They may be small, elusive and easy to overlook, but salamanders play an outsized role in the health of ecosystems. As ‘indicator species’, their presence – or absence – signals the health of their habitats. But across Europe, these amphibians are now in crisis, facing a deadly threat: a fungus introduced via the global pet
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Beneath the hills of Han-sur-Lesse in the Belgian Ardennes, the Caves of Han are one of the most extensive and famous cave systems in Europe. Formed over thousands of years by the erosive action of the River Lesse as it cuts through the limestone of the Calestienne region, the system extends some 1,100m underground and
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The village of Redu, in the wooded hills of the Ardennes, has developed a distinctive cultural identity as Belgium’s first “book village”. Inspired by Hay-on-Wye in Wales, the initiative began in 1984 and transformed Redu from a quiet rural settlement into a centre for book culture and literary tourism. At its peak, the village was
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Located just outside the city of Lommel in Limburg, the Sahara is a 193-hectare area characterised by pale sand, pine forest and a clear blue lake. Despite its name, the landscape is not a natural desert but the result of past industrial activity. Between 1920 and 1925, sand extraction created the central lake. At the
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Hidden in the shadow of the Port of Antwerp, where the River Scheldt nudges the Dutch border, lies Doel: a nearly abandoned village where silence and street art tell a story of defiance. Once a thriving polder community, Doel is now better known for its crumbling houses, haunting murals and the looming presence of a
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The Begijnhof of Diest is one of the most atmospheric and best-preserved beguinages in Flanders, offering a rare glimpse into a unique form of female religious life. Founded in 1253, it served as a peaceful enclave for Beguines – laywomen who lived communally without taking permanent vows. Today, its quiet lanes and historic architecture evoke
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Once driven to the brink of extinction in many countries, wolves can now be found in more than 30 European countries. Thanks to legal – though recently reduced – protection under the Bern Convention and the EU’s Habitats Directive, populations are growing in countries such as Italy, Poland and Spain. But conservation success has brought
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In the dusty heart of the Andalusian countryside, just before dusk, a small figure creeps through the thyme and rockrose. Tufted ears flick in the fading light, golden eyes fixed on a rabbit in the undergrowth. Silent, poised, unmistakable – the Iberian lynx is hunting. Not so long ago, such a sight would have been
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From towering wind turbines to deep-sea trawlers, the North Sea is a beehive of human activity. But beneath the waves of one of the world’s most explored and exploited seas lies a fragile and increasingly stressed ecosystem. Spanning the coasts of Scotland, the Netherlands and Germany, the North Sea has long been both a lifeline
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The grey parrot is one of the world’s most recognisable and intelligent birds. Celebrated for its long lifespan and remarkable ability to mimic human speech, it has charmed pet owners across continents. But behind this popularity lies a darker truth: the grey parrot is also one of the world’s most trafficked and endangered bird species.
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