Western Europe · UN member
Belgium: Travel Guide & Requirements
Kingdom of Belgium · Königreich Belgien · Royaume de Belgique
Belgium is a country in Western Europe with its capital in Brussels. It has a population of 11.9 million (#81 in the world) and covers 30,528 km². The official languages are German, French and Dutch. The currency is the Euro (EUR, €).
Where is Belgium? Map of Belgium
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands.
- Region
- Western Europe
- Coordinates
- 50.8333° N, 4° E
- Neighbours
- 4 — see list
- Coastline
- 67 km
- Belgium
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Belgium showing Brussels (capital) and the largest cities: Gent, Charleroi, Liège, Anderlecht, Tournai and Ostend.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Belgium
- Passport
Under the Schengen Borders Code, a third-country national's travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area and must have been issued within the previo…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Belgium entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Under the Schengen Borders Code, the non-exhaustive list of supporting documents a border guard may request (Annex I) includes, as regards return, a return or round-trip ticket.
- Proof of funds
The European Commission's table of reference amounts required for the crossing of the external border, fixed by national authorities, gives Belgium's minimum amount per day and per person as EUR 45 for aliens staying wi…
- Travel insurance
Schengen visa applicants must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance, valid throughout the Schengen Area for the whole intended stay, with minimum coverage of €30,000.
- Arrival card
On a first crossing since the EU Entry/Exit System started, passport control officers take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints.
- Customs allowance
Cash of €10,000 or more (or its equivalent in other currencies) must be declared to customs when entering or leaving the EU.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Belgium
- Safety: Belgium is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Belgium Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: June to August — when daytime highs in Brussels are around 21–23°C.
- Money: the Euro (EUR) — 1 US dollar is about 0.8911 EUR.
- Plugs: type C and E, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 101 / 112, Ambulance 112, Fire 112.
- Language: German, French and Dutch are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 70 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Brussels.
- Capital: Brussels. About 11.9 million people live in Belgium.
- Outdoors: 7 national parks and 19 ski areas.
Key facts
Belgium at a glance
Languages spoken: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%
Geography & history
About Belgium
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. In recent years, longstanding tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. The capital city of Brussels is home to numerous international organizations, including the EU and NATO.
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Climate
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Highest point
Botrange 694 m
Natural resources
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land
Natural hazards
flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
National symbols
golden rampant lion
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Belgium
The default speed limits in Belgium are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 70 km/h outside built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 2020 km/hResidential zonesLiving streets & residential areas
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesMost common · varies by region: 30–50 km/h
- 7070 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsMost common · varies by region: 70–90 km/h
- 120120 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freeways
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)4.6 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Belgium safe to visit?
Belgium is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Belgium Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Additional information on demonstrations and strikes (Safety and security).
Updated 17 Oct 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Belgium
The best time to visit Belgium is June to August, when daytime highs in Brussels are around 21–23°C. September is also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (23°C by day), February the coldest (1°C at night), and August the wettest with about 81 mm of rain.
- Jan5°C1°C
- Feb6°C1°C
- Mar10°C2°C
- Apr14°C5°C
- May18°C9°C
- Jun21°C12°C
- Jul23°C14°C
- Aug23°C14°C
- Sep20°C11°C
- Oct15°C8°C
- Nov10°C5°C
- Dec6°C2°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Belgium
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
19 ski resorts in Belgium
- 7 km of slopes
- 20 lifts
- up to 694 m
Biggest: Ski Val de Wanne · Ski Alpin Ovivat · Baraque de Fraiture
National parks
7 national parks in Belgium
- 441 km² protected
- oldest from 2006
Largest: National Park Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse · Forests of Brabant National Park · Hoge Kempen National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Euro exchange rates today
Belgium uses the Euro (EUR, €). One US dollar buys 0.8911 EUR; over the last 30 days the EUR has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in EUR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Belgium ranks
How Belgium compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Belgium
164 airports and airfields — 3 large, 8 medium and 37 small, plus 114 heliports. 5 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Belgium borders 4 countries along 1,297 km of land borders. Coastline: 67 km.
Military
Belgian armed forces
Belgium ranks #68 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $14.5 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Brussels (2.1 million), Antwerp (1.1 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Export partners
France 20%, Netherlands 15%, Germany 14%, Italy 6%, USA 5% (2023)
Top exports
refined petroleum, natural gas, vaccines, cars, packaged medicine (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Belgium
Next public holiday
All Saints' Day — Sunday, 1 November 2026. Then Armistice Day (11 Nov).
Belgian passport
Ranked #3: 126 countries visa-free, 31 with visa on arrival, 8 with an eTA and 19 with an eVisa.
Belgian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Belgium's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Belgium
Dial +32 before the local number. Internet domain .be.
Climate footprint
85.5 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 7.28 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Belgium: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Belgium
Travellers from Slovenia can enter 183 destinations visa-free, joint 7th in 2026
Slovenia sits in joint seventh place in the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, with its passport holders able to reach 183 destinations without arra…
Iranians already in Belgium told to avoid protest areas as ministry issues warning
Iran's foreign ministry has told Iranian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Belgium, France and Italy, citing unrest and disrupted public orde…
Switzerland Handles Most Indian Schengen Visa Requests; Over 15% Refused
European Commission data for 2025 shows Belgium and Denmark had the highest Schengen visa approval rates for Indian applicants, while Switzerland han…
Frequently asked questions about Belgium
What do I need to travel to Belgium?
How long must my passport be valid for Belgium?
Where is Belgium?
What is Belgium known for?
What is the capital of Belgium?
What language is spoken in Belgium?
What currency does Belgium use?
What is the calling code of Belgium?
Which countries border Belgium?
How strong is the Belgian passport?
What is the speed limit in Belgium?
Is Belgium safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Belgium?
What plug type does Belgium use?
How many airports does Belgium have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.