Economist.com Cities Guide: Brussels Briefing - October 2005

News this month

Noisy neighbours

The regional governments of Flanders and Brussels have long disputed the traffic of night flights from Zaventem airport. The airport is in Flanders, close to the Brussels border, and the distribution of late-night noise from planes travelling overhead has ruffled regional feathers. The two sides were meant to reach an agreement by October 15th, but the deadline came and went after more than 12 hours of talks in the closing stages.

Following an appeals-court judgement earlier this year, Brussels's regional government has the right to levy a fine of €25,000 ($30,000) for every infraction of noise limits. It estimates that 5% of flights breach the limits. Renaat Landuyt, Belgium's federal transport minister, has asked Belgium’s highest court to overturn the ruling that permitted the fines. Some worry that abiding by the noise limits would threaten the airport’s viability.

Van out

A corruption scandal in the local government of Charleroi, south of Brussels, has precipitated the resignation of one of the most powerful politicians in Francophone Belgium. Jean-Claude van Cauwenberghe, head of the Walloon regional government, stepped down from his post on September 30th, amid allegations of fraud and embezzlement in his socialist party (PS). Mr van Cauwenberghe, who has protested his innocence, was a casualty of mismanagement and financial abuse at La Carolorégienne, a social housing company. The organisation's board members, all of whom are socialists, have been allegedly claiming thousands of euros in expenses despite the company's €75m ($90m) in debts. The prime minister himself is part owner of a law firm that has enjoyed quite a bit of business from the housing corporation (worth around €30,000). An investigation into the housing company also revealed incidents of nepotism.

The scandal became public when a member of the liberal opposition in Charleroi published an audit report into La Carolorégienne on his website. It has severely hurt the reputation of the PS, and harmed Walloon politics in general. The chairman of the PS, Elio di Rupo, has replaced Mr van Cauwenberghe.

Striking twice

Industrial action continues over government proposals to keep people in work longer and delay their pension rights. A strike on October 7th by Belgium's biggest socialist union badly disrupted public transport, bringing much of the country to a halt. Another day of strikes is planned for October 28th, with unions from the socialist, Christian Democrat and liberal parties all participating.

There is some good news for travellers, though: the rail unions will not take part in the strike, so as to allow unionists to travel to Brussels to join the protests. As November 1st is a public holiday, many Belgians are planning on enjoying nearly a week of rest.

Cheap trick

The federal government is threatening legal action against Ryanair and Virgin Express, two budget airlines, accusing them of adding extra charges to ticket prices. Freya Van den Bossche, Belgium's consumer affairs minister, said the airlines were hiding charges that were added to the initial ticket price, such as airport taxes, fuel surcharges and fees for using a credit card. The airlines denied any impropriety, arguing that the final price was clearly stated before online customers made their purchase. Ms Van den Bossche says the companies should show the total ticket price from the beginning of the transaction.

Pis artist

A new era has dawned in the life of the Manneken Pis, the fountain in the form of a urinating boy that is an inexplicably popular tourist attraction in Brussels. Although much of the time the statue is naked, it is traditional to dress it up on special occasions: a personal dresser and a wardrobe of 750 costumes is available for just this purpose. After 30 years as the statue’s dresser, Jacques Stroobants has retired and been replaced by Jean-Marc Ahime, who will now choose the Mannekin's outfits. Curious visitors should make their way to Brussels town museum in nearby Grand' Place, where Mr Ahime works. From October 28th, visitors can behold much of the Mannekin's wardrobe here, after a recent revamp of the collection.

A few blocks away from the irreverent boy, on Impasse de la Fidelité, visitors can find his lesser-known female equivalent, Janneke-Pis (created in 1987).

For more information about the curious statue, visit its official website.

Catch if you can

October 2005

“Russian Avant-Garde 1900-1935” & “From Tsar to Emperor”

October 5th 2005—January 22nd 2006

Russia's influence on the West is the subject of two exhibitions opening in October at the Palais des Beaux-Arts. The first is devoted to the Russian avant-garde movement of the early 20th century, whose members were eventually absorbed into the politics of Soviet art (constructivism). The second (which opens on October 11th) explores a much earlier, larger sweep of Russian history (1547-1703), from Tsar Ivan IV's accession to Peter the Great’s creation of a new seat of power at St Petersburg. These shows are part of a larger art festival, Europalia, which is devoted to Russia this year. It also promises the performances of a succession of visiting Russian orchestras and theatre companies between October and February.
Palais des Beaux-Arts, Rue Royale 10, 1000 Brussels. Tel: +32 (02) 507-8594. Open: daily, 10am-6pm; Thurs till 9pm. Entry: €9. For more information see the Europalia website.

More from the Brussels cultural calendar