The Embassy of the United States, Brussels (French: Ambassade des États-Unis en Belgique; Dutch: Ambassade van de Verenigde Staten in België) is the embassy of the United States to Belgium. It is in the City of Brussels. The embassy initially opened in 1919. The embassy was closed in 1940 after the German invasion of Belgium, and it reopened in 1944.[1] The complex of the embassy currently consists of three buildings.
In 2022, the embassy announced plans to move a new building on Cours Saint-Michel street in Etterbeek.[2][3][4]
Security perimeter: controversy
The closed Zinnerstraat
Since 2001, unprecedented security measures have been in force around the embassy. A perimeter has been set up within which the use of the public road is denied to passers-by. This was intended as a temporary measure that would end when the OCAD lowered the terror alert level. However, sustainable constructions appeared on the site: barriers, waiting booths and in 2008 even a metal fence behind which part of the Regentlaan disappeared.[5] In order not to completely block the passage for pedestrians and cyclists, a narrow path was constructed. However, Zinnerstraat was privatized in its entirety.
Not only the size of the perimeter is controversial, but also the way it is enforced. Where in the beginning mainly the Belgian police carried out the checks, private security services gradually gained greater powers. Despite the authorization by the Minister of the Interior, this was done illegally. Only in 2004 it became legally possible for private guards to carry out checks on public roads, provided that this is elaborated in special police regulations.[6] Such regulations were only introduced at the end of 2011. The mayor did not deny that an unlawful situation was being regularized.[7]
Despite this, there have been cases where the security officers call people outside the perimeter to order, forbid them to take pictures and even threaten to confiscate the camera.[8]
‡ Missions which are located in countries or cities that may be considered a part of more than one continent
1 Consulates-General which function as an embassy (ie. consul reports to State Department, not the respective country's ambassador)
2 The American Institute in Taiwan is ostensibly a public, non-profit organization to promote US-Taiwanese relations, but through State Department staffing & assistance, functions as an informal US diplomatic mission.
