Widespread travel disruption is set to hit Belgium as mass protests and a 9-day train strike begin.

A nationwide railway strike begins tomorrow (Friday 21 February) at 10pm, running until 10pm on 2 March.

To add to travellers’ woes, a mass protest is planned in Brussels today, 20 February.

As airport workers continue striking on the 13th of every month until further notice, travel across Belgium is expected to face further chaos this month that could last well into springtime.

Read on for Euronews Travel’s advice on how to navigate the travel disruption in Belgium.

Mass protests in Brussels

Some Belgians are opposed to the new government coalition, and they are taking to the streets to make their feelings heard.

At least 50,000 people are expected to protest on the streets of Brussels today, according to union officials.

The mass protest is to address “imbalances” around public services and purchasing power in the coalition government’s agenda. These include concerns over cutting public services, stricter measures on unemployment benefits, pension reform and workplace flexibility.

Demonstrations of this nature are common in Belgium and are primarily peaceful, especially in the Brussels’ EU quarter (Schuman area) and around transport hubs and government buildings.

However the protest will likely cause significant problems for public transport, postal services, and air travel, and disruption to businesses.

A general strike has also been called on 31 March. All these strikes are in opposition to the federal government’s proposed policies.

Belgium: Nationwide rail strike starting 21 February

Travellers can expect significant travel disruption in Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, and other major cities from 10pm on 21 February until 10pm on 2 March, not just to trains but also to other public transport, including buses, trams, and metro services.

In a statement, Belgian National Railway Company SNCB say: “We understand and regret that this strike may interfere with your travels”, adding that “in order to deal with the limited number of trains running, we will put in place an alternative service in accordance with staff availability.”

Most SNCB personnel and those working on rail infrastructure for companies Infrabel and HR-Rail will be on strike, meaning Belgium’s rail network could be brought to a near standstill.

SNCB advises travellers to regularly check for updates via its journey planner on its website or the SNCB app.

International train services, including Eurostar, TGV INOUI, EuroCity, Eurocity Direct, ICE and OUIGO, are expected to remain unaffected, but you can receive live updates on the SNCB International website.

The SNCB suggests you “consider alternative routes when travelling on cross-border local trains to/from Lille, Maubeuge, Luxembourg, Roosendaal, Maastricht or Aachen – and if you need to take a local connection in Belgium before or after your international journey”.

Why are there so many strikes happening in Belgium?

Most of the strikes are targeting new government policies. While negotiations with unions are underway, tensions remain high.

The main reasons for the railway industrial actions are pension reforms, changes to labour law, and budget cuts to rail operator SNCB. The strikes coincide with the school holidays in French-speaking education.

While the government has not responded to the planned strikes, the leader of the Flemish Christian-democratic political party (CD&V), Sammy Mahdi, struck out at the railway strikes, calling them “completely irresponsible.” He called them “a slap in the face of commuters, workers in less privileged sectors and future generations who rely on us to secure pensions,” according to the Belga news agency.

“Organising total chaos on the railways because you’re the only sector that can’t retire at 55? Irresponsible.”

Are rail passengers entitled to compensation during a strike?

The normal conditions for refunding or exchanging your ticket remain the same, even if there is a strike, as according to EU law, train companies have to get ticket holders to their final destination or issue them with a refund.

If you choose to travel even if your train is delayed, you may still be eligible for a partial or full refund. This usually depends on how late your train arrives at its destination.

If your train is delayed by more than 60 minutes, you can choose not to travel and will receive a full refund for your ticket. Alternatively, you can have your ticket reissued for travel at a later date.

SNCB has full details on how to claim a refund here.

Trump’s tariff threats and economic uncertainty are causing Canadians to ditch the US and travel to Europe instead. Americans are planning to join them on the old continent, thanks to the US dollar stretching further in travel money. While Americans living in Europe say they’re definitely staying put, seeking to avoid their “toxic and expensive” homeland.

As the new US President’s many policy changes are revealed, Euronews Travel looks at what impact they might have on travel.

Will the US dollar be strong in 2025?

If economists are right, the US dollar will strengthen further against foreign currencies. Even the threat of a new tariff policy means that major world currencies – like the euro – get weakened by moving interest rates.

This then grants Americans who wish to travel outside the states better buying power, potentially enjoying longer or more luxurious trips if they book guided tours, accommodations and restaurants in the local currency.

US expats in Europe plan to stay away from ‘toxic’ America

Craig Sauers, an American based in Tbilisi, Georgia, was already living abroad when Trump won in 2016, which he says came as “a shock.”

As an American abroad, he feels “ashamed, embarrassed and angry” and was “appalled that so many Americans bought into his messaging” eight years later.

“I certainly don’t plan to move back to the US anytime soon. MAGA regime change is one thing, but inflationary pressures also haven’t eased at all. The US is both toxic and expensive right now, and that’s a bad mix,” says Sauers.

“I do hope to visit, though. I’m not getting any younger, and I can’t let my pride get in the way of relationships with my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews.”

Jared Batzel currently lives in Madrid and is studying for his MBA. He previously served in the US military and other public-sector roles, including USAID which has been all but closed down under Trump.

“I’ve always periodically boomeranged back to the United States for one reason or another… but the returns have been increasingly jarring,” he says.

Batzel is keeping his existing plans to visit the US in May, “mostly for personal or professional requirements”, but says there’s nothing he misses in America, despite being born and raised in a very pro-Trump region of America.

While he understands some complaints and frustrations that Trump voters have, he says he “doesn’t recognise much of America anymore.”

“I have many English-speaking colleagues in Spain who are from a few dozen countries. Many have worked in the United States before or were looking to in the future. Virtually all of them have reconsidered and are seeking more long-term opportunities in Europe or in their home countries,” adds Batzel.

“This goes beyond the politics of the day and includes things like inflation and cost of living, crime and mass shootings, and many other reasons that have made the American brand toxic on the world stage.”

Why are Canadians cancelling travel to the US?

After the Trump administration threatened Canada with hefty tariffs in its first few days in office, prime minister Justin Trudeau told citizens to “choose Canada”.

“It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,” Trudeau said.

Canada listened, too, according to the latest data.

“Already, Flight Centre experts have helped several Canadians pivot away from their US vacations and rebook elsewhere,” Flight Centre Travel Group in Canada told Open Jaw, a daily news site for Canadian travel agents.

“One of our long-time customers cancelled a trip to Arizona over the weekend and now plans to bring her family to Portugal instead,” the travel company confirmed.

Some of these trips are “bucket-list and milestone experiences,” costing between €6,700 and €13,480. Planned cruises are also being cancelled because many stop off at US ports.

It’s not just leisure travellers who are cancelling: A recent Corporate Traveller/YouGov survey reveals that 40 per cent of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses have already cut anticipated US-bound business travel. US customs lines in major Canadian airports are reportedly already much quieter.

According to the US Travel Association (USTA), Canadians are the top source of international visitors to the United States. They enjoy the warmer climes of Florida, California, Nevada, New York, and Texas. In 2024, 20.4 million Canadians visited the US, spending $20.5 billion (€19.60 bn).

Tariffs – when goods imported from other countries are charged a tax, typically a percentage of a product’s value – are a significant part of Trump’s economic plans.

In the first few days of office, the new US administration introduced a 10 per cent tax on all products from China and has also proposed introducing tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico.

Whether the tariffs come or not, Canadians are saying they will continue to cancel. Air Canada will cut several routes to Florida, Las Vegas, and Arizona starting in March, citing the tariff dispute and the weakened Canadian dollar, reports Travel and Tour World.

Hawaii fear fewer holidaygoers in 2025

Although Hawaii is a popular holiday destination with a distinct cultural identity from mainland America, the archipelago relies on the US dollar and so is also seeing fewer visitors due to tariff threats imposed on foreign imports.

Demand for WestJet, a local airline that flies from the US to all the major Hawaiian islands, has dropped by 25 per cent in recent weeks, according to local media, Khon2.

Locals who rely on tourism on the island are now pleading with international visitors not to cancel their trips. Whether the islanders’ requests to support Hawaii’s vital tourism industry are heard, time is yet to tell.

The EU’s high-speed railway network has nearly doubled in a decade, according to the latest official figures.

Lines capable of carrying trains at 250 km/h and more criss-crossed 8,556 km across the continent in 2023, according to Eurostat. That’s up from 5,812 in 2013.

However, the bloc’s total railway network shrunk by 1.3 per cent in that time, stretching only 200,947 km in 2023. “Europe is not upgrading its railways fast enough,” warns Carlos Rico, rail policy officer at campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E).

Despite railway lines being the backbone of Europe’s clean transport transition, the latest figures reveal a map of uneven progress.

Which European country has the highest density of railway lines?

Czechia has the highest density railway network in Europe, with 123.2 metres of railway lines per square kilometre.

Almost all its lines were built under the reign of the monarchy from the nineteenth century onwards, national railway manager Správa železnicand states, and taken over by the communist regime which prioritised rail transport over roads.

It is followed by Belgium (119.2 m/km²), Germany (109.5 m/km²) and Luxembourg (104.8 m/km²).

As Eurostat analysts note, the countries with the highest density of railway networks are all located in the centre of northern Europe, reflecting both their high population density and relatively high volumes of freight transport.

At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest railway network densities were found in Greece (14.0 m/km²), and Finland (19.4 m/km²) – which has the lowest population density in the EU.

Sweden (26.8 m/km²), Estonia (27.2 m/km²), Portugal (27.8 m/km²), Latvia (28.9 m/km²) and Ireland (29.8 m/km²) round out the bottom of the list.

How important is railway network density?

High railway density usually translates into a higher accessibility to railways, explains Rico. However, simply having a station close by doesn’t guarantee an easy ride.

“For a railway system to triumph it needs to be affordable and reliable,” he emphasises. “If the network is very large but frequencies are poor, prices are too high and delays are constant, it will not be able to capture a significant demand.

“And without those passengers, the system will be harder to maintain financially.”

Czechia scores well on the affordability front, with low ticket prices and special fares. But punctuality let it down in T&E’s rail operator rankings at the end of last year.

Within the EU, high-speed railway lines often span national borders, facilitating seamless travel around the bloc. This network has seen significant growth, Eurostat reports, rising by 47 per cent in the decade to 2023.

Spain is leading the way with 3,190 km of high-speed lines, a 66 per cent increase from 2013.

This reflects its status as by far the biggest benefactor of EU funds for high-speed rail between 2000 and 2017, receiving almost half of the funding on offer for the whole bloc.

However, T&E’s Rico explains, it’s also the result of very low construction costs compared to other countries.

Lower land and labour costs keep prices down in Spain, but economies of scale have played a significant role too. The lowest costs per kilometre were achieved when the country had the largest amount of projects in development at the same time.

France is fairly close behind with 2,748 km of high-speed lines, a 35 per cent increase from 2013. It is followed by Germany with 1,163 km and Italy with 1,097 km.

How can we get the EU’s rail targets on track?

Put simply, Europe’s railway network still has a long way to go to support the continent’s energy and climate goals.

The European Court of Auditors warned in 2020 that the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) network, Europe’s key policy for cross-border rail, is unlikely to meet its goals on time.

T&E is urging countries to funnel sufficient national funds into these projects. The European Commission, it argues, should fund top priority investments that boost transnational connections.

Rail represents only 0.4 per cent of transport emissions in the EU while transporting 7 per cent of the passengers.

“High speed lines are a part of the solution, but they are not the silver bullet,” says Rico. “Rail will contribute to transport decarbonisation in coordination with road electrification and clean fuels for aviation and shipping.”

To realise the “climate potential of rail”, he adds, we need increased competition, simplified cross-border ticketing, and a common signalling system in Europe (the ETCS). This latter piece of the puzzle will enable better connectivity and services without the need for new infrastructure.