Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There are confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) in Belgium, including one death. You can check for updates on the number of cases and their location through the Belgian official influenza website. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. Check the British Embassy in Brussels for further information. Check swine flu for further information.
  
  
• There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Belgium shares a common level of threat with neighbouring European countries. On 11 December 2008 a number of terrorist suspects were arrested in Belgium.
  
  
• Up to 1.8 million British tourists visit Belgium every year (Source: UK Statistics Authority). Most visits are trouble-free. 99 British nationals required consular assistance in Belgium in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (23 cases); hospitalisations (19 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (25 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (262 cases). If you need to contact the emergency services in Belgium call 112.
  
  
• Theft and pick pocketing is a problem in crowded areas. You should take extra care, particularly of your belongings and passports, at all train stations in Brussels, but in particular at the Gare du Midi (Eurostar terminal) and Gare Du Nord in Brussels. Try to avoid walking around these latter areas at night time, particularly if you are on your own. See the Crime section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. The area around Brussels in particular hosts a number of international institutions (EU, NATO) which are sensitive locations. In early January 2004, two letter bombs were sent from Italy to different EU institutions in Brussels; there were no casualties. The Belgian government passed legislation in 2006 to increase the effectiveness of its counter-terrorism effort.

For more general information see terrorism abroad.

Crime

Most visits to Belgium are trouble-free. The incidence of crimes such as mugging, bag snatching and pick pocketing is comparable with the UK. You should take normal, common sense precautions to avoid becoming a victim.

Take only the minimum amount of cash, credit cards and personal ID necessary when you go out. As far as possible leave jewellery, other valuables and documents in a secure place (e.g. hotel safe deposit). Avoid carrying money, bank/credit cards and your passport in the same bag or pocket. For safety, leave a photocopy of your passport and itinerary with a contact in the UK. Enter next-of-kin details into the back of your passport.

In the event of theft, contact the nearest police station and obtain a police report. This report is mandatory when applying for a replacement passport or insurance claim. If you have difficulty reporting the theft of your cards to your UK bank/credit card company, you can ask the Belgian group 'Card Stop' to send a fax to your UK card company to block your card. Alternatively, if you have Belgian issued bank/credit cards, Card Stop will be able to block them. Card Stop's telephone number is +32-(0)70/344 344.

Lost or Stolen Passports

If your British passport has been lost or stolen in Belgium:

You will need to report your lost or stolen passport to the Belgian police asap. You should then to contact your carrier to explain what has happened. Please be aware that the British Embassy in Brussels is not able to replace a lost or stolen British passport. If you require a new passport while you are on holiday, we can only issue you with an Emergency Passport for a single return journey to the UK. If you require a full replacement passport you will need to apply for one back in the UK (please phone the UK passport service on 00448705210410 or access their website for more information). Alternatively if you are semi or permanently resident in Belgium, you will need to apply for a full British passport at our British Embassy in Paris.

You should be extra vigilant in Brussels and Antwerp at major railway stations, on the underground, buses and trams, particularly late at night. Thieves operate in the vicinity of the Brussels Gare du Midi/Zuidstation (Eurostar terminal), Gare du Nord and Schuman (the EU quarter). There have been a couple of serious muggings in the vicinity of the two stations at night time. Pickpockets also operate on international trains, mainly Paris-Brussels and Amsterdam-Brussels.
Never leave luggage unattended. There have been reports of luggage being stolen from the racks at the end of carriages in high-speed trains (e.g. TGV and Thalys), usually just before the doors close in readiness for the train to depart.

Do not leave valuables such as purses, bags or mobile phones visible in your car, even when you are in it. Keep car doors locked and windows secure at all times. It is increasingly common for thieves, usually on motorbikes, to break a window and snatch valuables from the front or back passenger seat when the vehicle is stationary at traffic lights. Car jacking, especially of up-market vehicles, remains a risk.

Scams

Foreign visitors and residents can be targeted by scam artists. These scams can pose great financial loss to victims. If you receive an e-mail purporting to be from HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) offering a tax refund on provision of your bank details you should make absolutely sure that it is not part of a scam.

For more general information see victims of crime abroad.

Political situation

Belgium Country Profile

Local travel

Road Safety

If you wish to drive in Belgium you must have a valid UK driving licence, insurance and vehicle documents. If you are driving a vehicle that does not belong to you then written permission from the registered owner may also be requested.

Belgian roads are generally in good condition and at night are well lit, including the motorway network. Traffic is fast and Belgium’s accident rate is high mainly due to speeding. In 2007 there were 1,103 road deaths in Belgium (source: DfT). This equates to 10.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2007.

Speed traps, cameras and unmarked vehicles are operational throughout the country. Since February 2007 the following road regulations were brought into place:

• If it is raining, hailing or snowing, vehicles of 7.5 tonnes or over are not allowed to overtake on motorways, highways or roads with a minimum of four lanes.
• Vehicles of 3.5 tonnes or over are not allowed to use the left lane on roads with more than three lanes. An exception is made when traffic approaches a fork in the motorway and vehicles have to move to the left or right hand lanes depending on their destination.
• The maximum speed for vehicles of 3.5 tonnes or over is now 90km/hr on motorways and highways of 2 x 2 lanes or more.
• If your vehicle breaks down and you are on the hard shoulder of the motorway, you must now wear a fluorescent jacket.

You should take great care to obey the 'priority to the right' rule, which was tightened up in March 2007. Drivers must give absolute priority to vehicles joining a road from the right, even if they have stopped at a road junction or stopped for pedestrians or cyclists. Exemptions to this rule include motorways, roundabouts, roads sign-posted with an orange diamond within a white background, and drivers who are attempting to join a road after having driven down a street in the wrong direction.

Trams have priority over other traffic. If a tram or bus stops in the middle of the road to allow passengers on or off, you must stop.

There is a speed restriction of 30 kms/hr in school areas, which is valid 24 hours (even when schools are closed). The start and finish of these zones are not always clearly marked.

Fines have increased dramatically (eg up to € 2,750 for exceeding the speed limit by 40 kms/hr). If you are unable to pay an on the spot fine your vehicles may be impounded. More detailed information is available on the Embassy website.

Do not drink and drive, frequent alcohol checks are made, in daytime as well as at night. A maximum of 0.22 mg/l (0.5 promille) is allowed. A blood sample will be taken if you refuse to be breathalysed. Fines are heavy depending on the degree of intoxication and range from € 1,100 to € 11,000. In certain cases driving licences have been confiscated immediately.

Using a mobile phone while driving is not allowed and will incur a heavy fine. The use of 'hands free' equipment is allowed.
For more general information see driving abroad.

Air travel

The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in Belgium. For more general information see airline security.

Local laws and customs

Entry requirements

Health

General