A national strike is expected to bring severe disruption to Belgium on Tuesday, including delays and cancellations on the public transport network and at Belgium's major airports.
You can find the latest updates on the strike and the disruptions it is causing in Brussels and Belgium in our live blog here.
The strike, which was called by trade unions ACV-CSC, FGTB-ABVV, and CGSLB-ACLVB, will take place on Tuesday, 14 October. The unions are protesting against reforms by the Federal Government which will impact pensions, working conditions, and salaries.
Major public transport disruptions
Brussels is expected to see severe disruptions to its metro, bus, and tram services during the national strike, according to the capital's transport operator, STIB-MIVB.
The metro lines 1 and 5 are expected to run, as well as the tram 4, 7, 8, 10, 82, 92, and 93 (between Stade and Parc).
Additionally, the bus lines 12, 14, 36, 46, 53, 59, 71, 73, 87, and 95 are expected to run on Tuesday. Bus 87 is set to be extended from Simonis to Étangs Noirs.
However, STIB notes that it cannot be certain which lines will be running until the actual day of the strike. More information is expected to be announced on Tuesday via the STIB-MIVB website, mobile app, and its social media pages.
In the meantime, the transport operator advises passengers to make alternative travel arrangements if possible.
Image at a STIB-MIVB metro stop in Brussels. Credit: Belga/Nicolas Maeterlinck
The STIB-MIVB mobility app, Floya, can help passengers find alternative routes via other modes of transport such as bicycles, scooters, taxis or car-sharing systems. The app will also suggest options on the day based on which lines are still running during the strike.
On Tuesday, the STIB-MIVB Customer Care Service will be available from 6am to answer questions during the strike via social media or via telephone on +32(0)25638917.
De LIjn bus.Credit: Belga/ Jonas Roosens
The Flemish transport operator, De Lijn, which also operates some bus services in Brussels, announced that it expects several disruptions on its tram and bus lines.
Alternative services can be found on the De Lijn website and app from the evening of 10 October. Cancelled services will not appear on the route planner.
De Lijn further warned that journeys may still be cancelled on the day of the national strike. Passengers are urged to consult the company's route planner before any trip on Tuesday.
Illustrative image of TEC trams. Credit: Belga/Hatim Kaghat
Similarly, Wallonia's transport company, TEC, which operates in parts of Brussels, expects several disruptions on Tuesday.
The impact of the strike on the TEC network will be actively updated on their online timetable from 4pm on 10 October until the end of the day on 14 October.
No impact on trains
Train services by the national railway operator, SNCB, will not be affected by the national strike, a spokesperson told The Brussels Times. Trains are expected to run according to the usual timetable.
SNCB train pictured. Credit: Belga
A Eurostar spokesperson told The Brussels Times on Friday that the company expects its trains to operate as scheduled on the day of the strike.
Cancelled flights from Brussels
No passenger flights will depart from Brussels South Charleroi Airport and Brussels Airport in Zaventem. Additionally, all arriving flights at Charleroi have been cancelled.
Airlines are set to contact the affected passengers directly to provide them with more information on their options to either rebook their flight or receive a refund.
Image with cancelled flights on an information board in the departure hall of Brussels Airport, in Zaventem. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
Almost half of the flights due to arrive at Brussels Airport on Tuesday were cancelled, a spokesperson said on Monday. Passengers can contact their airlines for updates or consult the airport's website.
Those arriving at Brussels Airport on 14 October may face longer waiting times at border control due to the reduced number of staff, the airport warned in a statement.
Bin collections, shops, and postal services
It is "highly likely" that the waste management services in Brussels, including the rubbish bag collections, will be disrupted during the strike, according to a spokesperson for the regional company, Bruxelles Propreté.
Nonetheless, residents and businesses can still put their rubbish bags outside to be collected according to their usual schedule. If rubbish bags are not collected on Tuesday, they should be left outside as catch-up rounds will be organised. More concrete details are expected in the coming days.
Illustrative image of rubbish bags being collected. Credit: Belga
Similarly, it is too early to determine the exact impact of the strike on the postal delivery services by Belgium's Bpost, according to a spokesperson for the company. Additional details are set to be shared on Monday morning.
On Thursday, several trade unions called on retail workers to join the national strike. It is currently unclear to what extent this will disrupt shops across the capital.
A spokesperson for the supermarket Carrefour confirmed that all of its shops in Belgium will remain open, although several employees will be participating in the national strike. Spokespeople for Lidl and Delhaize told The Brussels Times that it was too early to determine the extent of possible disruptions.
Administrative services and courts
As with previous strikes, services at some municipalities are set to be affected by the strike action. The municipality of Saint-Gilles, for example, announced last week that its Population and Civil Registry departments will be closed on Tuesday. Residents are advised to consult their local municipalities' websites for more information.
Saint-Gilles town hall. Credit: Belga / Thierry Roge
Meanwhile, the courts in Brussels will likely face little to no disruption on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Belgium's College of Courts and Tribunals told The Brussels Times. This includes the Court of Appeal, Labour Court, Courts of First Instance and Commercial Courts.
Scheduled hearings are expected to take place as planned and the court registry services will remain open. It is possible some delays may occur due to people involved in cases arriving late because of traffic disruptions, according to the spokesperson.
Strikers' demands
Among their list of demands, the trade unions are calling for overtime with bonuses, easier access to early retirement, fair compensation for night work, higher pensions, and job security for young people. "The De Wever government is launching a full-scale attack on workers' rights," the unions wrote in a statement. "The result: ruined careers and exhausted workers."
The FGTB-ABVV further added that it wants the 'Arizona' coalition to recognise the Palestinian state and impose severe sanctions on Israel.
A demonstration is set to take place across the capital on 14 October from 10.45am. Participants will first gather at Brussels North station and then make their way to Brussels Midi station.
Related News
- Unemployment benefits more heavily taxed from 2026
- Brussels Ring to close overnight between Léonard and Quatre Bras tunnels
- Commission to speed up train traffic between European capitals
- Taxi crashes into restaurant front in Schaerbeek
- 100,000 long-term sick people at risk of rechecks
- 'I never want to fly from Belgium again'
- Belgian PM recognises Palestine at UN but keeps conditions
- Belgium wants to end 'eternal unemployment' with major welfare reform
- Delhaize fined for charging customers for 'ghost products'
This article was updated at 17:06 on Monday to include additional information.
