Every year, thousands of young Belgians go abroad on a language study holiday, most of them staying with host families for a few weeks or months. How are these families chosen, on what criteria, and how frequently are they checked? #Investigation conducted an inquiry because, while Education First and WEP, the two main organisers of this type of trip, claim a high satisfaction rate, some trips can turn into nightmares. Malika Attar and Salvatore Guarino gathered dozens of testimonies proving that these trips are a real lottery. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but above all, you have to pay.

A new metro line is under construction in Brussels. It is intended to connect the North to the South and solve mobility issues in certain municipalities. This large-scale project is the biggest investment in the history of the Brussels Region and will be very, very expensive for its residents. The main work has not yet begun, but the cost of this new line already approaches 4.5 billion euros—three times the initial budget. The colossal bill could still increase, and elected officials do not know how to cover it. #Investigation and Médor magazine conducted an inquiry to find out how this project got so out of hand. While some of those in charge speak of unexpected issues during the construction, experts mainly point to poor decision-making. The project was poorly prepared, and studies seem to have overlooked the unique characteristics of the capital’s subsoil—a major oversight when digging tunnels for a underground!

"Invasive Species, the Silent Threat"

This is a danger to the planet that is still largely underestimated. Invasive species pose a threat to biodiversity and the economy. The annual cost is estimated at over 160 billion euros worldwide, and this is likely to increase. In Belgium, the invasive superstars include the Asian hornet, tiger mosquito, giant hogweed, and raccoon. They have quickly become uncontrollable. In just 20 years, raccoons have taken over all of Wallonia, with an estimated population of between 50,000 and 75,000. For years, the authorities failed to recognise the danger, despite experts' warnings, resulting in the impossibility of eradicating invasive species now established in Belgium. Worse, some of these species are sold illegally in specialised shops. An investigation by Samy Hosni and Patrick Destiné.

#Investigation has investigated the scourge of violence against women, which all too often leads to the worst outcome: femicide. Several victims of this violence, some of whom narrowly escaped death, share their experiences. Their testimonies help to better understand this ultimate act, highlighting the control often secretly endured by these women. This investigation reveals that in a third of cases, no physical violence or blows preceded the act. So, how can this scourge be prevented? According to associations, 26 women were victims of femicide in Belgium in 2023. An investigation by Malika Attar and Axel Van Weyenbergh.

In recent months, shootings have multiplied in the streets of Brussels. The enormous quantities of drugs arriving at the port of Antwerp are causing territorial wars and score-settling. But the capital is not the only area affected. In a highly structured manner, drugs are being distributed throughout the country. From Anderlecht to Tournai, and Charleroi, #Investigation has spent months delving into the opaque and highly secretive world of drug trafficking. Through close collaboration with field police, and with the help of exclusive documents and new testimonies, you will understand how drug trafficking is organized in our country.

Half of Belgians have stopped going to the dentist in the last three years, mainly because of the shortage of practices and the explosion in prices. Between poorly treated patients in low-cost clinics and medical tourists hoping to find more affordable treatment abroad, #Investigation investigated the consequences of the shortage and the excesses of a profession. Samy Hosni and Stéphanie De Smedt discovered that dentists deregistered in their own countries are practising with impunity in Belgium, where their practices are claiming new victims. ADD/ADHD, a disorder in need of attention, an investigation by Sarah Heinderyckx and Guillaume Wollner In Belgium, it is estimated that more than 150,000 children suffer from attention deficit disorder. For the children and families concerned, it is an extremely difficult condition to live with, and detecting it is often like an obstacle course. There is a shortage of specialists to diagnose it and decide whether to treat it with the much-criticised medication. In schools, too, there is often a lack of facilities for children suffering from this disorder. #Investigation went to meet the men and women who are trying to live with this disease, which suffers from a great deal of prejudice.

‘We were sold": these are the words of Christiane Palligot. She is one of thousands of Belgian children who, between the post-war years and the 1980s, were torn away from their mothers and entrusted to adoptive parents, very often by Belgian Catholic institutions. We're talking about 30,000 to 40,000 children. #Investigation investigated this scandal and heard the testimonies of several victims, uprooted adults who are still searching for their identity and the truth. How was this obviously illegal trafficking made possible for decades? Who was involved and what was the role of the Catholic Church?

Then, ‘Immersion à la S.P.A de Charleroi’, a report by Arthur Gillet. Summer is drawing to a close, and it hasn't been all plain sailing at the S.P.A de Charleroi. Its staff and many volunteers have worked tirelessly to take in, and sometimes save, care for and protect hundreds of animals. Created more than 115 years ago, this institution is run thanks to private donations and to the passionate people who have shared their daily lives with us. #Investigation takes you behind the scenes of the country's oldest animal shelter, through which more than 3,700 animals passed last year.

One of the tasks of a bailiff is to recover the amount of an unpaid bill or fine. But very often, the costs associated with his intervention inflate the bill. An initial debt of €30 can rise to €1,200 and send some citizens spiralling into debt. #Investigation has uncovered abusive and even illegal practices and discovered that there is fierce competition in the industry. Winning major public debt collection contracts is a sure way for a bailiff's office to make lots and lots of money. In their investigation, Margot Vermeylen and Santos Hevia also wanted to find out whether the profession is monitored, whether any abuses are punished and what remedies are available to those who fall victim to the relentlessness of certain bailiffs.Immersion in the Fin Shop, the State shop (working title), a report by Fabrice GérardImmersion in the State shops. For 15 years, Belgium has been selling what the police have seized or what the post office has been unable to deliver. Luxury cars, computer equipment, jewellery, building tools, children's toys... Thousands of items destined for sale are stored in three gigantic sheds before being sold on the Internet. They will bring in millions of euros and fund our pensions, roads and healthcare. #Investigation delved into these veritable Ali Baba's caves, where luxury bags, jigsaws and portraits of the royal family stand side by side.

When work makes you sickVictims of work “Work is good for you”, as the saying goes. But work can make you sick. Every year, more than 10,000 Belgians seek recognition for an occupational disease. In 10 years, the refusal rate has exceeded 60%. #Investigation takes a closer look at this branch of social security, which excludes six out of ten sick workers. The magazine interviewed a number of whistle-blowers who denounced the dangerous practices of certain companies. Using confidential documents and exclusive images, the journalistic team questions the responsibility of these employers, who are supposed to be the guarantors of health in the workplace.PMR: les oubliés de la mobilité, an investigation by Jean-Christophe Adnet and Adrien LasserreWhether elderly or disabled, deaf or visually impaired, people with reduced mobility make up a third of our population. For them, getting around is often a real obstacle course. Streets are full of pitfalls, and public transport remains insufficiently accessible to wheelchairs. PRMs feel excluded from society, considered second-class citizens, prevented from going wherever they want in complete safety. It's a sometimes shocking reality, one that often eludes the able-bodied.

2024 is shaping up to be the most chaotic election year in U.S. history. #Investigation crossed the Atlantic and traveled thousands of miles across a dozen states to experience it alongside the citizens. Who will they vote for? What observations or promises are shaping their opinions, hopes, or fears? A unique deep dive into a fractured nation where discussing political disagreements has become a taboo.