Belgium Battles Historic Heatwave as Temperatures Hit 40°C

Belgium is enduring a severe, historic heatwave in late June 2026, with temperatures soaring to 40°C (104°F) in parts of the country. The extreme weather has triggered Code Red alerts for the provinces of Limburg and Liège — only the third time such a warning has been issued in Belgian history — and prompted widespread disruptions to daily life, from suspended waste collection to cancelled major events and emergency health measures.

Record-Breaking Heat and Widespread Disruption

The heatwave, described by VRT NWS as the most severe to hit Western Europe, broke the daily temperature record in Ukkel (Uccle) on Friday, reaching 33.7°C by midday. The minimum temperature overnight was 23.9°C, offering little respite. Climate scientists from World Weather Attribution confirmed that the current heatwave is 3.5°C warmer than the comparable 1976 heatwave and would have been impossible without climate change.

Ozone levels have exceeded the European information threshold of 180 µg/m³ across the entire country, according to the Interregional Environment Cell (IRCEL), prompting health warnings for vulnerable populations.

Events Cancelled and Services Suspended

The heat has forced the cancellation of major events. The Defqon.1 hardstyle festival in the Netherlands was called off at the last minute, leaving tens of thousands of campers to vacate the site. In Belgium, the annual Waterloo battle reenactments were cancelled, with organizers stating that “the safety of the public, volunteers, staff and emergency services cannot be compromised.” The province of Luxembourg has banned all outdoor public events until Sunday evening.

Waste collection has been suspended in parts of Limburg after subcontractor Renewi halted operations citing worker safety concerns. The city of Liège has since requisitioned the company after the suspension was imposed without notice. Limburg.net, the waste intercommunale, expressed disappointment at the “unilateral decision.”

Thirty-two GO! daycare centres in Brussels closed at 1 PM, and an ice rink in Liedekerke was exceptionally opened to provide relief for schoolchildren, as reported by HLN. Teacher Dorien Delaere described classrooms as “really no longer bearable.”

Alarming Health Impacts

The health consequences of the heatwave are severe. Emergency calls to 112 have surged from approximately 6,000 to over 8,000 per day, according to Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. Prison temperatures in Antwerp have exceeded 40°C inside cells.

Perhaps most alarmingly, CERAC (the Centre for Climate Risk Analysis) has warned that suicide rates double in Brussels during extreme heat days. Deputy Director Karim Sheikh Hassan called the figure “quite alarming,” noting that hospital admissions for mental and neurological disorders also rise significantly during heatwaves. The centre rates Belgium’s climate risk preparation as “weak,” citing fragmented competencies and a lack of data.

Economic Toll Mounts

The economic impact is equally concerning. Climate Minister Jean-Luc Crucke warned that extreme weather phenomena could cost up to 12% of Belgian GDP in a single year, as reported by RTBF. Economist Marek Hudon of the Solvay School estimates the annual cost at “several hundred million euros per year,” with sectors from construction to pharmaceuticals feeling the strain. Allianz Trade projects €210 billion in losses for the French economy between 2026 and 2030.

Government Response and What Comes Next

Prime Minister Bart De Wever has urged citizens to “use your common sense” — postponing strenuous activities, staying hydrated, and looking out for one another. Safe.brussels has deployed additional street workers, set up cool spaces, and distributed water points across the capital, as detailed by La Libre Belgique.

Temperatures are expected to remain near 37°C on Saturday before gradually cooling from Monday, with forecasts of around 25°C by early next week. A ministerial meeting on climate adaptation is scheduled for Monday, as Belgium confronts the reality that extreme heat events are no longer exceptional but a new norm requiring urgent structural adaptation.

This article was compiled from reports by VRT NWS, RTBF, HLN, and La Libre Belgique.