It’s going to be a grueling week to get things done in Belgium. The country is facing three days of across-the-board labor actions. What does that mean for you? If you are in Belgium or coming here, it means a lot!
November Strike
Starting at 10 p.m. tonight, Sunday, November 23, train service will be disrupted due to a three-day strike across the country. Both domestic and cross-border trains will be affected, with half of the scheduled trains canceled. After significant cuts tonight, trains will operate at about half capacity or less on Monday, November 24. You’ll need to check the SNCB website to find the status of your train from November 23-26.
A three-day labor action will affect dozens of aspects of daily life, not just train travel. Travelers are certainly going to feel the brunt of the strikes. Trains, planes, automobiles! It seems like everything will be affected.
And that’s not the only hiccup expected. Why is this happening, you ask? Unions across the country are up in arms over the impact of proposed spending cuts and are joining the strike actions on Monday.
Strikes broaden on Tuesday when public sector employees strike or walk out. This will affect public transport, schools, hospitals, daycare centers and postal services jump on the bandwagon. The average Belgian will be affected, as will visitors.
Let’s take a look at the airport situation. Tens of thousands of travelers will be hard hit on Wednesday, November 26. Flights from Brussels Airport and Charleroi will be suspended. Ouch!
Charleroi Airport, located south of Brussels, will shut down completely on November 26. No arrivals, no departures! Brussels Airport has canceled all departing flights on Wednesday, and arriving flights are expected to be impacted. Check with your airline if you are traveling to or from Belgium this Wednesday!
Wednesday is also the day for a huge public demonstration in Brussels as workers protest changes to labor laws, pension reforms, spending cuts, social security cuts and the increase of the retirement age. The Belgian government hoped to save 10 billion euros until 2030 with the proposed cuts.
There is some good news, though. The Brussels Christmas market, called “Winter Wonders,” will open next week. It runs from November 28, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Delay your trip a week and miss all the madness?
