Belgium Braces for Heatwave: Code Orange as Temperatures Climb to 35°C
Belgium is in the grip of its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures reaching 33°C on Wednesday and expected to climb to 35°C locally on Thursday and Friday. The Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI) has issued code orange heat warnings for multiple provinces, as the country simultaneously grapples with persistent drought conditions that are straining waterways, agriculture, and public health systems.
According to the VRT NWS liveblog, code orange applies to Antwerp, Limburg, Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant, and Brussels for Thursday and Friday, with East Flanders and Liège added on Friday. The Dender Journaal confirms temperatures could reach up to 35°C in some regions, while code yellow remains in effect across the country from August 12 through August 17.
A Summer of Records
This heatwave marks the fourth of the summer in Belgium, a season that has already shattered numerous temperature records. Weather expert Lander Van Tricht from RTV notes that 17 days have already seen temperatures above 30°C, compared to 10 tropical days in all of 2025 and only 3 in 2021. “De kans dat 2027 een koelere zomer zal zijn dan deze zomer is groot, omdat deze zo extreem is,” Van Tricht said. “Maar als we nog verder vooruit gaan kijken in de toekomst, dan zal de zomer van 2026 wellicht een normale zomer zijn.”
The extreme conditions extend beyond land. The Belgian North Sea has been in a marine heatwave for 188 consecutive days since February 4, breaking all records, according to VRT NWS. The sea water temperature has broken 63 daily records this year, with July’s average 2.7°C above the 25-year average. Jan Seys of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) described the experience vividly: “Het voelt aan als badwater. Die frisse duik, daar zitten we momenteel ver van af.”
Drought Strains Waterways and Economy
The persistent drought is severely impacting Belgian waterways. The Ghent-Terneuzen canal has salt levels three times higher than normal (8.5-9.5 g/L versus a target of 3 g/L), forcing ships to face maximum draft restrictions and businesses to shift cargo from water to road transport. Cas König, CEO of North Sea Port, told Belga that “daar hangt een hele keten van vrachtwagens aan vast, en die moet nu in een korter tijdsbestek werken.”
Meanwhile, the Rhine River at Kaub, Germany has dropped to 15 cm — the lowest level since measurements began in 1880 — threatening to split the river into two separately navigable sections with major implications for European shipping and the economy. The drought has also dried up even a 185,000-liter water reservoir belonging to farmer Michaël Vanhulst in Bierbeek. “Wie de klimaatverandering nog ontkent, moet hier maar een kijkje komen nemen,” he said.
Health Measures and the National Heat Plan
The FPS Public Health activated the alarm phase of the national ozone and heat plan on June 23, 2026, due to exceptional temperatures and high ozone concentrations — only the second time this has happened in Belgian history, as reported by Prebes. The warning phase remains in effect during the current heatwave. The Governor of Flemish Brabant has issued practical guidance for residents, advising them to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged sun exposure during the hottest hours, and check on vulnerable neighbors.
Municipalities across the country are opening cool spaces such as museums and churches, while some areas — including Chimay in Hainaut — have imposed restrictions on non-essential water use. Extra ambulances have been deployed in Brussels, Limburg, Antwerp, and Liège, and hospitals report increased heat-related emergency visits, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Dodentocht to Proceed at Full Distance
Despite the extreme heat, organizers have confirmed that the 100km Dodentocht walking event in Bornem, scheduled to start Friday evening, will NOT be shortened. After a safety meeting, the organization decided to keep the full distance with extra water, rest points, and a comprehensive heat plan, as reported by RTV. “Op basis van een analyse van de voorspelde temperatuur en relatieve luchtvochtigheid, aan de hand van de officiële weersvoorspellingen van het KMI, besliste de veiligheidscel dat 100KM Dodentocht momenteel plaatsvindt onder code geel,” said Ilse Robyn of the organization. In 2022, the event was shortened to 67km due to extreme heat.
A European Crisis
Belgium’s heatwave is part of a broader European pattern. France is experiencing its fourth heatwave of the summer with temperatures up to 40°C, England has code orange for all regions with temperatures up to 38°C in London, and the Netherlands also expects temperatures above 30°C. Copernicus, the European climate observatory, reports that Europe is warming faster than any other continent, with West Europe experiencing four periods of extreme heat since May. Temperatures are currently 3.8°C above the 1991-2020 average.
According to Dender Journaal, the combination of heat and drought has led to exceptionally low river flows across the continent, affecting everything from agriculture to industrial supply chains. The economic impact is significant: Triodos Bank estimates the European economy could shrink by approximately 1% (€180 billion) due to heat and drought, with Belgium particularly affected because it is less adapted to extreme heat.
What’s Next
A slight cooling is expected over the weekend, with temperatures dropping to 25-31°C and a chance of rain or thunderstorms. However, weather experts warn that the extreme conditions of this summer may become the new normal. As Lander Van Tricht put it: “Die extreme temperaturen, die lange droogte die we nu ervaren, dat zal iets zijn waar we in de toekomst bijna jaarlijks rekening mee zullen moeten houden.”
For now, authorities urge residents to remain vigilant, stay hydrated, and look out for one another as Belgium navigates one of its most challenging summers on record.