Belgium has dropped almost all of its COVID-19 restrictions
Belgium has become the latest European nation to ease coronavirus-related travel restrictions.
Not only have authorities lifted a ban on nonessential travelers from outside the European Union, but they have made it so visitors to the EU's administrative heartland will no longer be subject to any entry restrictions, such as passenger locator forms, proof of vaccination or negative tests.
However, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo warned of one crucial exception to the rule: people from any country harboring a "variant of concern."
"This does not apply to travelers coming from a country with a new variant of concern," he said in a press release. "For them, the current rules continue to apply."
In addition to the travel rules, Belgium has also lifted all face mask requirements in public spaces, except in hospitals, doctor's offices and pharmacies.
Related: How to navigate the recently dropped mask mandate while traveling
A number of other countries across Europe have recently reopened to travelers, including the United Kingdom, Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Sweden, Serbia, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Belgium's news comes a day after Spain eased travel restrictions for U.K. vacationers. The country now allows unvaccinated visitors to enter as long as they can provide a negative PCR or antigen test upon arrival.
Related: 7 reasons why you need to visit Spain's Canary Islands this summer
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