Croatia, When the Glass is Half Full: Bjelovar

So is there any positive news east of Croatia? One of the most inspiring stories of positive change I have come across on my travels all over the country is 80km east of Zagreb, soon to be connected by motorway in 40 minutes from the capital. For a masterclass in getting EU funds, companies moving to the city, and a university with a 97% employment rate on graduation, find out how Bjelovar is one of the best stories in Croatia today in the latest edition of our series, Croatia, When the Glass is Half Full - 10 Ways Bjelovar is Improving.

[@Triplex5014]

Finally my town is getting more and more recognition. Thanks to the mayor Hrebak the town is progressing quite fast. Thank you for visiting!

[@funkyribar2301]

bollocks

[@Ines-uw5gi]

Thanks Paul! It looks beautiful and is close to capital city, I'm happy to see this city developing greatly. 😍

[@SculptExpress-gv8jp]

I’ve never been. Looks lovely! Thank you, I’ll go there soon too. Paul, your vlogs are really interesting, clever and motivating. Cheers🍷

[@Phiyedough]

I didn't know different cities had different taxation, would that be income tax? I'm retired and one of the main attractions for me with Croatia is that there is effectively no property tax, unlike UK where the Council Tax was my biggest monthly bill.

[@locochoco5959]

Wow cool is such a cozy place and it looks a lot better from when I was there last time, happy to see the city and its people flourishing ❤

[@Thoreaue]

well done :)

[@soksb3766]

On the one hand, it looks like all our progress is tied to EU funds. On the other hand, maybe it's better that way. This way, at least there is some control over the spending of that money and the results become visible. If it was still "our" money, half of it would have been stolen.

[@polaurekulture]

muy bien

[@sonjavukoja4936]

Greetings to Bjelovar, town of fantastic Croatian people ! They showed their true heroic face and character right after the WW2, feeding exhausted and hungry soldiers during 'Križni put', even when threatened by communist partisans and facing arrests and death. People of Bjelovar be proud of yourselves , your acts of charity and heroism

[@belmordok3661]

0:08 City is built on freemasonic square and compass. Just look at the streets, typical freemasonic stuff. Also, there are old freemasonic building, along with synagogue which was transformed to a theatre. But no wonder, Habsburgs were/are of jewish/khazar/neanderthal origin and thus freemasonry is not foreign to them.

[@funkyribar2301]

Bollocks, the town was built as a military base bcs of the ongoing conflict with Ottoman Empire. It is topographically built in the same way as did the SPQR did it 2000 years ago.

[@belmordok3661]

@@funkyribar2301 Not at all. It's built on freemasonic principles.

[@funkyribar2301]

@@belmordok3661 Ok, dude you win.Although I do recommend listening to Beastie Boys album Check your head. :)

[@belmordok3661]

@@funkyribar2301 Not my cup of tea. Keep it to yourself. You obviously don't have a clue what I'm talking about. Move on and don't pry your nose to the places where it doesn't belong, ok?

[@alenfranjic3124]

Freemasonry was at it's height in the time when Bjelovar was built that's true

[@funkyribar2301]

Paul, I'm very pleased you've visited my home town. So, I just want to let you know about few little facts. The mayor is a part of a ruling coalition in Croatia and off course he will sweet talk to you. The truth is EU funds are managed by people who are not in the same political party as the mayor or to to be more precise, are not even supposed to be involved in any politics. So, to make long story short are you getting payed by HDZ or you are blind?

[@PaulBradbury]

My answer is a simple question. Is Bjelovar a better place than 10 years ago?

[@funkyribar2301]

@@PaulBradbury It is, and it was the same with Nagasaki in 1955. So, I won't ask any questions to you again. Cheers!

[@locochoco5959]

Ehm, last time I went to Bjelovar (about 13 years ago) it was all run down and Bjelovar had problems above average when it came to people moving from the city. Now I hardly recognized it because its vibrant, happy and full of life. According to you its better if the communists ruled so everybody would suffer just the same? What is wrong with you?

[@funkyribar2301]

@@locochoco5959 Wow, you're telling me I'm one of them. Hahah please tell me again I'm a communist hahaha. How so? Because you have visited Bjelovar 13 years ago and it was all run down or you have lived in Bjelovar and had problems (what were your problems back then living in Bjelovar?) So, please be so kind and tell us where do you come from, what happened, why do think I'm a commie :D.. You are so fake, sorry to say that, but you are :* Last but not least, please be so kind and elaborate about the problems above the average, what kind of problems :)