# Belgium Travel Advisory Update: What Ottawa Travellers Need to Know Before Departure
If you’re planning a trip to Belgium from Ottawa this spring or summer, the Canadian government wants you to pay attention. An updated travel advisory issued on March 13, 2026, maintains Belgium at **Level 2 — Exercise a High Degree of Caution**, with new information affecting drivers and ongoing security concerns that every traveller should understand before booking flights.
## What This Risk Level Means for You
Level 2 — Exercise a High Degree of Caution doesn’t mean cancel your plans to explore Brussels’ chocolate shops or Bruges’ medieval charm. It does mean you need to travel smarter. The advisory reflects real security challenges, including an elevated terrorism threat and a concerning uptick in violent crime across Belgian cities. Recent updates also include important driving regulations that could affect those planning to rent cars.
## Safety Risks on the Ground
Petty theft remains the most common issue facing tourists. Pickpockets actively work popular areas like Brussels’ Grand-Place and target travellers on the Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam rail corridor. Distraction techniques are sophisticated—someone spilling a drink on you or asking unusual questions may be working with a partner lifting your wallet or passport.
More concerning is the recent spike in violent incidents, including shootings and stabbings in Brussels and other major urban centers. While tourists aren’t typically targeted, situational awareness has become more critical than ever.
## Preparing Your Health and Safety Strategy
**Ottawa travellers** should approach Belgium preparation holistically—physical safety and health protection go hand in hand. Before you focus solely on securing your valuables, ensure your body is protected too.
Belgium is a developed European nation, but pre-travel health preparation remains essential. Routine vaccinations should be current, and depending on your itinerary and activities, hepatitis A and B, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) may be recommended. If you’re visiting during tick season or spending time in rural areas, understanding disease prevention becomes part of your safety toolkit.
A travel health consultation gives you personalized advice based on your medical history, planned activities, and current conditions in Belgium. Your travel health provider can prescribe medications for travellers’ diarrhea, help you assemble a destination-appropriate medical kit, and ensure you have documentation for any medications you’re carrying—important given the updated driving regulations.
Don’t let the Level 2 advisory derail your European adventure. Smart preparation means understanding both the security landscape and health considerations. **Ottawa-area travellers** who take time for proper pre-departure planning typically enjoy safer, healthier trips with fewer unpleasant surprises.
Travelling to Belgium? Before you go, speak with one of our ISTM-certified travel health physicians – virtually, 7 days a week. A pre-travel consultation covers vaccines, medications, and destination-specific health risks. Book your virtual consultation at Orleans Travel Clinic Pharmacy.