Belgium today (October 23, 2026) is primarily dominated by Storm Austen, which has triggered widespread wind warnings and activity cancellations. Meanwhile, the federal cabinet convened and new economic data revealed a continued decline in household savings rates, while the visit of Vietnamese leaders to Belgium also attracted diplomatic attention.

Storm “Austen” Strikes, Multiple Locations Cancel Activities

Storm Austen, originating from northern France, swept across Belgium today, bringing strong winds and rainfall. The Royal Meteorological Institute forecasts that inland wind gusts could reach 80 to 100 kilometers per hour, with even stronger winds along the coast.

Affected by the severe weather, Belgium has taken multiple precautionary measures:

• Sports Events: All Jupiler Pro League and Challenger Pro League matches scheduled for this evening have been postponed.
• Public Facilities: Parks and green spaces managed by Bruxelles Environnement have been closed since noon; the Liège funfair also closed early, with reopening expected Saturday morning.
• Regional Alerts: Hainaut province remains under orange wind alert until 1 AM Saturday; the Port of Antwerp-Bruges has proactively reduced shipping traffic to ensure safety.

Federal Cabinet Meeting Held

The Belgian federal cabinet met today, with the provisional agenda covering multiple important items, including: adjustment of the 2026 budget, establishment of 2027 military staffing levels, second reading of restrictions on e-cigarette flavorings, and temporary increase in heating social fund subsidies.

Household Savings Rate Falls to Near Four-Year Low

New data released by the National Bank of Belgium shows that the household savings rate dropped to 11.7% in the second quarter of this year, the lowest level since the end of 2022. Although disposable income grew by 0.5%, household spending surged by 1.8%, leading to a decline in savings. Meanwhile, corporate profit margins rose to 45%, the highest level since the end of 2022.

Vietnam’s Top Leader Visits Belgium

During his official visit to Belgium, Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam met with King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace of Laeken today, with both sides expressing commitment to elevating bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. The Belgian House of Representatives is the world’s only legislature to have passed a resolution supporting Vietnamese Agent Orange victims, which was specifically mentioned during the meeting.

Brussels Government Appointment Controversy

Belgian political party DéFI today criticized the Brussels regional government’s recent appointments to the leadership of Actiris (the Brussels employment agency) and the Regional Drug Commission, accusing the appointments of “cronyism” and alleging that political considerations overrode the selection procedures. Ecolo had already raised similar objections on Thursday evening.