Last year, 21,230 lost items were found at Brussels Airport, with around 21% of the lost items having been returned to their owners, according to a press release on Monday.
These items were discovered both at the security check trays and other locations within the airport.
Travellers mainly forgot electronics (such as laptops, phones, and tablets), clothing (particularly belts), and identification cards and passports. Those who have lost something at the airport can easily report it through the website.
The Lost & Found team strives to reunite passengers with their lost belongings, which are kept for six months. Official documents are handed over to the federal police after one month, after which they can no longer be retrieved.
Unclaimed items are given a second life. All liquids, ranging from unopened drink containers to food and personal care products, are donated to local social welfare centres and other non-profit organisations.
This includes items confiscated at security for exceeding the 100-millilitre limit. In 2023, Brussels Airport donated 34,760 kilograms of these products. Only new and sealed items are donated, while opened packages are recycled.
Electronic devices are donated to the Belgian non-profit organisation Close the Gap, which aims to bridge the digital divide worldwide. They ensure that the abandoned electronics reach educational, social, and medical projects in developing countries.
Clothing and prams are also donated to charitable causes. In 2023, clothes were donated to assist with earthquake relief efforts in Turkey, and unclaimed prams went to Les Petit Riens. Remaining unclaimed items, such as belts and glasses, are auctioned off through a specialised auction house.
