Belgium Tightens Naturalisation and Family-Reunification Rules, Hikes Application Fee to €1,000
Nation-Wide Strike Threatens to Shut Down Brussels Airport Departures on 12 March
Stranded Train Near Schiphol Delays Eurostar & Thalys Services, Hitting Brussels–Amsterdam Corridor
Latest News
US ambassador issues entry ban on Belgian opposition leader Conner Rousseau
• On 21 February 2026, US Ambassador Bill White publicly barred Belgian MP Conner Rousseau from entering the United States, escalating a week-old dispute over Rousseau’s criticism of ICE tactics. • The unprecedented ban on a friendly parliamentarian highlights how political speech can suddenly translate into hard mobility barriers. • Belgian businesses and global mobility teams are reviewing US travel plans and advising executives on social-media risk. • The episode could foreshadow wider visa-related friction between the trans-Atlantic partners.
Belgian foreign minister demands clarification after US travel ban on Rousseau
• Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot publicly condemned Washington’s entry ban on Conner Rousseau and initiated diplomatic démarches on 21 February. • The response reassures Belgian citizens and businesses that free speech should not jeopardise legitimate travel. • Multinationals should monitor the dispute, as a failure to resolve it could embolden other countries to impose politically-motivated bans.
Belgium and Netherlands sign pact to study Brussels–Eindhoven direct rail link
• On 21 February Belgium and the Netherlands signed a framework to examine a direct Brussels–Eindhoven rail service, promising 90-minute journeys between the capitals and the Dutch ‘Brainport’. • The pact integrates passenger convenience with military-mobility and freight objectives, and could reshape commuting and business-travel patterns in the Benelux innovation corridor. • A study on technical, financial and environmental aspects will report before the summer, unlocking EU infrastructure funding opportunities.
Two KLM Boeing 737s collide at Amsterdam Schiphol, ripple delays for Belgian flyers
• Two KLM 737s clipped each other at Amsterdam-Schiphol on 21 February, triggering safety inspections and cascading delays. • Because many Belgian travellers connect via Schiphol, the incident disrupted onward flights to Brussels and regional airports. • The episode underlines the importance for travel managers of contingency routings and awareness of EU 261 entitlements in safety-related delays.