World

Why Belgium is the Perfect European Country for Your Next Vacation

Published

3 years ago

March 25, 2022

With spring days here and travel restrictions easing, it’s time to start looking forward to vacations. Many European countries are welcoming travelers again.Two major travel trends to have emerged in the last few years are solo travel and sustainable travel – both trends set to continue beyond 2022. Most solo travelers are women so while there’a a wonderful world out there to explore, traveling safely should always be prioritized. It’s worth checking out the best cities for women to solo travel.

Lockdown has given us time to be more environmentally aware. Although we’ve learned to appreciate what our local areas have to offer, many of us are now hoping to travel further afield in a way that’s as kind as possible to the environment.

What is the best way of traveling sustainably in 2022?

The top tip for sustainable travel is traveling slowly. Traveling by road, rail and public transport are best for getting to your destination. While time constraints mean this is sometimes impractical, there are ways of traveling sustainably once you arrive. If you must fly, limit your air travel. Rather than taking a few trips, take one air trip per year and stay longer in your destination. Slow down and explore one country or region well. Europe has so many small countries neighboring each other and such great public transport links that it’s an ideal place to explore on vacation. This article considers why Belgium is an unmissable country for a wonderful trip.

Location

Belgium is surrounded by France, Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands and the North sea. It’s small and easily explored using public transport or by bicycle. Belgium offers countless historic castles, cathedrals, museums and medieval villages as well as bustling cosmopolitan towns and cities. It also boasts a delightful green region. This section looks at its highlights.

Cities

Bruges.

A picture perfect medieval city built on a network of canals with pretty cobbled streets and historical buildings. It’s a fairytale town and can be easily explored on foot, by boat, bicycle or horse drawn carriage. There are charming cafés and chocolate shops everywhere.

Ghent

A larger university town full of cathedrals and historical buildings. Gravasteen Castle with its moat is unmissable. The profusion of galleries and museums make Ghent a haven for art lovers.

Antwerp

The vibrant fashion capital, hosts museums, galleries, architecture and darling cafés. It’s a great place for shopping and chilling. Het Steen Castle, a medieval castle which protected the city from viking raids, is impressive.

Brussels

Multicultural, multilingual and cosmopolitan, art galleries and historic sites abound. The Grand Place is probably one of the most famous squares in Belgium. Brussels is a bigger city and merits a couple of days to visit properly. Tin Tin comics tour in the Hergé museum is a fun activity.

Durbuy

By contrast, Durbuy, just 2 hours from Brussels, is known as the smallest city in the world! It’s idyllic with cobbled streets and flower boxes everywhere. The river Ourthe passes through Durbuy. Visit the Topiary Park and quench your thirst at the Marckloff brewery. Adventure valley park nearby, is a great spot for outdoor activities

Dinant

Hometown of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, Dinant is a treat. Follow the saxophone trail and take a cable car trip up to the citadel. The views of the River Meuse are spectacular.

The Ardennes

If you want to get out of the cities and towns, travel south to the beautiful verdant Ardennes. With its forests, rivers and trails, it’s a haven for cyclists and hikers.

Cool off at the coast

Belgium is blessed with beautiful sandy beaches and coastal towns. Ostend, made famous by Marvin Gaye who lived there, has lots to do. Nearby De Haan is another seaside town worth a visit.

Historical sites not to miss:

Waterloo. Final battleground of the Napoleonic wars.

Menin Gate in Ypres. A memorial to soldiers lost in WW1

Langemark Cemetery. Burial site of thousands of German soldiers killed in the war.

Belgium has it all not to mention its delicious culinary delights. If you get bored, which is unlikely, you can simply nip across the border and choose another wonderful country to explore.

World

Turkish Textile Giant Sun Textile Solution Proposal for Drought

Published

2 months ago

February 4, 2025

Jenny Jackson

While the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) are seeking solutions to combat drought through various projects, Ekoten Textile, a subsidiary of Turkey’s textile giant Sun Textile, has developed a groundbreaking project in collaboration with a technology startup to minimize the intensive water consumption in the textile industry. This pioneering project, the first of its kind globally, will enable the recycling and reuse of up to 90% of the water used in textile production.

Drought is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. According to WHO data, 40% of the global population is struggling with water scarcity. By 2030, up to 700 million people could be forced to migrate due to drought. The unconscious use of water in global production processes plays a significant role in the rapid depletion of clean water resources.

The textile industry is one of the sectors with the highest water consumption. In Turkey, while the food industry consumes 22% of the water used for industrial purposes, the textile sector follows closely with 18%. For instance, producing an average of 40 tons of products daily requires 2,500 tons of water, equivalent to the daily water consumption of approximately 10,000 people.

CLEAN WATER RESOURCES FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY!

In textile production, where clean water resources are heavily consumed, the innovative success of the Turkish company stands out as a global best practice. This initiative will shape the future of the industry. The wastewater recycling project, developed through intensive R&D efforts, will ensure that over 90% of the required water is sourced from recycled supplies.

The reuse of wastewater in production will transform the fate of countries operating in the textile sector. By preventing the use of clean water resources for textile production, this project will free up clean water sources that can meet the daily needs of hundreds of thousands of people.

R&D ACTIVITIES IN 38 COUNTRIES WITH 380 PARTNERS!

Sun Textile places great emphasis on R&D activities, conducting research and development efforts with 380 partners across 38 countries. Sun Textile and its subsidiary Ekoten Textile export nearly 90% of their production, solidifying their identity as a leading exporter. The company ships products to numerous destinations worldwide, including European countries, the UK, and the US. Sun Textile, the leading ready-to-wear exporter in the Aegean Region, achieved a consolidated turnover of 250 million euros in the third quarter of 2024, continuing its active growth trajectory.

OFFERING CUSTOM DESIGNS TO CUSTOMERS

Sun Textile provides its own designed collections to leading brands in Europe and the UK. Ekoten Textile, its subsidiary, is among the most respected knitted fabric manufacturers in Turkey and Europe.

With a dedicated sales team for each major customer group and five design offices in three different countries, Sun Textile creates designs tailored to its customers’ needs. Its largest clients include the Inditex Group, H&M, Jimmy Key, Tesco, Kiabi, Marks & Spencer, and Next.

Sun Textile also extends its sustainability approach to social responsibility, notably for its high ratio of female employees. The company, which went public in 2022, is also listed in dividend indexes.