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.