The US State Department’s Belgium travel advisory update, issued on 23 July, has added ‘crime’ and ‘unrest’ risk indicators, putting Belgium among the European destinations now carrying formal cautions for American travellers. The advisory maintains a Level 2 rating, meaning travellers are advised to exercise increased caution, but the addition of specific crime language marks a substantive change to how the State Department characterises conditions on the ground.
Belgium Travel Advisory Update: What Changed on 23 July
The updated advisory identifies petty crime as the most immediate day-to-day risk for visiting Americans. Purse snatching, pickpocketing, smash-and-grab car robberies, and theft of electronics are listed as the most common offences, concentrated in major cities and high-footfall public areas: restaurants, bus and tram routes, the Brussels metro at night, and all train stations. According to the State Department, thieves in these locations typically operate in coordinated groups, using distraction tactics such as bumping or shoving targets in busy streets before making off with wallets, phones, or bags.
Theft from vehicles is also flagged. Travellers renting cars are advised to keep windows up and doors locked at traffic lights, to use covered parking garages wherever possible, and to leave nothing visible on seats or dashboards. The advisory specifically notes that bag thefts on trains have recently increased, particularly on the Brussels–Amsterdam route.
The Government of Canada Travel Advice for Belgium, which was separately updated on 29 July and similarly recommends travellers ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ due to the terrorism threat, names the Grand-Place (Grote Markt) in Brussels explicitly as a location where pickpocketing and purse snatching occur with particular frequency. The Grand-Place is one of the country’s most visited sites and illustrates precisely the overlap between high tourist density and theft risk that both governments are now flagging.
There is an additional caution that may catch some travellers off guard. According to Travel + Leisure, the State Department’s updated guidance also notes that marijuana and other drugs are illegal in Belgium, and that carrying them could ‘lead to serious criminal penalties, even if you are just passing through the airport.’ For travellers accustomed to more permissive regimes elsewhere in Europe, the warning is a practical reminder that Belgian law applies from the moment of arrival.
Terrorism Risk and Demonstration Alerts
Beyond petty crime, the State Department retains its terrorism risk warning for Belgium. The advisory states that terrorist groups, and individuals inspired by them, ‘are intent on attacking US citizens abroad, including possible attacks in Europe.’ It notes a trend towards less sophisticated attack methods, including knives, firearms, rudimentary improvised explosive devices, and vehicles, with public gatherings, transport hubs, hotels, places of worship, and shopping centres identified as likely target categories.
Large demonstrations also feature in the updated advisory. The State Department describes protests linked to local political and economic conditions as frequent, and notes that while they are generally peaceful, they can disrupt transport and essential services, and can escalate. The US Embassy in Belgium publishes security and demonstration alerts that detail scheduled protest locations, affected services, and traffic diversions, which the State Department recommends monitoring ahead of travel.
Belgium Still Ranks as the Most Welcoming European Country for Americans
The advisory update arrives against a backdrop of shifting American travel patterns. From late 2025 into early 2026, a number of US travellers reportedly rerouted away from European destinations amid concerns about how Americans were being perceived abroad in the context of US politics and border policy. Belgium, however, stands out in that regard. In a 2025 survey by Upgraded Points measuring European attitudes towards American tourists, only 1.9% of Belgian respondents described themselves as generally unwelcoming to US visitors, the lowest proportion of any country surveyed. Italy was second at 2%, while France registered the highest level of self-reported unwelcomingness at 15%, followed by Hungary at 8.7%, Norway at 8%, Denmark at 7.5%, and Spain at 6.9%.
The Belgium travel advisory update does not change that underlying dynamic, but it does give operators, agents, and travellers a clearer picture of the specific risks to manage. The State Department’s country page carries full details of the security environment, entry requirements, and links to Embassy alerts, all of which should be checked close to departure given the frequency of recent updates across multiple European destinations.
