Belgium Warns of Rising Irregular Beach Departures as Migrant Crossings Shift Away from France

Series: The Root Causes of Migration

Belgian authorities are raising alarms over a surge in migrant smuggling along their coastline as traffickers shift operations away from northern France. Driven by intensified police patrols and tighter border security on the French side, smugglers are increasingly launching small boats from Belgian beaches to cross the English Channel to the UK. 

The numbers reflect a stark shift: while Belgium recorded only two attempted boat crossings in all of 2025, the first four months of 2026 have already seen at least 32 launch attempts.

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To evade detection, smugglers have adopted a “taxi boat” tactic. They launch lightly loaded inflatable boats from quiet Belgian beaches, traveling along the coastline to pick up more migrants at designated points before making the final push across the Channel. 

This new route makes an already perilous journey even more dangerous, adding up to 45 extra miles at sea for those departing near the Belgian-Dutch border. Furthermore, these boats are often dangerously overcrowded, equipped with improvised engines and lack sufficient life jackets.

In response, Belgian law enforcement has stepped up intelligence-led vehicle checks and increased patrols on land, at sea and from the air using Frontex aircraft. 

Authorities have also moved to seal abandoned World War II coastal bunkers that smugglers were using to hide from infrared drones. Despite these heightened security measures, policing the long stretch of the Belgian coastline remains a significant challenge as improving weather conditions threaten to bring a further increase in crossing attempts.

The full report can be found here .