Belgium is perhaps best known for its waffles and its chocolate. Now, Belgian waffles are nice, but it's probably a good thing that you no longer have to go to Belgium to get them. Why? Because the State Department has just issued a travel advisory, citing crime, terrorism, and civil unrest.
That doesn't bode well for Belgium's tourist trade.
Americans traveling to Belgium are facing a renewed travel warning from the U.S. State Department after officials cited concerns about crime, terrorism and civil unrest.
The department recently increased Belgium's advisory to Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution" — urging travelers to remain alert while visiting the European country.
Known for its medieval cities, historic landmarks, chocolate and beer, Belgium attracts millions of visitors from around the world each year.
I've had Belgian beer. It's... OK. But there's a lot of history in Belgium and in Western Europe in general, and it's getting to the point where the notion of visiting those places is just downright inadvisable. You might get your pocket picked, or worse.
The updated advisory warns that petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist areas.
"Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing," the State Department said in its advisory.
Beyond petty crime, the department warned that Belgium remains at risk for terrorist attacks and related activity.
Officials also cautioned that large, generally peaceful demonstrations related to the local political situation can occur and may disrupt transportation and other essential services.
"Generally peaceful?" Yeah, we've heard that song before. Remember the summer of 2020, right here in these United States, and the "fiery but mostly peaceful" protests?
This isn't the only travel advisory the State Department has recently issued, and one of them is a bit of a no-brainer: Spain.
Last week, the State Department raised its travel advisory for Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta to Level 3: "Reconsider Travel" after tens of thousands of migrants crossed into the Spanish territory from neighboring Morocco, prompting Spain to deploy military, national police and Guardia Civil forces.
The advisory warned that the "massive and uncontrolled arrival of migrants" could create "unpredictable and dangerous security situations."
Right there, folks, the State Department finally admits to the presence of an elephant in the room, even if they only recognize the trunk and one ear. It's not just "migrants." It's illegal immigration from the Middle East and North Africa, almost all of it from majority-Muslim nations. The "migrants" in this latest incursion into Spanish territory consisted almost entirely of healthy, unattached young men - men of military age. What's happening in Spain is, as my Brit friend would say, a right old mess, but it's only the latest in a long stream of demographic chaos being visited on the very nations that gave us a civilized world.
It's a shame what's happening to Europe. I've spent time there, mostly in Germany with short visits to France and Ireland. As things stand now, I wouldn't go back. Europe is headed for hard times, due in large part to the open-borders notions pushed by their own feather-brained political leadership, and things are going to get a lot worse before, or if, they start to get any better.
You can view the State Department's Belgium travel notice here.
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