US government issues sudden warning on Belgium travel

Known to tourists for the Grand-Place central square in Brussels and the medieval architecture of Brugge, the European nation of Belgium welcomed over nine million international visitors in 2024 — a number that is expected to rise to 11.4 million annually by 2028.

While behind neighbors like France and Germany in international arrivals, Belgium remains a very popular destination for U.S. travelers in particular.

During peak summer months, United Airlines (UAL) runs two daily flights between Newark and Brussels Airport (BRU) amid growing popularity. The route was also envisioned to connect U.S.-based travelers to certain destinations on the African continent.

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‘Exercise increased caution due to terrorism': State Department on Belgium

Amid a series of reviews of its travel advisories for different nations, the U.S. State Department reissued the level two “exercise increased caution” rating for Belgium on May 22.

The four-tier ranking system reserves the first level for countries that are just as safe as, or even safer than, home. The fourth tier is typically assigned to active war zones and authoritarian governments.

“Exercise increased caution in Belgium due to terrorism,” the updated advisory reads in wording similar to what is used for other European nations such as France and Germany. “There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other related activities in Belgium. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning.”

The advisory names hotels, clubs, restaurants, transportation, shopping centers, parks, government buildings, and large gatherings for cultural events as potential targets for terrorists. The most high-profile terrorist attack on the Belgian capital occurred in March 2016 when Islamist radicals carried out simultaneous bombings at Brussels Airport and a metro station in the center of the city; 35 victims were killed, while over 340 were injured.

Air Belgium, a local airline, recently shut down operations.

Image source: Shutterstock

Going to Belgium? The State Department has safety tips

With the advisory rating remaining unchanged, the State Department has released no information on why the warning was reupped at this time. The government page for Belgium states that such advisories are “reissued after periodic review with minor edits.”

Countries with large global metropolises such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom typically have a level two rating, due to the higher terrorism risk compared to smaller nations.

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The safety tips provided by the State Department advise travelers to stay alert in crowded tourist spots, keep up to date on news and rapidly-developing events, and develop a contingency plan should one unexpectedly find oneself in an emergency situation.

While appearing alarmist, the government gives such advice for any foreign country one visits — along with enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), these tips are also issued for other “level one” countries such as Croatia and Switzerland.

On May 20, the State Department has also reupped its travel advisory for the latter country; the good ranking remains unchanged but focuses on “prepar[ing] a plan for emergency situations.”

As Switzerland repeatedly outperforms the U.S. on ratings of safety for both travelers and residents, the updated advisory prompted widespread confusion and sometimes mockery on different corners of the internet.