS at Saint Michel College 10:00 HOLY MASS in King Baudouin Stadium (Homily of the Holy Father) (Angelus) 12:15 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Melsbroek Air Base 12:45 Departure by airplane from Melsbroek Air Base to Rome 14:55 Arrival at Rome/Fiumicino International Airport Thank you for reading our article. 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Just click here Belgium (CNS) — Students at the world’s oldest Catholic university applauded Pope Francis for his calls to protect the environment and promote justice but he was challenged when it came to his vision of the role of women in the church and society The world must make a choice: whether to manipulate nature or cultivate it Pope Francis said in a meeting with university students and researchers which includes caring for creation and promoting justice for and solidarity with all peoples is to be faithful to God and to every man and woman “This type of development is contrary to all forms of oppression and rejection of others committing herself above all to the conversion of each of her members to justice and to truth,” he said in his talk to hundreds of students at the French-speaking UCLouvain campus Sept who often chooses to visit countries “on the peripheries,” wanted to go to this nation in the heart of Europe to help celebrate the 600th anniversary of the world’s oldest Catholic university He had met with professors and staff at the Dutch-speaking KU Leuven main campus Sept His visit to Belgium — a predominantly Catholic country — was marked by very pointed criticism along with praise from government and university leaders four-page letter that showed both their enthusiastic support for putting the pope’s call for integral human development into action as well as their doubts and even skepticism about whether the Catholic Church its all-male priesthood and current teachings are up to the task “What does the notion of ‘integral development’ mean for the Catholic Church?” the students asked in their letter Is the church ready to take into account the inequalities of class they asked because “the call for integral development seems to us incompatible with positions on homosexuality and the place of women in the Catholic Church.” The students questioned whether there was “an unjust division of labor in the name of a supposed ‘natural’ propensity that leads to a sexual division of labor,” and they said they believed “Catholic theology tends to reinforce this division through its ‘theology of women,’ which exalts their maternal role and forbids them access to ordained ministries” as well as often renders them “invisible” or missing from church ministry is the place of women in the church?” was a central question of the students together with how best to confront today’s social the pope emphasized that “God is Father not of domination,” and that whoever corrupts religion by turning it into “an instrument of domination” is guilty of blasphemy is to remain faithful to God and the human person which includes being against all forms of oppression and rejection of others as well as embracing and promoting justice and truth to be holy and live “a just and happy life.” “The choice to be made then is between manipulating nature or cultivating it And we must begin with our own human nature cybernetic organisms and artificial intelligence,” he said as well as choosing whether to manipulate or cultivate one’s own inner life Speaking specifically about women in the church “the church is woman,” the bride of Christ and not “a multinational corporation.” “A woman within the people of God is a daughter which express the fact that we have been made in the image of God “this would be feminism or chauvinism,” he said; it’s about men and women being there for each other “It’s bad when a woman wants to act like a man,” he said saying women are more important than men because their nature speaks of “fruitful welcome nurturing and life-giving dedication.” He called for people to be more attentive to all the many ways women show this love in everything they do or from virginity to the service of others and the building up of the kingdom of God.” The pope ended with strong encouragement for students and institutions to foster a holistic education that focuses on serving the common good “Go forward and do not get caught up in ideological” extremes the university released a statement reacting to the pope’s speech saying it “solidly” agreed with the pope on his positions regarding the environment and social inequalities the university said it wanted to express “incomprehension and disapproval” of the pope’s position on the role of women in the church and society saying that defining women as a fertile welcome devoted to care is “deterministic and reductive.” The university reaffirmed its desire for people to flourish no matter their “origins gender or sexual orientation,” the statement said The event was still a moment to initiate dialogue with the pope The students had given the pope a long standing ovation at the end of his speech which was mostly dedicated to the environment and the task of education Students and residents waiting outside also showed their enthusiasm when the pope appeared on a balcony to receive a “calotte,” a special cap worn by the Louvain students Copyright © 2024 Catholic News Service/U.S  Print Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media Catholic Media Assocation Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association The Associated Church Press The requester URL cannot be found in our server. 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"This championship is a traditional event that promotes judo culture and demonstrates that our discipline is more than a sport Kata world championships are a good example of this Here we talk about partners rather than opponents It is about mutual aid and mutual progress We see this with new countries participating and we are going to strengthen this further by implementing new ideas We have worked closely with the IJF Kata Commission to propose developments some of which will see the light of day as early as next year It will thus be possible for a pair to compete in two different kata we must reorganise the running of the competition so that the performances do not overlap This will allow us to attract even more people and make everything more dynamic We are also going to introduce new kata for the high grades who will perform with their red and white belts These are the Koshiki-no-kata (antique forms) and the Itsutsu-no-kata (forms of five) The youth categories will also be impacted by changes Thus the U23 category will become U21 to match the age categories in judo competition and we will create a category for cadets from 2026 the first event of which will be held in Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium on 8th March 2025 The idea is to create a world kata circuit that will allow us to determine a ranking list and therefore seed players for the world championships Our goal is to have 6 tournaments per year spread across five continents They will be open to national teams as well as clubs while the world championships will remain reserved for national delegations we are thinking about opening them to pairs composed of judoka who could come from different countries We will further strengthen co-operation at all levels to improve the level of organisation which is already very good for the 2025 edition of the world championships we are also considering working with Special Olympics team to organise a reserved event between the veteran worlds and the kata worlds This will concern the first three series of Nage-no-kata and perhaps also a series of immobilisation from Katame-no-kata." There are therefore many projects to both preserve the traditional dimension of kata while opening the door to modernity and the next two years will see a massive evolution of kata 10th dan and chair of the IJF Kata Commission declared "The IJF wants to develop the Kata World Series It was a first successful experience with a large number of participants and a very interesting quality of performance The Belgium federation should be thanked for its excellent organisation and the friendliness it has been able to provide throughout this competition We look forward to seeing each other at the next stage of the IJF Kata World Series which will take place on 12th April in Reims president of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation member of the Belgian Judo Federation explained "I am very satisfied with this first edition held under the aegis of the IJF We have things to improve but we are very happy with the participation rate a record compared to previous editions of our tournament before the Lata World Series was established It is recognition of the quality of the event Law Lai Wah is a judge from Hong Kong and was officiating during the event on the world stage there was only one big event per year we have more occasions to increase the kata level maybe one day we could go to the Olympics." Nicolas and Jean-Philippe Gilon participated representing the host country Belgium and won the gold medal in Katame No Kata devision "We are very happy to be on the podium at home especially since it is the first Kata World Series tournament and we did everything we could to participate It is very important to have the supporters and the federation behind us It is a real pleasure and honour to have participated." The IJF Kata World Series was indeed is a big premiere kata has been growing both internationally with the organisation of the world championships every year the last edition having taken place in Las Vegas in 2024 kata is building momentum to develop throughout the world The next edition of the event will be held in Reims Source: Marine Stroobants - Photos: Carlos Ferreira Moments of joy: Pope Francis with young people amid a weekend of difficult conversations POPE Francis’ four-day apostolic journey to Luxembourg and Belgium ended under a pall of criticism on the role of women and the clergy sexual abuse crisis He visited three cities in Belgium to mark the 600th anniversary of the Catholic universities of Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve from September 26 to 29 He met with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians at Laeken Castle last Friday King Philippe ascended the Belgian throne in 2013 and holds the title “Rex Catholicissimus,” or “(Most) Catholic Majesty.” has the “privilège du blanc,” meaning she is one of only a few women in the world who can wear white when meeting the pope for an official private audience at the Vatican the pope addressed 300 dignitaries and political authorities including Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo He lamented the Church’s sexual abuse crisis and urged for peace in Europe “There are two calamities at the moment,” Pope Francis said “The hell of war … which could turn into a world war and a demographic winter Mr De Croo implored the Church to prioritise the needs of victims King Philippe also joined the call for accountability in his speech stating that the Church must work “incessantly” to atone for the crimes and aid in the healing of victims Pope Francis also spent over two hours in private conversations with 17 victims of clerical sexual abuse that evening Speaking at another event with clergy and religious Pope Francis urged them to return to the roots of the Gospel “We have moved from a Christianity located within a welcoming social framework to a ‘minority’ Christianity He underlined that synodality should not be “about prioritising ‘fashionable’ reform but asking ‘How can we bring the Gospel to a society that is no longer listening or has distanced itself from the faith?’” The Catholic Church in Belgium is facing a significant decline in public trust Only 50 per cent of Belgians identified as Catholic in 2022 a drop of 16 per cent from a decade earlier with only 8.9 per cent attending Mass at least once a month the “crisis of faith” has gone hand in hand with revelations of clerical abuse by Church leadership Pope Francis laicised former Bruges Bishop Roger Vangheluwe many years after the former prelate admitted to repeatedly sexually abusing his nephews Visiting the Catholic university in Louvain Pope Francis made comments on the role of women in the Church saying “womanhood speaks to us of fruitful welcome but it is terrible when a woman wants to be a man: No and this is ‘heavy’ and important,” he said His comments drew criticism from the university which released a statement saying his words were “conservative” Pope Francis responded to the criticism on the flight back to Rome yesterday saying the press release was “premade” and “not moral” for having been written “in the moment in which I spoke” He said if this seems “conservative” to some people or “there is an obtuse mind that does not want to hear about this” Pope Francis spoke to 40,000 people in King Baudouin Stadium for the beatification Mass of Carmelite Sister Ana de Jesús Pope Francis led the tens of thousands of people in the stadium in praying the Angelus for it is a synthesis of the Christian mystery and the Church teaches us to incorporate it into our daily activities” he would accelerate the process of beatification of King Baudouin who ruled as King of the Belgians from 1951 until his death in 1993 “May his example as a man of faith enlighten the rulers,” Pope Francis said Pope Francis visited the king’s tomb in the royal crypt of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels on September 28 Pope Francis praised King Baudouin’s courage for choosing to “leave his place as king in order not to sign a murderous law” legalising abortion Pope Francis returned to Rome on the afternoon of September 29 The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929 accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians who have walked upon and cared for this land for thousands of years We acknowledge the continued deep spiritual attachment and relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to this country and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader The mammalian cerebral cortex plays key roles in learning and memory the control of sensory and motor functions or of our emotions The proper execution of these tasks depends on a long process of embryonic and postnatal development which relies on the production by neural stem cells of the appropriate number of neurons with proper identities that migrate to their specific location and make connections with each other Defective signaling pathways during development are the causes of human brain disorders such as lissencephalies and heterotopias The goal of our laboratory is to better define the mechanisms of neural cell proliferation A better understanding of how the brain develops in normal conditions and in disease will provide new concepts for therapeutic approaches to improve diagnosis and to treat and prevent neurodevelopmental disorders will visit Luxembourg and Belgium from September 26 to 29 This trip comes just two weeks after his 12-day journey to Indonesia Pope Francis will visit Luxembourg and Belgium at the end of September The 87-year-old pope accepted invitations from the Catholic universities of Leuven in Flanders (KU Leuven) and Louvain-la-Neuve in Wallonia (UC Louvain) will celebrate its 600th anniversary during the 2024-2025 academic year established in francophone Belgium after fierce linguistic disputes in the 1960s Pope Francis will visit Luxembourg on September 26 and Belgium from September 26 to 29. The last papal visit to Belgium was in 1995 John Paul II visited Brussels for the beatification of Father Damien later canonized by the late Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 Pope Francis' visit comes at a time of crisis for the Catholic Church in Belgium where bishops renewed their apologies in December and called for an independent investigation following new testimonies that resurfaced regarding the scandal of children being taken from their mothers with the complicity of nuns for adoption in the last century  “The highlight of the visit will be the Eucharistic celebration led by Pope Francis on the morning of Sunday, September 29, in Brussels,” according to the Catholic Church in Belgium’s new website for the occasion. The Vatican said the full schedule will be released at a later date In a separate press release the Catholic Church in Belgium said it “is very grateful to Pope Francis for this exceptional visit the church is very much looking forward to this visit.”  Archbishop Luc Terlinden of Mechelen-Brussels added: “One must bear in mind that the pope does not frequently visit European countries we weren't really expecting the visit to take place I think that Pope Francis had wanted to come to Belgium for a long time One of the reasons for this is that he got to know a few Belgians in his early years in Argentina I think it was above all his heart that spoke when taking this decision.” Pope Francis has shown increasingly fragile health the most recent to Marseille in September 2023 Despite undergoing major abdominal surgery in 2023 the pope never takes vacations and continues to maintain a hectic schedule including canceling his trip to Dubai for COP28 in December due to bronchitis His health condition makes his planned tour in the first half of September across Asia and Oceania even more ambitious. This 12-day journey will take him to Indonesia and Singapore, making it the longest trip of his 11-year pontificate rectrice de l’Université catholique de Louvain,Le professeur Michel Verleysen vice-recteur du Secteur des sciences et technologies,Les doyen·nes des facultés et les président·es d’instituts de recherche du Secteur des sciences et technologies ont l’honneur de vous inviter à la cérémonie de remise des doctorats honoris causa du Secteur des sciences et technologies qui se tiendra le jeudi 27 février 2025 Les personnes mises à l'honneur sont / The honorees are :  Descriptif des personnes mises à l'honneur/ Description of honorees : Pope Francis revealed in an interview with Televisa that next year he will make a few trips one of which should be to Belgium to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Louvain This news came somewhat unexpectedly in Belgium where the rectors of the Dutch and French sections of the University of Louvain (independent entities since 1968) had sent an invitation to the Pope earlier this year The Bishops of the Belgian Episcopal Conference expressed their joy upon hearing Pope Francis's intention to visit their country for this milestone anniversary in 2025 They are very favorable to this proposal and have officially invited Pope Francis for a pastoral visit to the Church in Belgium the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium and Luxembourg also shared his immense joy at the announcement of the Pope's visit UC Louvain stated that the two universities (UC Louvain and KU Leuven) were "founded as a single entity in 1425 they plan to celebrate their past and more importantly Pope Francis's visit will provide a unique opportunity to exchange views on today's societal priorities particularly ecological and social transition and migration." Archbishop Luc Terlinden of Malines-Brussels told Cathobel (the official portal of the Belgian Episcopal Conference) that the Pope's decision is a fraternal sign to encourage the life of the Church in Belgium and to visit the country The Pope's desire is not only to celebrate the universities' 600th anniversary but also to meet the Catholic faithful of Belgium and engage with Belgian society the General Secretary of the Belgian Episcopal Conference who was with Archbishop Terlinden in Rome last week said the Pope was enthusiastic about his probable visit to Belgium the trip is expected to take place at the end of September The mass is likely to be held in the National Basilica of Koekelberg and it is not yet certain if Francis will visit the European institutions during their last audience with Pope Francis The last papal visit to Belgium was in 1995 when Pope John Paul II beatified Father Damien de Molokaï John Paul II had also visited Belgium in 1985 and visiting the sanctuaries of Beauraing and Banneux He celebrated mass on the esplanade of Koekelberg This article was originally published on ACI Stampa.  Andrea Gagliarducci is an Italian journalist for Catholic News Agency and Vatican analyst for ACI Stampa He is a contributor to the National Catholic Register During this Master Class led by Laetitia Spetschinsky participants embarked on a virtual journey around Russia's borders exploring the geopolitical dynamics of Eurasia The journey began in Norway and the Arctic coast focusing on the resources and militarization of the Arctic the Asian borders from Japan to Mongolia and Kazakhstan were analyzed with particular attention to hydrocarbons and energy issues participants studied regional conflicts and unrecognized borders before delving into NATO-Russia relations This Master Class offered a comprehensive immersion into the geopolitical issues of Eurasia providing an in-depth understanding of international relations and regional challenges Thank you to Laetitia Spetschinsky for her expertise and to the participants for their engagement Day one of the EJU Kata tournament Louvain-la-Neuve saw young cadet and junior pairs showcasing their knowledge of different kata groups For the cadets it was the first three sets to demonstrate: te-waza The juniors have had the opportunity to enter in either Katame-no-Kata The latter proven to be the most popular this weekend and with that France started their medal shower The cadet category was claimed by Louise DESMIDT – Chemsy CHAHIDI (FRA) whilst the junior Nage-no-Kata winners were Steven PERNISEK – Ilyesse CHAHIDI (FRA) France continued their excellence during day two when it was time for the seniors to show their forms Gold number three was delivered via another excellent Nago-no-Kata performance by Louis GHEGEDIBAN – Paul GHEGEDIBAN (FRA) The last and final victory was gained through a top class Kime-no-Kata act by Grégory MARQUES – Stéphane BEGA (FRA) delivered what was expected and won the Katame-no-Kata event with a total of 404.0 points Italy clinched onto a gold medal too by Giovanni TARABELLI – Angelica TARABELLI (ITA) as they topped the podium after the Ju-no-Kata final The Goshin Jutsu final saw Jenny FREY – Sebastian BERGMANN (GER) taking victory with an overall 518.5 points.  Congratulations to all medallists! You can find the results online via this link. For more images visit our gallery Prior to the event, on Friday, a successful Judges Kata Seminar took place. Below, a selection of images from the meeting. For more, visit our gallery.   Leuven University (KUL) has said in a press release that the preparations for Pope Francis’ visit to Belgium are continuing unabated. The Vatican had announced that Pope Francis is suffering from a mild flu and that as a result of this all audiences with the Pontiff on Monday have been cancelled. The Vice-Chancellor of Leuven University Luc Sels says that that there are no indications that the Pope's visit to Belgium will have to be cancelled. Mr Sels added that preparations for the visit will continue unabated. The cancellation of audiences on Monday is said to be a precautionary measure ahead of Pope’s Francis’ visit to Belgium and Luxembourg later this week.   Pope Francis will visit Belgium to mark the 600th anniversary of the foundation of the Catholic University of Leuven that is now two universities, the Dutch-medium KU Leuven in Leuven (Flemish Brabant) and the Francophone UCL in Louvain-La-Neuve (Walloon Brabant). In addition to visiting both universities, Pope Francis will celebrate mass at the King Boudewijn Stadium in Brussels. The Pontiff will also meet victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by Roman Catholic clergy in Belgium. Pope Francis is 87 and in recent weeks has been forced to cancel several engagements in due to poor health.  ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishSOCIETY, EDUCATIONStudents in Louvain-la-Neuve demand change with Break Up With Israel campaign14 February 2024 Around 70 students took part in the Break Up With Israel protest in Louvain-la-Neuve and other student cities on Wednesday The students are calling on higher education institutions in Belgium to "stop their cooperation with Israeli institutions that contribute to the genocide against the Palestinians" the protesters are asking UCLouvain to cut academic ties with Israeli universities and institutions that support Israel's policies They also criticise the university for not stating its position or openly calling for a ceasefire since the outbreak of fighting in Gaza UCLouvain says a joint position was taken within the Council of Francophone Rectors of the French Community the francophone universities in Belgium expressed their support for the federal government which has called for a peaceful solution to the conflict UCLouvain denies funding scholarships for students in Israel saying there are no exchange agreements with Israeli institutions and although there are no ties between UCLouvain and Israeli institutions UCLouvain says maintaining people-to-people relations is helpful 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 President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapour has arrived in Brussels for a three-day State visit to Belgium On Monday President Shanmugaratnam and his wife received a ceremonial welcome at the Royal Palace the Royal Palace in Brussels from Belgium’s Head of State King Filip and Queen Mathilde Afterwards the Singaporean president met with senators and members of the House of Representatives at the federal parliament No state visit would be complete without a visit to Brussels’ magnificent town hall There Singapore’s president will be greeted by our capital city’s mayor Philippe Close (Francophone socialist) President Tharman and King Filip have a number of joint engagements at Belgian non-profit groups that work in the field of youth empowerment They will also meet with business leaders from various sectors including nanoelectronics President Tharman will also visit the Port of Singapour Authority’s Antwerp Europa terminal at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Antwerp he will visit the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) and the particle accelerator facilities of Ion Beam Applications both of which are located in Louvain-la-Neuve (Walloon Brabant) he will also meet Singaporean ex-pats based in Belgium top civil servants and officials from the president’s office are accompanying President Tharman on the state visit By creating your account, you accept the terms and conditions from Tintin.com You accept to receive from Tintin.com personalized notifications related to Tintin (new events or exhibitions You will be able to set your preferences in your account Tintin.com uses cookies to improve your experience on the site, to analyse its use and for marketing purposes. For more information, please consult the Privacy Policy The first European kata tournament of the year is about to get underway this weekend in Louvain-La-Neuve Whilst there is excitement from all teams to kickstart their season due to the passing of late Head Kata Commissioner There will be over 200 competitors from 18 countries across three different continents trialling their knowledge Three years since this tournament was last showcased the President of the Francophone Belgium judo federation once again welcomes all to the event.  Dear Judo friends, On behalf of the Fédération Francophone Belge de Judo I would like to congratulate all participants for their contribution on this Kata Tournament. The importance of Katas is not to be demonstrated anymore they remain emblems of tradition and perfection in the practice of judo. This tournament is particularly important for our Federation with time and high Level competitors participations it became one of most interesting in Europe with Italy and France after European Championship. I wish all competitors the judges and all the officials an enjoyable stay in Belgium and of course a successful contest.  On Saturday the juniors will have the opportunity to contest across four categories:  Sunday will see the seniors showcasing their expertise across five categories:  a Kata seminar will be held at the same location. EJU Deputy Head Kata Commissioner Mr. Slaviša BRADIĆ explained the main development goals for the year of 2023.  The main goal is to develop the quality of Kata competitions and increase the popularity of Judo kata We intend to increase the quality of the competition through several segments: Good luck to all participants in Belgium this weekend Located in the small planned town of Louvain-la-Neuve in Wallonia the museum is housed in a remarkable building designed by the modernist architect Christian de Portzamparc and the cartoonist Joost Swarte Visitors who venture inside the evocative edifice are offered the opportunity to immerse themselves in both the real and fictional worlds of Hergé The Adventures of Tintin are chronicled album-by-album with original art from each story on display alongside evidence of the author's painstaking research Exhibits provide insight into the author's inspirations and celebrate the series' colorful characters: icons such as Snowy and the museum also explores his personal life and work beyond the bequiffed boy reporter Hergé's career in advertising and his lesser-known comic creations visitors get a feel for him through his artifacts and archive photos from throughout his life (from childhood scouting days to his post-fame global travels) such as the discovery that the creator of Snowy was more of a cat person records and books from his collection show that in his later years Hergé tuned into eastern philosophy and enjoyed the Beatles and Pink Floyd The museum is five minutes' walk from Louvain-la-Neuve's train station You can easily find the building simply by walking across the town's main square (Place de l'Université) and into the park Trains to Louvain-la-Neuve run regularly from Brussels and nearby Ottignies The museum is open from 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and from 10am to 6pm on weekends A raised Japanese building has preserved 8th-century artifacts for more than a millennium earning this log cabin a reputation as the "world's oldest museum." A spectacular Neoclassical palace is home more than 15,000 artifacts and works of art Visitors to this museum will find architectural oddities A surrealist labyrinth and museum of contemporary sculptures This hidden oasis features a stunning view of the Hudson River and the Palisades from a castle-like museum This grand manse has been transformed into a museum devoted to one of the founders of Fantastic Realism This singular art museum in São Paulo is unique inside and out This fairytale house on the shore of a Chilean Lake oozes an eclectic mix of Chilote and German Cultural heritage During his weekly audience at St Peter's Square Pope Francis has confirmed that he still plans to visit Belgium he had cancelled his audiences due to mild flu symptoms The Pope is due to arrive in Belgium tomorrow and remain here until Sunday 29 September During his stay he will visit Leuven (Flemish Brabant) the National Basilica in Koekelberg (Brussels) and celebrate mass at the King Boudewijn Stadium in Brussels Pope Francis held his weekly audience at St Peter's Square in Rome on Wednesday morning On Monday and Tuesday he had cancelled his appointments due to mild flu symptoms There were fears illness would prevent the 87-year-old Pontiff from visiting Belgium The Vatican has not yet released details about the Pope's current state of health Pope Francis appeared to be in good health during Wednesday morning’s audience he did occasionally have to cough while speaking The Pope has been struggling with health issues and has also been using a wheelchair Pope Francis expressed his intention to travel to Belgium on Thursday He also asked for prayers to ensure that his visit here will be a success The trip to Belgium and Luxembourg will be his 46th foreign trip as Pope there were no Belgians attending Belgium’s oldest university the institution—known in French as the Université catholique de Louvain and in Dutch as the Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven—was no longer viable despite its rich legacy had long enjoyed special status at the institution controlling its administration despite Leuven’s location in the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders the Flemish students demanded that the university rectify historic inequities and finally prioritize its Dutch-speaking majority The institution had torn apart at its factional seams and nothing less than a split down the middle would suffice This division would ultimately require the construction of a new town Louvain-la-Neuve (literally “New Leuven” in French) and a new campus just across the border But dividing the library’s collection—splitting an expression of a unified culture a shared history—may have been harder than building a new city as Wallonia’s new Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) was under construction Leuven’s library was a house divided While the Walloons waited for their new library to be completed this historic building near the center of Belgium—about 18 miles from the border separating Flanders and Wallonia—now temporarily housed two distinct libraries serving two distinct institutions and staff were “working in the same place but not working together,” says Charles-Henri Nyns to assist students in one language only and not the other—to not answer students who approached them in the wrong language All that determined which language you used was whether fortune had named you a Fleming or a Walloon; accordingly books were split between the two institutions based not on their language but largely on their own labels—their shelfmarks How else to split a collection that held more than just books Some of that history was proud: Erasmus had found an intellectual home in the city during the 16th century The building catalogued the Low Countries’ contributions to the arts and sciences In a country known for its lack of a cohesive national identity the library seemed as close to a symbol of unity—of Belgian-ness—as could be found brutal sacking in the First World War only reaffirmed that symbolism the German military set the library ablaze as part of its collective punishment of Leuven in retaliation for an alleged sniper attack archivist for the Flemish institution (KU Leuven) and there “rained fragments of charred paper as far as the surrounding countryside.” The town became a convenient piece of propaganda for the forces unified against Germany some ships and even baby girls born in 1914 were named after the town shall be our Battle Cry” became the name of a military march The burnt library in particular was so poignant because no one could have justified its military value Its image helped recast the war from “a political-military conflict” into “a clash of civilizations,” in which one side would destroy cultural relics in fits of wanton in which someone whose family’s home burned down during the German attack tried to describe the carnage to an American diplomat He got through his family’s story but kept stumbling over the word “bibliothèque,” before bursting into tears its telling illustrates Derez’s key observation “Attacks on cultural goods,” he writes “continue to burn in people’s minds and to precipitate into the collective memory The symbolic order ultimately outweighs individual tragedy.” was ready to rally around the library to help Belgium heal the wounds of the war Some Flemish students who had fought for Belgium on the battlefield boycotted the newly built library’s dedication ceremony in 1928 as the Institut de France’s involvement in the project signaled to them a pro-Francophone bias “French was seen as a language of social pressure and a language of arrogance,” says Derez in an interview and not even the Germans’ flames could erase that impression (The German military attacked the library yet again in 1940 When the episcopate had taken control of the university in 1834 following the establishment of the Kingdom of Belgium instruction and administration were made almost exclusively French despite the university’s location in Dutch-speaking Flanders (The one exception was a course in Flemish literature.) Feeling as though they were invisible the Flemings “perceived their French-speaking colleagues as aristocratic who remained convinced of the superiority of the French language and therefore refused to learn Dutch,” writes Louis Vos The institution did not begin to add more Dutch courses until 1911 following decades of Flemish nationalist activism the university had expanded to include a fully Dutch track for students but the expansion only segregated the two language groups—rendering them separate When Vos was attending the university in the 1960s he says the same lecture hall would host the same course two periods in a row: one session for each language Students would ignore each other completely as they shuffled in and out As the split was underway during the 1970s the Walloon community was “like a ghetto”; he was able to make some Flemish friends says he never once conversed directly with a French speaker during his time as a student in Leuven “The idea that Belgium is a bilingual state is not completely correct,” Vos says The situation is closer to one of “self-chosen apartheid” based on “real hostility”—and carried out He recalls Francophone students getting to use nice laboratories while Flemish students were relegated to the basement studying the sciences on a smaller budget despite making up more of the student body the Flemish protests persisted throughout the 1960s (some of them violently) The students sang “We Shall Overcome” and chanted “Walen buiten!”—“Walloons out!”—until it ultimately came to pass that each group would have to be served by its own distinct institution Though much of the collection—which had twice been violently attacked—was necessarily new the battle for the library’s holdings was still the sticking point; the library still embodied a long and vibrant history the collection boasted writings by Thomas More as well as the oldest manuscript written in the Hungarian language—part of Germany’s reparations for World War I 15th-century prayer book (shelfmark A12) in his own bedroom in order to hide it from the Walloons so that they might not take it with them to their new town.* The administrators eventually settled on some arbitrary ground rules which seemed fairest under the circumstances If a work’s donor could be contacted the donor could choose where it would go—and if there was more than one version of the same work each institution would be guaranteed at least one copy But the majority of works were just divided by shelfmark: Odds stayed in Leuven It was an oddly prosaic solution to a fundamentally emotional conflict Along with Walloon students and faculty—who “lost their homes”—the books moved across the border populating this new prop college town that was then the two institutions enjoy a peaceful relationship often spend six months at the other school as many Belgian lawyers are expected to be bilingual The current students on either side of the border rarely speak one another’s language and Walloons and Flemings often have to communicate with each other in English (He adds that Belgium’s German-speaking minority—less than one percent of the population—are known as “the last Belgians,” caught between the country’s two distinct factions.) He wonders if the partnership between the two institutions will evaporate within the next few generations when there will be no one left to link the two groups Perhaps then—in the absence of a unified Belgium—the split will seem even more like “a typical Belgian solution” after all *Correction: This story originally said the prayer book had been hidden in a bathroom We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders the long planned EJU Kata tour will commence and the first destination is Louvain-la-Neuve Whilst the city hosts annual EJU kata events several introduced innovations took place prior which primarily aimed at improving the quality of the kata competition as well as standardising the categories There are 86 pairs from 17 countries and 4 continents registered for the weekend katame-no-kata received the highest entry with 23 pairs all EJU kata tournaments will be held under the same conditions with unique IT support CARE system at the events as well as the start of a ranking list for both The EJU kata team have also encouraged the introduction of younger age categories those are fully aligned with the age categories of shiai kata judge seminars will be held at every EJU kata tournament this year to improve the quality of judging At every tournament the team will hold exams for new kata judges as an incentive to create young kata judges the tournament in Louvain-la-Neuve belongs to one of the highest featured tournament in terms of quality and organisation this weekend will be as fine as ever before Attention: The schedule may be modified according to total number of entries and circumstances of competition `* The start time will be confirmed once the final number of athletes is known The Vatican has now announced the exact dates of the papal visit The pontiff will be in Belgium from 26 to 29 September It’s the first papal visit since 1995 when Pope John Paul II beatified Father Damian The pope will first visit the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 26 September and later the same day he will travel on to Belgium The Catholic University of Leuven is celebrating the 600th anniversary of its founding in 2025 Flemish prime minister Jan Jambon (nationalist/N-VA) the rectors of the Flemish University of Leuven and the Francophone Catholic University of Louvain invited the faith leader with the support of Belgian bishops repeated the invitation during an audience with the pope in September "I think first and foremost his heart has spoken," the Belgian primate A precise programme for the pope's visit will be announced later The Roman Catholic Church in Belgium is launching the dedicated website pausbezoek.be on which all the details will be published A pope was last in Belgium in 1995 when Pope John Paul II performed the beatification of Father Damien but the pope had to cancel that appointment because he had slipped in his bathtub and ended up in hospital Father Damien's native village in Flemish Brabant where they had prepared the pope's visit to perfection This event is organized by an external institution presents an exceptional concert organised in for the benefit of the charity ""Solidarité Grands Froids"" The choir will be performing two major works from the repertoire: Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART's Requiem and Carl ORFF's Carmina burana in the majestic Henry Le Bœuf Hall at the Brussels' Palais des Beaux-Arts Berus Komarschela tenor and Samuel Namotte baritone and the 120 choristers of La Badinerie will be accompanied by pianists Mariano Ferrandez Castillo and Bernard Guiot Mozart's Requiem will be performed in the version completed by Joseph Eybler and more recently by Robert Levin for some sections This version has retained the orchestral structure and Süßmayr's contributions voice direction and other instrumental passages in an attempt to bring the instrumentation more in line with Salzburg practice at that time Carl Orff's Carmina burana: the twenty-four songs of the cantata are framed by an invocation to Fortuna They are organised into three main thematic sections: spring Choose your interests and get the latest news from Bozar straight to your mailbox Centre for Fine ArtsRue Ravensteinstraat 231000 Brussels Offices: Offices : +32 (0)25078430 Tickets: tickets@bozar.be Call center: +32 (0)25078200 A beautiful treasure chest“I wanted this to be a place that would display the work of Hergé in its totality but it should not be forgotten that Hergé was much more than Tintin I obviously did not know Hergé’s work outside of Tintin’s adventures.It was only later that I discovered that while these books translated into dozens of languages for hundreds of millions of readers they still do not eclipse the other drawings posters and caricatures of this first-rate artist.”Fanny RodwellPresident From 20 May to 26 June 2016: Tonnerre de Brest  (Thundering Typhoons!)Temporary exhibition at the Hergé Museum CINEMA ROOM – SATURDAY 21 MAY – 10.45 amConference (in French)EN VOITURE TINTINHow the scale models were createdWith Moulinsart S.A designers Nicolas Preumont but there are many picturesque cities and to choose from when looking at where to live in Belgium By Gary Buswell Beyond living in Brussels there are plenty of Belgian cities and communes that make great homes for expatriates moving to Belgium. With good road networks in Belgium it’s possible to live farther afield than Brussels and commute to work With Belgium renowned for having some of the worst traffic jams in Europe, being connected to the Belgian public transport system may also help you consider where to live in Belgium Here are some of the best Belgian cities to live in Spotahome takes the hassle out of househunting by doing the hard work for you and book rental properties all from the comfort of your own home Take the stress out of househunting in Belgium with Spotahome one of which is actually called the City of Brussels The best municipalities in Brussels include Etterbeek and Ixelles (Dutch: Elsene) if you’re looking for beautiful architecture and cultural amenities; Uccle (Dutch: Ukkel) if you’re into green living; and Anderlecht if you’re after somewhere a bit cheaper The city is ideal if you want to be at the center of where everything’s going on there are probably better cities if you want a quiet environment or affordability Read more about the cost of living in Brussels Antwerp (Antwerpen) offers a truly multicultural environment with an ingrained mix of nationalities. There is a well-sized population of British and American families and a good choice of English-speaking clubs and societies, plus several international schools which has the feel of a village within the city Take a look into the cost of living in Antwerp. You can also read more in our guide to the best neighborhoods in Antwerp Popularly known as the northern Venice, Bruges (Brugge) is one of Belgium’s most attractive cities with its cobbled lanes Living in this little UNESCO World Heritage city takes you to Belgium’s historic past while still enjoying the comfort of a lively and modern atmosphere Those seeking more action will find it in the Markt and eastern Burg neighborhoods. Both neighborhoods boast Bruges’ main attractions, such as the Belfry Tower and a steady stream of horse-drawn carriages If you have children or prefer to stay away from the center bustle the districts in the outer ring beyond the canals are a good option and Sint-Michiels are four of the most popular residential neighborhoods outside Bruges’ center Read up more on the cost of living in Bruges there’s also plenty of river-view apartments The most popular locations for expats in Gent’s city center are Muinparkwijk with its’ affordable houses and gardens full of old houses and a delightful river running through it Patershol and Prinsenhof are lively central areas of winding cobbled streets and museums but for a quieter central neighborhood southeast Visserij offers leafy paths along a waterfront and rows of terraced housing that adjoin grand manor houses and industrial lofts Read more about the cost of living in Gent This area outside the Brussels region is a French-speaking enclave in the Flemish belt. The most expensive part to live is by the lake with its Geneva-style waterspout Rixensart is just a 20-minute train journey away from the center of Brussels Property and rent prices are generally cheaper in Leuven than its’ big-city counterparts, thus catering to the student crowd. Lower living costs so it’s vital to do your research early before moving to Leuven Leuven has five deelgemeenten (submunicipalities): Leuven The center of Liège has a good stock of apartment buildings and expats tend to gather around a cluster of streets including Boulevards Frère-Orban and Piercot the island area in the middle of the river Meuse is becoming a desirable area for its cultural character The city center is also renowned for its folk festivals and varied nightlife Suburban living includes the university area of Sart-Tilman and also Cointe and Embourg Expat families can easily commute from surrounding areas if they want more space or school options is now a thriving cosmopolitan hotspot for both the working professional and young families alike Comprising five different styled districts: Baraque ranging from lively bars and restaurants to cultural gems such as the Hergé Museum As the focus here is on sustainability and environmental awareness giving plenty of options for you to enjoy nature in the nearby woods and around the central lake Being conveniently located just 30 kilometers southeast of Brussels it’s an attractive option for the cross-border commuter Louvain-la-Neuve hosts 24h Velo, the biggest student party in Belgium. Other key attractions include the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park and the Musée Hergé In this officially Dutch-speaking area, you’ll hear French and English on the streets among a number of other languages. A large population of expats love the lush country living at the edge of Brussels, with its great park surrounding the Africa Museum and the British School of Brussels at its heart As Tervuren is one of the richer areas of Belgium with acres of land and a real sense of owning your own patch Public transportation options are certainly adequate with a handful of bus routes It’s also at the end of one of the world’s most beautiful tramlines: Line 44 which connects Tervuren with the Montgomery metro station in the Bruxelloise municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre Read up more on the cost of living in Tervuren Waterloo is a small French-speaking municipality popular for its self-containment meaning there is no need to take the train in and out of Brussels when you need something It consists of six districts: Faubourg Ouest It’s a popular area for expats with a raft of international schools and cheaper housing options than Brussels Around 20% of the population is non-Belgian plus there’s a good high street of shops and clusters of big out-of-town shopping centers It has become particularly popular with Americans and Scandinavians Learn more about the cost of living in Waterloo Belgium is a very family-friendly country to live in. It has good educational, healthcare and cultural facilities in all the main cities Belgium is generally quite a safe place to live In terms of living costs, the Brussels-Capital Region is the most expensive for house prices according to Statbel you might want to consider Waterloo or Liège if you’re looking to economize The main Belgian cities all have their crime hotspots, but there are plenty of safe suburban areas. Brussels has the highest crime of any major Belgian city but ranks 24th on the 2019 Safe Cities Index measuring cities worldwide Although Belgium is divided into French- and Dutch-speaking regions English is widely spoken across the country Antwerp is a popular place for those looking for English speakers as it has sizeable anglophone expat communities Tervuren has a tranquil rural feel with plenty of countryside and large housing that attracts retirees Gent and Rixensart also both score highly in terms of quality of life and scenic beauty Young singles moving to Belgium are likely to value vibrant culture and nightlife, a good dating scene are the most renowned for their nightclubbing and dating scenes Liège and Bruges also have good nightlife and plenty of cultural attractions that make for good dating opportunities In terms of student populations, Leuven, Gent, and Louvain-de-Neuve are all home to universities that feature highly in the 2020 QS World University Rankings Gent and Leuven are two good quality cities that are slightly cheaper than the likes of Brussels and Antwerp, with accommodation and general living costs aimed more at the large student populations Housing costs in Belgium are generally cheaper in the French-speaking Wallonia rising slightly in Dutch-speaking Flanders there are variations within the regions and within cities themselves Brussels is unsurprisingly the city that attracts most expats looking to find a job or start a business It’s the city with the largest economy in Belgium and is also home to both the NATO headquarters and multiple EU institutions Brussels has also been ranked as the 44th best city in the world for startup businesses and has a thriving community of entrepreneurs Antwerp is another good city for jobs and business Its GDP per capita is not far off that of Brussels The economy there is dominated by the petrochemical industry which is the second-largest in the world after Houston in the United States and Ieper (Ypres) all have strong tourism sectors so tend to have plenty of jobs during the peak summer season Liège is the most powerful economic city in Wallonia with a growing and diverse technology sector From a regional perspective, the Brussels-Capital Region is the strongest economically and has the highest average salaries Wallonia has lower salaries and a smaller GDP per capita than Brussels or Flanders All cities, even the best ones, have their less desirable areas. Belgian cities are no different. Brussels has some areas with run-down facilities and higher crime rates. According to a 2018 report the neighborhoods in Brussels with the highest crime rates are Quartier Nord (in the City of Brussels French: Quartier Brabant in Schaerbeek/Schaarbeek Antwerp has fewer troublesome neighborhoods but areas best avoided are those close to Antwerp Centraal Station and around the port and docks The Belgian city with the worst reputation is Charleroi in French-speaking Wallonia. It has ranked worst on the country’s crime and safety index. Furthermore, Charleroi suffered the ignominy of being called the ugliest city in the world Gary has been freelancing for Expatica since 2016 An expert writer with experience in social research and community development he focuses on topics such as politics and current affairs a delegation from KU Leuven and UC Louvain will travel to the East Coast of the United States to strengthen the ties with MIT KU Leuven will confirm its partnership with this university which is one of the most renowned American research institutions Vice Rector for International Policy Peter Lievens explains: “Contacts and exchanges with other research institutions are essential to high-quality and innovative education and research That is why KU Leuven has been actively pursuing agreements with foreign institutions for years now The fact that we can now count MIT among our privileged partners opens up new perspectives for many researchers and students.” UC Louvain attaches great importance to international contacts as well the sister university from Louvain-la-Neuve will renew its current agreement with MIT UC Louvain and MIT will have easier access to each other’s research expertise and infrastructure This can help to build on the momentum for gaining new insights and developing new technology As one UC Louvain researcher aptly puts it: “To think together Also on the programme are meetings between Rectors Vincent Blondel and Luc Sels a number of honorary doctors from KU Leuven and UC Louvain will join the group for breakfast The Leuven delegation will then travel on to New York for a KU Leuven alumni event they will fly to Ottawa to join the Belgian state visit to Canada You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Images and more about the museum after the break. “It was at the close of the exhibition, organized by the Pompidou Centre about me in 1996, that I met Fanny and Nick Rodwell. They had seen the exhibition, liked it, and wanted to talk to me about their project for the Hergé Museum…Hergé had not only cradled and enchanted my own childhood, but he was also cradling and enchanting the childhood of my children,” explained de Portzamparc. When finding inspiration for the museum, Portzamparc immediately looked to the ideas and figures present in Hergé’s writings.  Although it took almost a decade for those images to transfer into an architectural language, the result is a space that richly commemorates the famed author.  ”What is clear to me, now that the museum exists, is that there were infinite sources of inspiration for the project,” explained de Portzamparc. The museum is separated from the town, a location Portzamparc found to be advantageous in allowing the visitor to experience and focus on the “four landscape objects”.  These four objects are different exhibition areas that illustrate various “kinds of character” through experimenting with form, color and design derived from Hergé’s drawing style.   Meandering footbridges link the exhibition spaces while large, comic-strip-like bay windows allow natural light to fill the spaces. As seen on Dezeen Photographs are copyright Nicolas Borel and Hergé/Croix de l’Aigle ATELIER CHRISTIAN DE PORTZAMPARC TEAM : Céline Barda