Belgium - Facts

Belgium FAQs

Pre-Arrival Boat: Arriving from outside the Schengen Area? A pleasure craft declaration must be submitted to Belgian Maritime and River Police before arrival. See Clearance for details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: Immigration requirements depend on nationality. Non-EU crew may be subject to Schengen visa requirements and border-control procedures, including biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System where currently implemented. See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter? Yachts arriving from or departing to a country outside the Schengen Area must use an official Belgian maritime border-crossing point. See Clearance for details.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? No specific Belgian government fee is currently listed for routine yacht border clearance, although marina, port and other local charges may apply.
What security concerns should I know about? Belgium is generally considered a safe cruising destination, but normal precautions are recommended, particularly in busy ports and urban areas. See Security for more info.

Belgium Facts for Sailors

• Situated between France and the Netherlands in Western Europe, Belgium has a short coastline facing the English Channel and the North Sea. The coastline is fringed by sandbanks making navigation challenging although all are clearly marked.
• It's one of the smallest and most densely populated European countries with a population in 2018 of 11,403,000.
• The country has distinctive regions including Dutch-speaking Flanders to the north, French-speaking Wallonia to the south and a German-speaking community to the east.
• Belgium is on Central European Standard Time (GMT+1).
• Currency is the euro (€).
• The coastal weather in Belgium tends to be cool in the Summer and cold but not freezing in the Winter. It rains here quite frequently however the coast sees more sun than the interior. See Weather for more information.
• Most foreign cruising yachts visit Belgian ports as a convenient place to stop while sailing north or south through the English Channel. British yachts often cross over to Belgium for a long weekend and many go to enjoy its modern marinas, excellent cuisine and cultural cities (not to mention the chocolate!).
• The beautiful Medieval cities of Nieuwpoort, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels are all within a day’s visit from the coast.
• A few visiting yachts use the inland waterway system, which is connected to the extensive European canal network.
• The best yachting facilities are concentrated in the ports of Ostend, Zeebrugge, Nieuwpoort, and Antwerp. See Yachting Essentials for more information.