Belgium faced a unsettled day, with a Brussels protest slipping from organisers’ control, Storm Austen leaving damage in Flanders and data breaches affecting hundreds of thousands. Elsewhere, a horse wandered into a five-star hotel, while Belgian football delivered late drama.
Student and school pupil protests are spreading across much of Europe. In Brussels, organizers lost control of the demonstration after youths broke through a police line, prompting officers to use pepper spray. The actions also caused disruption in Wallonia. In France and several Italian cities, protests descended into riots, violence and looting.
Storm Austen swept across Flanders on Friday and overnight, causing property damage in every province. In Blankenberge, gusts reached 99 kilometres per hour, equivalent to wind force 9. This made Austen the season’s first official autumn storm. Hundreds of reports concerned fallen trees, damaged roofs and flooding.
A major fire has hit the Kehlsteinhaus, known as the “Eagle’s Nest,” in southeastern Germany. Adolf Hitler’s former teahouse is a historic tourist attraction and may be beyond saving. Police confirmed the fire overnight from Friday to Saturday. Officers detained a suspect and are treating it as arson.
A new day of protests is planned for Saturday in France, with marches bringing together Yellow Vest protesters, trade unions, high school students and university students. Tensions remain high after the violence and looting on October 17. Numerous marches have been banned, while 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed to secure the gatherings.
A horse made for a remarkable scene Saturday afternoon at Bistrôt Le Ciel, the restaurant at the five-star La Butte aux Bois hotel in Lanaken. As numerous guests were having lunch, the animal calmly walked inside. The unexpected guest immediately attracted attention. As the restaurant wryly noted, the horse also arrived without a reservation.
At least 47 companies and institutions operating in Belgium have suffered a data breach since the start of 2026. The phenomenon affects several hundred thousand Belgians. Dark web monitoring conducted with Fox&Fish Cyberdefense and confirmed by the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) recorded these incidents.
The match between Antwerp and Charleroi kicked off Saturday afternoon at the Bosuil in Antwerp, with the score 0-0. The Zebras are looking to extend their excellent league run, having taken 21 of 24 points. Antwerp are seeking a response after five consecutive defeats in the competition. The match is currently ongoing.
OH Leuven could not avoid a draw against Lommel at Den Dreef. After a strong comeback, the home side looked set for victory, but saw it slip away in the dying seconds. Van Duiven equalised for the visitors, securing the final score at 2-2. Both teams therefore share the points.
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