Belgian news in brief, 22 August 2005

Cheap rents for outer Brussels offices

Rents for offices on the edge of Brussels have fallen sharply. Lease contracts are currently being signed for less than EUR 100 per square metre for a year. Several ‘offers’ also come attached with old buildings, in which the real rental cost falls to EUR 66. In the economically good year of 2000, rental prices outside the centre of Brussels rose to EUR 150, but the demand for office space has since dried up due to poor economic growth. The crisis has been worsened by new office projects flooding the market. Office rents in the EU quarter go for EUR 300 per square metre, Skynet reported

More mature age university students

The number of people returning to university as a mature student in Belgium has increased dramatically in recent years. Studies such as psychology, sociology and religion are especially popular, newspaper ‘De Morgen’ reported. Various universities in Flanders have reported higher mature age students, but the reason for the increase is not yet known.

Stricter poultry measures loom

The federal government is examining whether it should take stronger measures to ward off an outbreak of the avian bird flu in Belgium. The Health Ministry was requested on Monday to examine whether all poultry should be kept inside to ward off infection. The European Commission has not yet advised extra measures be taken, despite the fact the virus has spread from Asia to Russia and could be approaching Europe. The Netherlands has ordered all poultry to remain indoors, while Germany will do the same next month, newspaper ‘De Tijd’ reported.

Clijsters climbs world rankings

Flemish tennis ace Kim Clijsters has risen from 8th to 4th in the world tennis rankings after defeating national rival Justine-Henin-Hardenne in Toronto on Sunday. Clijsters won the all-Belgian Rogers Cup final 7-5, 6-1 and is now favoured to win the US Open. Henin-Hardenne has slipped from 5th to 7th place.

Subject: Belgian news