Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joined by several other EU consulates, issued a notice late on 12 December warning nationals to expect “severe transport disruptions” in Brussels on Monday, 15 December, when Belgian unions plan a nationwide strike over pension reform and cost-of-living measures.
According to the advisory, public transport operator STIB, regional bus provider De Lijn and national rail company SNCB all anticipate reduced or skeletal services. Brussels Airport police have indicated that security screening staff may join the walkout, raising the prospect of longer queues; airlines have been asked to offer free rebooking. The strike could also affect schools and municipal offices across the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
While one-day strikes are not unusual in Belgium, the timing—just ten days before the holiday peak—poses extra challenges for business travellers, expatriate families and corporate relocation moves. Eurostar and Thalys say international trains should operate normally, but local connections to Lille, Maastricht and Aachen may be cancelled, forcing travellers to arrange taxis or car hire.
![Travel advisory issued as Brussels braces for 15 December general strike]()
Global-mobility managers are advised to review critical travel and immigration appointments scheduled for 15 December, notify employees of alternative routes (e.g., Brussels-South Charleroi Airport or Antwerp), and ensure that remote-work contingencies are in place. The US, German and Japanese embassies have echoed the alert, reminding citizens to avoid large demonstrations around Brussels-North station.
If the strike forces you to shuffle visa interviews or emergency passport services, VisaHQ can help you secure or reschedule Belgium consulate appointments quickly through its digital platform and extensive on-the-ground network—see https://www.visahq.com/belgium/ for details on streamlined documentation and up-to-date requirements.
Union leaders insist emergency services will be maintained, but past actions suggest knock-on effects may persist into Tuesday morning, particularly for early flights and commuter rail.
According to the advisory, public transport operator STIB, regional bus provider De Lijn and national rail company SNCB all anticipate reduced or skeletal services. Brussels Airport police have indicated that security screening staff may join the walkout, raising the prospect of longer queues; airlines have been asked to offer free rebooking. The strike could also affect schools and municipal offices across the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
While one-day strikes are not unusual in Belgium, the timing—just ten days before the holiday peak—poses extra challenges for business travellers, expatriate families and corporate relocation moves. Eurostar and Thalys say international trains should operate normally, but local connections to Lille, Maastricht and Aachen may be cancelled, forcing travellers to arrange taxis or car hire.
Global-mobility managers are advised to review critical travel and immigration appointments scheduled for 15 December, notify employees of alternative routes (e.g., Brussels-South Charleroi Airport or Antwerp), and ensure that remote-work contingencies are in place. The US, German and Japanese embassies have echoed the alert, reminding citizens to avoid large demonstrations around Brussels-North station.
If the strike forces you to shuffle visa interviews or emergency passport services, VisaHQ can help you secure or reschedule Belgium consulate appointments quickly through its digital platform and extensive on-the-ground network—see https://www.visahq.com/belgium/ for details on streamlined documentation and up-to-date requirements.
Union leaders insist emergency services will be maintained, but past actions suggest knock-on effects may persist into Tuesday morning, particularly for early flights and commuter rail.
