Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published an advisory on 22 November urging citizens to reconsider non-essential travel to Belgium during the nationwide strike scheduled for 24–26 November. The ministry highlighted the cancellation of all departing flights at Brussels (Zaventem) and Charleroi airports on 26 November, reduced rail services from 22:00 on 23 November and likely road blockades around major transport hubs.
Although primarily aimed at Bulgarian nationals, the notice has broader corporate-mobility relevance: consular warnings often influence company travel-risk ratings and insurance coverage. Firms with regional headquarters in Brussels told The Sofia Globe they have already postponed board meetings and client events involving participants from Eastern Europe.
![Bulgaria Issues Travel Warning for Belgium’s 24–26 November Strike, Highlighting Severe Transport Disruption]()
The advisory also reminds travellers that Schengen rules require carrying passports or residence permits during internal movements—an instruction many leisure visitors overlook when taking short hops to Bruges or Ghent.
Belgian tourism bodies worry the warning, echoed by several other EU embassies, could chill late-season city-break traffic during the lucrative Christmas-market period. The strike coincides with peak expatriate home-leave travel, forcing relocation providers to scramble for alternative routings via Amsterdam or Düsseldorf.
Consular officials say they will keep hotline capacity on standby for stranded travellers and may deploy mobile teams to Brussels Airport once operations resume, mirroring support offered during past strikes.
Although primarily aimed at Bulgarian nationals, the notice has broader corporate-mobility relevance: consular warnings often influence company travel-risk ratings and insurance coverage. Firms with regional headquarters in Brussels told The Sofia Globe they have already postponed board meetings and client events involving participants from Eastern Europe.
The advisory also reminds travellers that Schengen rules require carrying passports or residence permits during internal movements—an instruction many leisure visitors overlook when taking short hops to Bruges or Ghent.
Belgian tourism bodies worry the warning, echoed by several other EU embassies, could chill late-season city-break traffic during the lucrative Christmas-market period. The strike coincides with peak expatriate home-leave travel, forcing relocation providers to scramble for alternative routings via Amsterdam or Düsseldorf.
Consular officials say they will keep hotline capacity on standby for stranded travellers and may deploy mobile teams to Brussels Airport once operations resume, mirroring support offered during past strikes.
