U.S. raises Belgium travel advisory to Level 2

The U.S. State Department’s current travel advisory for Belgium is Level 2, or “Exercise Increased Caution,” and the agency says the reason is crime, terrorism and unrest. The advisory on the department’s Belgium page is dated July 23, 2026, and says petty crime is common in popular tourist locations and that there is a risk of terrorist violence in the country. A State Department page tied to Belgium’s country information says the agency did not newly raise Belgium from a lower tier in this update. “There was no change to the advisory level,” that page says, adding that the “crime” and “unrest” risk indicators were added and that the advisory summary was updated. (travel.state.gov) ### Did Washington actually raise Belgium’s level this week? July 23 is the issue date shown on the State Department’s Belgium advisory, and the country is listed at Level 2 on that page. A separate State Department page explaining the system says Level 2 means “Exercise increased caution,” below Level 3, “Reconsider travel,” and Level 4, “Do not travel.” (travel.state.gov) RTL Today reported on August 5 that the United States had raised Belgium’s travel advisory to Level 2. But the State Department’s own Belgium country information page says the level itself did not change in the latest update, indicating the revision was to the risk indicators and summary language rather than to the headline tier. (travel.state.gov) ### What does the U.S. advisory now warn travelers about? The State Department says crime in Belgium is usually opportunistic, including purse snatching and pickpocketing, and says foreigners are often targeted in popular tourist areas. The advisory also says large-scale demonstrations can occur and may disrupt transportation and other essential services. (today.rtl.lu) The Belgium advisory says there is a risk of terrorist violence, including attacks and other activity, and directs travelers to the department’s country reports on terrorism for more detail. The agency’s public guidance does not cite a specific new incident in Belgium in the text visible on the advisory page. ### Which places and situations does the guidance single out? (travel.state.gov) The State Department tells travelers to avoid demonstrations and crowds, stay aware of their surroundings, and stay alert in tourist spots and when visiting banks or ATMs. RTL Today said the guidance urged caution in busy areas including tourist zones and other crowded settings. (travel.state.gov) Popular tourist locations are the clearest place-specific concern named in the U.S. advisory itself. The text visible on the State Department page does not specifically mention train stations, but RTL Today said the consular guidance highlighted them in its coverage of the update. ### What should U.S. travelers do before and during a trip? (travel.state.gov) The State Department recommends that Americans going to Belgium enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, so the U.S. embassy or consulate can send updates and emergency alerts. The agency also tells travelers to monitor local media for breaking news and be prepared to adjust plans. (travel.state.gov) The department’s planning page says travelers should check the latest advisory before departure and review entry, exit and local-law information for their destination. Belgium’s advisory page links travelers to the U.S. embassy in Belgium and to the department’s international travel checklist. ### Where can travelers check the official status next? The State Department’s Belgium advisory page remains the official source for the current level, issue date and safety guidance, and it showed Level 2 as of August 6, 2026. (travel.state.gov) Travelers can also use the department’s broader travel advisory map and Belgium embassy links for any further revisions. (travel.state.gov)