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Reading Belgian news for free: door-drop papers, Metro and open sites
In Belgium, you can keep informed for free through the RTBF, VRT and BRF websites, 7sur7 or RTL info, door-drop papers such as Vlan or Passe-Partout, and weeklies like Bruzz or De Zondag, in French and Dutch.
A tradition of door-to-door free papers
For decades, advertising-funded free weeklies have been dropped into Belgian letterboxes. Vlan, from the Rossel group, covers Brussels and Wallonia, while Passe-Partout and Deze Week publish local news, event listings and classified ads in Flanders.
Metro, the free commuter daily
The daily Metro, launched in 2000 and long distributed in railway stations and STIB metro stations, published editions in French and Dutch. It embodied the free urban press until smartphones drew away a share of its readers.
De Zondag, the Flemish Sunday paper
De Zondag, published by Roularta, is a free weekly available on Sundays in Flemish bakeries. It offers news, sport and local incidents to readers who cannot find a paid daily on that day, a subject explored further in the Flemish press.
Bruzz and the free press in Brussels
Bruzz, funded by the Flemish Community, publishes a free Dutch-language weekly about Brussels with a bilingual cultural listings guide. BX1, the Brussels regional television channel, runs a free French-language news site, and The Brussels Times addresses expats in English.
Public broadcasters, free online
The news sites of RTBF, VRT and BRF are funded by the communities' budgets and require no subscription. Their Auvio and VRT MAX platforms only ask for a free account to watch video, though some programmes remain geo-blocked abroad.
7sur7, HLN and hybrid models
Sites such as 7sur7, owned by DPG Media, or RTL info remain largely open and live off advertising. Het Laatste Nieuws, Sudinfo and La Dernière Heure combine free articles with subscriber-only content, flagged by a symbol or a premium label.
Municipal newsletters and public bulletins
Most Belgian municipalities publish a free newsletter, delivered to letterboxes and posted online. These papers present roadworks, elections and administrative services, but remain institutional publications; their political information should be read with that in mind.
Can you refuse door-drop papers?
Stickers let residents refuse unaddressed advertising while still accepting, depending on the Region, free local news papers. The rules differ between Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders, and papers such as Vlan regularly remind readers of their status as local press.
Libraries and digital newsstands
Public libraries in Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders often provide free access to paid dailies, in print or through digital newsstands. For the titles themselves and their subscription offers, see the Belgian national press.
Independent free media and digital-only outlets
Some online media rely on donations or crowdfunding and keep their articles open. Others, such as Apache or Médor, alternate between free and restricted content. Their in-depth investigations complement the fast news of advertising-funded free sites.
Free does not mean neutral
Free papers depend heavily on their advertisers: property developers, car dealers and local shops. Advertorials must be labelled, but the line is sometimes blurred; the consumer press regularly warns about this disguised commercial content.
How to cross-check without paying?
To verify a story without a subscription, compare the RTBF or VRT website with a free commercial site such as 7sur7 or RTL info. Belga wire stories, carried by several titles, also help you find the factual version of an event.
Keeping up with Belgium for free, even abroad
- Start the day with the RTBF or VRT website depending on your language, then BRF for Ostbelgien.
- Create a free Auvio or VRT MAX account to watch TV news bulletins on catch-up.
- Add an open commercial site such as 7sur7 or RTL info for breaking news.
- Check Bruzz or BX1 for Brussels, and your municipal newsletter for local life.
- Read the free articles of paid dailies to learn their angles and editorials.
- Check the date and source of every article shared on social media.
What is free and what you pay for
| Media type | Access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| RTBF, VRT, BRF | Free | Free account needed for video; geo-blocking possible |
| 7sur7, RTL info | Free, ad-funded | Plenty of sponsored content |
| Door-drop papers (Vlan, Passe-Partout) | Free | Local print edition and online version |
| Bruzz, De Zondag | Free | Weeklies; De Zondag distributed in Flanders |
| Hybrid-model dailies | Partly free | Premium articles behind a paid subscription, indicative price varies |
| Library newsstands | Free for registered members | Conditions depend on the library |
Free Belgian press essentials
- Languages: French, Dutch and German depending on the region
- Free public broadcasters: RTBF, VRT and BRF
- Door-drop papers: Vlan in the south, Passe-Partout and Deze Week in Flanders
- Free weeklies: De Zondag, Bruzz, Wochenspiegel
- News agency: Belga, whose dispatches feed the free sites
- Time zone: Central European Time
The pitfalls of free news
- Taking an advertorial in a door-drop paper for an independent article, when a local advertiser actually paid for it.
- Clicking on a fake site imitating 7sur7 or RTBF, promoted through social media ads to push a fraudulent investment.
- Believing that an old free article, reshared on Facebook or WhatsApp years later, still describes the current situation in Belgium.
- Using sites that bypass the paywalls of Belgian dailies, which are illegal and often carry malware or fake adverts.
- Confusing a municipal newsletter, written by the ruling majority, with an independent news publication.
Questions about free newspapers in Belgium
Is the RTBF website really free?
Yes, articles on the RTBF news site are free. The Auvio platform only asks for an account for video and audio. From abroad, some films, series and sporting events may be blocked because of broadcasting rights.
Is Metro still distributed?
For years Metro was the free daily of Belgian public transport, in French and Dutch. Its print distribution has changed considerably with the rise of digital; check the current situation with the publisher before relying on a printed edition.
How can I read Le Soir or De Standaard without a subscription?
Some articles remain free, often after registering. Public libraries frequently offer access on site or through a digital newsstand. Trial offers also let you test a title for a few weeks before committing.
Is there a free German-language press in Belgium?
Yes, Wochenspiegel is distributed free of charge in the East Cantons, and the BRF website provides news from the German-speaking Community without a subscription. The daily Grenz-Echo, on the other hand, keeps some of its articles for subscribers.