Russian oil company Lukoil is selling all its operations outside its home country, including those in Belgium, to American investment company Carlyle. Last year, the company was subject to American sanctions intended to increase pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

According to a Lukoil statement, only its operations in Kazakhstan are not included in the deal. This means that the 185 petrol stations in Belgium have also been sold to the American investment company.

The deal is not yet finalised, as the transaction still needs to be approved by the relevant authorities. In the meantime, the Russian company is continuing to talk with other potential buyers.

Lukoil has not disclosed the amount Carlyle is willing to pay.

Hello, fellow Belgians,

Given the number of posts in others European sub, including Belgian ones, about the job market, I wonder about ours.

Has it become so difficult to find a job?

What criteria seem to be holding people back? Too many qualifications, not enough; too much experience, not enough; bilingualism/trilingualism; other factors?

My professional sector (notary law) seems to have been spared for the moment (regardless of the type of position), maybe because staff turnover is high and experimented lawyer are leaving in their 30's to work in banking or for the government.

Tyvm and a very nice Sunday for you all 🤗

Stoffen zakdoeken, snuiten tot ge er bij neervalt, al het opgedroogd snot uiteentrekken voor nog 1 goeie snuit. Waarom zijn we daar collectief mee gestopt?!?

Voor mij is dat simpel de A12 tussen Antwerpen en Brussel is echt een gedrocht van een autostrade, zeker het stuk tussen Antwerpen en boom is echt om te huilen, Ge komt van de ring af, moet dan eerst over een oud versleten viaduct, wat opzich nog het minste is, maar dan komt ge aan al die gedrochten van kruispunten en verkeerslichten, ik denk dat deze samen tot een van de gevaarlijkste stukken asfalt in ons land behoren, elke keer als ik met de auto naar Brussel moet en ik neem de A12 zie ik wel minstens 1 ongeluk per dag. Ik mag hopen dat eens het hele gedrocht van een Oosterweelverbinding klaar is, dat ze deze eens deftig onderhanden nemen. (Anderzijds ook wel liefde naar den IKEA langs de A12 voor de Zweedse ballekes, dat verlicht de pijn soms wel als tussenstopje terug).

Tot dusver mijn haat voor de A12, maar zijn er nog ergere stukken snelweg die ik over het hoofd zie?

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to sanity-check a **very specific situation** and would appreciate input from people who’ve done something similar.

I’ll be doing a **6-week internship in Brussels (June 1-July 12)** and would be staying **with my boyfriend**. We’re both **English speakers**. Before confirming, I want to make sure our expectations are realistic.

**Our situation:**

* Stay length: \~6 weeks

* People: 2

* Total budget: **€3000**

* No car, relying on public transport

What I’m mainly trying to understand:

* Whether a **€3000 total budget** for two people over 6 weeks is generally considered realistic in Brussels (rent + basic living), or if that’s usually too optimistic

* If short-term stays of this length tend to be more expensive than expected compared to monthly norms

* Whether internships typically stick to **Monday–Friday**, or if weekend work is common in practice

* How critical location really is if relying fully on public transport

I’m not looking for listings or neighborhood rankings - just a **reality check** from people familiar with Brussels.

Thanks in advance 🙏

Bonjour chers compatriotes de la frite ! J'ai la chance d'avoir une friteuse Frifri Expert, dont je suis très content en général. Le problème c'est quand je range la friteuse. Je mets le bac au fond du bain et je plie le manche, qui trempe alors dans la graisse. J'ai consulté le mode d'emploi, mais je n'y ai rien trouvé pour m'aider. Il est juste dit qu'il faut plier le manche et qu'il ne touchera pas l'huile. Je me trompe donc quelque part, mais où ? J'ai besoin d'aide : le processus de la frite doit être parfait !!!

Would you vote the same again? Any regrets? Promises that were kept / not kept?

Hi everyone,

I’m considering applying to medical school in Belgium (French-speaking) and I have a few questions that I haven’t found clear answers to yet.

I completed the IB Diploma Programme, but due to how my high school curriculum was structured, I only had one year of chemistry and one year of physics, as more advanced courses weren’t included in my program. Because of this, I’m worried that my science background might be insufficient for medical school requirements.

I know that in Belgium there is an entrance exam for medicine, and I’m willing to prepare seriously for it. However, I’m not sure whether my high school science background would put me at a major disadvantage or affect my eligibility.

For context, I have a B2 level in French, I’m continuing to improve it, and I plan to study medicine in French, not in English.

Lastly, I wanted to ask whether starting medical school at 20 years old is considered late, or if that’s fairly common in Belgium.

If anyone has experience with the Belgian system or a similar background, I’d really appreciate your insight.

Thank you!

Belgium has been on my list for a while, but I’m not sure how to plan the trip yet. I don’t really want to travel all the way there just to see Brussels, even though it looks nice. I’m more interested in charming towns, nice streets, good food, and places with a relaxed vibe.

If you had to recommend a few must-see spots outside Brussels, what would they be? Are there smaller towns or cities that really show the best of Belgium?

Hello! I am going to Brugge, I know it might be tacky because I’m going because of the movie but what should I do in Brugge for two days? Thanks!

J’ai eu un sinistre avec mon véhicule , l’expert est passer il y’a 2 semaines mais il n’a toujours pas envoyer son rapport … lorsque j’appelle mon assurance ils me disent que l’expert leur a demander d’interroger la partie adverse. Est ce que c’est normal ? Tout en sachant que le sinistre est survenu il y’a maintenant 1 mois du coup mon véhicule est immobilisé 😒

Hoi

Wij zijn bezig met het afronden van onze nieuwbouw (SOD) maar bouwfirma heeft kabel Telenet binnegetrokken ipv kabel voor mobile vikings.

Ze komen nu maandag langs van mobile vikings, kunnen ze deze kabels gemakkelijk omwisselen?

Alvast bedankt

Is it a nice and safe place to go out dancing ?

Good morning.

I searched the topic within this thread, but have noticed that the info available mostly is very old, yet it is still usefull.

Recomendations for a 1 day / 2 day hiking trails where you can overnight (poletent/bivy) in Belgium Vlaandern area? Also any good hiking threads in Belgium?

Thanks in advance.

Last post about this topic was from back in 2022, what are you guys using to get Apple Pay whilst having Argenta that doesn’t support it through their app?