November 23, 2025, 3:13 p.mNovember 23, 2025, 3:24 p.m
Train and flight cancellations, schools closed, garbage collection not coming: strikes over three days from Monday are likely to have a significant impact on traffic and public spaces in Belgium. The Belgian unions are declaring war on the center-right coalition government against its announced austerity measures.
The Belgian state railway SNCB has already reduced its timetable from Sunday evening. Only every second train is expected to run on Monday, it was said. According to the Belga news agency, trains in busy rush hour traffic will be particularly hard hit until Wednesday.
Public sector employees are also scheduled to go on strike on Tuesday – i.e. employees in schools, daycare centers, post offices, garbage collection, health care and local public transport.
The disruption is likely to reach its peak on Wednesday, when unions in the private sector also want to join the strike. There will also be no flights scheduled to take off at Belgium’s two largest airports in Brussels and Charleroi on Wednesday, the airports announced. The strikes by security and ground staff are also likely to have an impact on incoming flights.
The Belgian government has announced far-reaching austerity measures to save 10 billion euros by 2030. Belgium, one of the most indebted EU countries, needs to save massively to meet the European Union’s debt and deficit rules.
At the same time, Belgium is obliged to drastically increase its defense spending as part of NATO’s plans. In October, around 100,000 people demonstrated in Brussels against planned austerity measures. (sda/dpa)