From Saturday, May 30, Belgians are allowed to visit family members who live in one of our neighboring countries. This confirms the Minister of the Interior Pieter De Crem (CD&V). Visiting friends who live across the border remains prohibited. Belgians can therefore again visit family in the Netherlands and vice versa.
That is why it must be demonstrated at the border that someone actually goes to family, and that you have a demonstrable bond, says De Crem. It is not clear exactly how this is checked. Border checks will continue until June 8 anyway.
Our borders are not closed, but some movements are not possible ”, De Crem explains in a conversation with VRT NWS. “Now a restriction is lifted, intra-family movements to neighboring countries may take place again. So it concerns the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the United Kingdom via the Eurostar line. ”
Once you are with your family abroad, you may go shopping together if necessary. It is not possible to make a day trip together. Belgians were no longer allowed to cross the border for family visits since 20 March. Pieter De Crem will amend the ministerial order and publish it in the Official Gazette.
“Today I can fulfill my recent promise to many fellow countrymen: from tomorrow family visits in our neighboring countries will be possible again. Countrymen with family in one of our neighboring countries will be able to visit those people again from tomorrow. The Belgian police services are being informed of this new fact, ”said de Crem on his Facebook page.
Schengen zone no later than 15 June
Closing comments emphasizes de Crem on his Facebook page that for all other cross-border traffic (with the exception of visits by family, free movement of goods and essential movements), Belgium joins the other European countries which are restarting all traffic within the European Union and to implement the Schengen zone by 15 June at the latest.
Also read: The Czech Republic reopens borders with Germany and Austria
