Governments on four continents moved quickly on 21 October 2026 to advise caution when travelling to Belgium after a wave of violent protests swept several EU capitals over the past fortnight. According to The Brussels Times, the United States, Canada, Australia, Iran and 13 other states have updated their travel advisories to include Belgium, France and Italy, citing the risk of spontaneous demonstrations, transport disruptions and a heavier security presence in major cities. For business travellers and multinational employers with staff based in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent, the new advisories carry practical consequences. Companies are reviewing duty-of-care protocols, asking travelling employees to register itineraries and activating “check-in” apps that confirm safe arrival. Several global mobility managers told The Brussels Times they have postponed short-notice assignments until after the upcoming European Council meeting, when the security situation is expected to stabilise. Belgian authorities have not imposed domestic travel restrictions, but they have authorised local police to set up snap ID checks around transport hubs and key government buildings. Eurostar and Thalys services continue to run, yet both operators warned of possible last-minute delays if demonstrations block access to Brussels-Midi station. Airlines operating out of Brussels Airport said they were liaising with the federal crisis centre and would waive change fees for affected tickets. Historically, Belgium rarely appears on high-profile travel-warning lists; the last comparable spike followed the March 2016 Brussels bombings. The current advisories are therefore significant for global companies that use Brussels as a regional headquarters or logistics hub. Updated insurance premiums, revised destination risk ratings and potential visa delays for posted workers could all translate into higher assignment costs. Employers are advised to brief travellers on avoiding protest areas, build extra time into itineraries and confirm that personal accident cover remains valid under the new advisories.
Source: The Brussels Times
