As part of the National Day celebrations, the Integrated Federal Police have erected a large “Village Policier” on Place Poelaert, adjacent to the main parade route. In addition to recruitment stands and interactive crime-scene demonstrations, officers will conduct random identity checks in the surrounding security zone, which includes entrances to metro lines 2 and 6 and several expatriate-heavy neighbourhoods. The police advise residents and visitors to carry valid ID at all times; non-EU nationals should keep their passports and Belgian residence permits on hand, as copies on smartphones may not be accepted for on-the-spot verification. The checks form part of a wider security operation that began at 06:00 and involves plain-clothes teams monitoring rental vehicles and luggage drops near hotels. For international assignees living in the Louise and Sablon districts, corporate security managers recommend leaving for the airport or railway station well ahead of scheduled departure to account for road diversions. Companies hosting client visits today should brief guests on the possibility of bag inspections when crossing police perimeters. The “Police Village” initiative, now in its third year, is also being used to educate the public on the EU Entry/Exit System, with officers demonstrating the self-service biometric kiosks that will become mandatory for third-country nationals at Brussels Airport.
