Associated with everything from chocolate and the medieval network of canals in Bruges to the much more recent victory over the U.S., Belgium has continued seeing some of the highest tourist numbers in its history over the last year.The 46.1 million overnight stays recorded by the country’s hospitality market last year made 2025 Belgium’s biggest tourism year on record. The 11.7 million passengers who passed through Brussels Airport in the first six months of 2026 are nearly a 4% increase from the same period a year ago.While generally considered a very safe country for international visitors, the U.S. State Department has kept Belgium at the level two “exercise increased caution” travel advisory for at least two decades over issues like petty crime at popular tourist destinations and the ongoing risk of terrorist attacks.’Stay aware of your surroundings,’ says U.S. State DepartmentThe same advisory level on a four-tier system used to rank foreign nations based on how safe or dangerous they are to visit for Americans is also assigned to larger European countries such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.The latest update to the Belgium travel advisory was made on July 24 and includes new sections on “crime, terrorism, and unrest.”Related: What to do for the most luxurious travel experience in Dublin”Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations,” the U.S. State Department writes in a crime section in the same wording that it uses for other countries at the same advisory level. “Stay aware of your surroundings. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing.”The section on unrest states that “large-scale, generally peaceful demonstrations related to the local political situation may occur” and could also “disrupt transportation and other essential services.”It is not immediately clear why the State Department chose to update its travel advisory for Belgium at the current moment but the government agency in charge of international diplomacy and citizen safety abroad periodically reviews and updates the notes it has for different nations.
Belgium is on the whole a very safe European country for foreign tourists.Getty Images
What else to know about the changes to the travel advisory for BelgiumA full change in advisory level, meanwhile, is a more infrequent occurrence that is usually triggered by a breakout of violence, health crisis or other situation that significantly changes the situation on the ground.More Travel News:Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.There is a very cool Irish version of swimming pigs in the BahamasUnexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026Low-cost airline launches easier way to get to Sri LankaThe general safety tips issued for countries at the level two advisory level include steering clear of demonstrations and protests while generally staying aware of one’s surroundings in crowds and popular tourist destinations with lots of people. The same advice is given to all countries with cities that see large numbers of tourists.”Low-level street crime including robberies, smash and grab car robberies, purse snatchings, stealing electronics, and pickpocketing is common, particularly in major cities, in public areas such as restaurants, the Brussels metro at night, buses/trams, and all train stations,” the expanded advisory reads. “Thieves often operate in teams, by bumping into or shoving the target, especially in crowds. Be alert to distractions.”Related: Another city popular with travelers introduces tourist tax