Belgium's internet is largely open, but a few things still get in the way. Much of what VRT MAX, RTBF Auvio and VTM GO offer stops playing once you leave the country. A trip abroad can cut you off from the news, series and sport you watch at home. Torrent sites are a second sore point, since a Belgian court ordered ISPs to block The Pirate Bay and the block still stands. The third is free Wi-Fi at train stations, airports and cafés, where you share a network with strangers.
A good VPN deals with all three. It gives you a Belgian IP address abroad and keeps your traffic secure on public networks. It also routes around ISP-level blocks. NordVPN is our top pick, with 70+ servers in Brussels and the broadest Belgian channel coverage on this list.
To build the list, we scored each provider on six criteria, starting with physical servers in Belgium. The other five are speed, an audited no-logs policy, Belgian TV and Netflix access, price and refund terms, and ease of use. We connected each VPN to its Belgian location and checked whether VRT MAX, RTBF Auvio and Netflix Belgium would open. We also compared speeds on Belgian servers and nearby Dutch and French hops. The final ranking follows the scores each VPN earned in our full reviews, and the complete method is set out further down the page.
Best VPNs for Belgium: quick picks
If you only have a minute, the list below covers what you need. Each provider has servers physically in Belgium.
- NordVPN (9.0/10): best VPN for Belgium overall, with Brussels servers that opened every Belgian channel we tried.
- ExpressVPN (8.8/10): best for streaming Belgian TV abroad, thanks to a fast-reconnecting protocol and smart DNS for TVs.
- Surfshark (8.6/10): best value for households, with Brussels and Antwerp servers and unlimited devices.
- CyberGhost (8.4/10): easiest to use, with labelled streaming servers and a 45-day refund window.
- Private Internet Access (8.4/10): best for torrenting and customization, with port forwarding on its Belgian servers.
The best VPNs for Belgium in detail
Every VPN here gave us a Belgian IP address that opened Belgian TV from outside the country. What separates them is speed, privacy, price and how many settings you want to adjust. One caveat applies to all five. Streaming access is never permanently guaranteed. A service that works one month can block a server the next.
1. NordVPN: best VPN for Belgium overall
NordVPN (9.0/10) earns the top spot because it gets the Belgian basics right and has no weak area elsewhere. All of its Belgian servers sit in Brussels. There are 70+ of them, a count that moves as NordVPN adds and retires hardware. If Brussels gets busy, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Luxembourg are short hops away.
When we connected to Brussels, VRT MAX opened straight away. Belgian channels such as AB3 and Tipik played through SmartPlay with no settings to change. Netflix Belgium, BBC iPlayer and Prime Video streamed without buffering. NordVPN retained up to about 90% of our base speed on Belgian, French and Dutch servers. A few servers were slower than the rest. Switching to another Brussels server fixed most slow sessions. When the tunnel dropped mid-stream, the kill switch cut all traffic at once. Our DNS and WebRTC leak tests came back clean.
NordVPN is based in Panama. It has completed six independent no-logs assurance engagements, and the latest one ended with a Deloitte report issued in December 2025. Basic costs about $3.09 to $3.49 a month on the 2-year plan, a figure that shifts with NordVPN's sales. Month to month, expect about $12.99, depending on tier and region. One plan covers 10 devices, and the 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try it risk-free.
Pros
- NordLynx protocol with post-quantum encryption
- Threat Protection Pro blocks ads and malware
- Double VPN, Onion over VPN and Meshnet built in
- Apps for Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV and routers
Cons
- Obfuscated servers run on OpenVPN only, so they're slower than NordLynx
- City selection on mobile hides behind an easy-to-miss three-dot menu
- Advanced settings and router setups need manual configuration
2. ExpressVPN: best for streaming Belgian TV abroad
Where NordVPN spreads its Belgian capacity across dozens of Brussels servers, ExpressVPN (8.8/10) offers a single location labelled "Belgium". No city is named. Through that one location, we unblocked AB3, Sporza and VRT. Netflix Belgium and BBC iPlayer played without lag, and the connection retained up to about 82% of our base speed.
Lightway is the reason it suits travellers. It connected almost instantly in our testing and reconnected quickly on flaky hotel and airport Wi-Fi. Those are exactly the networks you'll use to watch Belgian TV while away. MediaStreamer smart DNS gets Belgian streaming onto an Apple TV, console or smart TV that can't run a VPN app.
ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands and has servers in 113 countries. KPMG published a no-logs assessment of it in 2025. Basic costs $2.99 a month on the 2-year plan, though ExpressVPN changes that promo rate often. It renews at $99.95 a year. Plans cover 10, 12 or 14 devices by tier, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Network Lock kill switch on every app
- TrustedServer RAM-only servers
- Automatic obfuscation on restrictive networks
- 24/7 live chat support
Cons
- Only one Belgian location, so there's no second Belgian city to fall back to on a busy evening
- Costs more than most rivals, especially after renewal
3. Surfshark: best value VPN for Belgium
Surfshark (8.6/10) is the only pick here with two Belgian cities. Brussels and Antwerp are both available, and both are tagged for P2P. That gives you the fallback ExpressVPN lacks. From abroad, its Belgian servers unblocked Sporza and RTBF for us, including RTBF series and free MotoGP streams.
On a 100 Mbps line through Belgian servers, Surfshark held about 81 Mbps down and 76 Mbps up. We also watched what happened when the connection dropped for a moment. The kill switch triggered instantly and kept our real IP hidden until the tunnel came back.
The bigger selling point is the plan itself. Unlimited device connections mean one subscription covers a whole household. Surfshark B.V. is based in the Netherlands and runs 4,500+ servers in 100 countries. Deloitte verified its no-logs policy in 2023 and again in 2025. Starter costs $2.49 a month on the 2-year plan, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- CleanWeb blocks ads and trackers
- Camouflage Mode and NoBorders mode for restrictive networks
- Dynamic MultiHop and IP Rotator for extra privacy
- Smart DNS and apps for Android TV, Apple TV and Fire TV
Cons
- No port forwarding, so seeding torrents is weaker than on PIA
- Speeds and ping vary from server to server
- The iOS app runs a bit slower than the desktop apps
4. CyberGhost: easiest VPN to use in Belgium
If Surfshark is the household plan, CyberGhost (8.4/10) is the one to hand to someone who has never used a VPN. Its 200+ Brussels servers are physical and support P2P. The apps are also very easy to set up. The server list labels which servers suit streaming, torrenting or privacy.
Those labels did their job for Belgian TV. Connected to a Brussels streaming server, we unblocked Tipik, RTL, La Une and VTM. It's slower than NordVPN, but nearby servers streamed without buffering. Switching locations briefly dropped the tunnel before the new connection settled. Pick your server before you press play.
Smart Rules is the feature commuters will like. It allows the app to launch and connect automatically on untrusted Wi-Fi. That helps at busy hubs like Brussels-South station. CyberGhost S.R.L. is based in Romania and has Deloitte no-logs reports from 2022, 2024 and 2025. It costs $2.19 a month on the 2-year plan and covers 7 devices. The 45-day money-back guarantee on plans of 6 months or longer is the longest here.
Pros
- Dedicated streaming and torrenting servers
- NoSpy servers and RAM-only hardware
- Automatic kill switch with DNS and IP leak protection
- 24/7 live chat support
Cons
- Advanced users will find the apps limited, and there's no obfuscation
- Apple apps have fewer features than the Windows and Android apps
- Not an effective torrenting VPN next to PIA and NordVPN
5. Private Internet Access: best for torrenting and customization
Unlike CyberGhost, Private Internet Access (8.4/10) is built for people who like to change settings. Its Belgian servers are in Brussels. It runs a separate "BE Streaming Optimized" region alongside the standard Belgium one. Both support port forwarding, which none of the other four offer on a standard plan.
That makes PIA our torrenting pick. Port forwarding worked on many servers, though ports are assigned at random. The SOCKS5 proxy gave our torrent speeds a boost. Connecting to a Belgian server cost very little speed, but distant servers slowed down sharply. Club RTL, VRT and Netflix Belgium all unblocked. International Netflix libraries took some trial and error before a server worked. Switching to AES-128 encryption sped up streaming without a meaningful privacy loss.
PIA is US-based and owned by Kape Technologies. Its Deloitte no-logs assessment covered its server configuration as of June 30, 2022. PIA says its network covers 113 countries, a figure that keeps climbing as it adds locations. The long plan costs about $1.79 to $2.03 a month, depending on which term length PIA is promoting. Month to month, it's $11.95. You get unlimited devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Standard and Advanced kill switch both held up under forced disconnects
- Open-source apps and RAM-only servers
- MACE blocks ads and trackers
- Shadowsocks multi-hop and a dedicated IP add-on
Cons
- The interface could be friendlier, and the Windows app looks dated
- Its most recent published no-logs audit is the oldest on this list
Best VPNs for Belgium compared
The table puts the key specs side by side, in score order. Belgian server counts and promo prices move often, so treat them as approximate.
| Provider | Buy | Servers in Belgium | Total countries | Starting price | Money-back | Connections | Belgian TV / Netflix | Kill switch | Audited no-logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Check price → | Yes, Brussels (70+) | About 150 | About $3.09 to $3.49/mo (2-yr) | 30-day | 10 | VRT MAX, AB3, Tipik; Netflix BE | Yes (Internet + App) | Deloitte, 6th (2025) |
|
Check price | Yes, one "Belgium" location | 113 | $2.99/mo (2-yr) | 30-day | 10 / 12 / 14 by tier | AB3, Sporza, VRT; Netflix BE | Yes (Network Lock) | KPMG (2025) |
|
Check price | Yes, Brussels and Antwerp | 100 | $2.49/mo (2-yr) | 30-day | Unlimited | RTBF, Sporza; Netflix | Yes | Deloitte (2023, 2025) |
|
Check price | Yes, Brussels (200+) | 100 | $2.19/mo (2-yr) | 45-day | 7 | Tipik, RTL, La Une, VTM; Netflix BE | Yes (automatic) | Deloitte (2022, 2024, 2025) |
|
Check price | Yes, Brussels (standard + streaming) | About 113 | About $1.79 to $2.03/mo (long plan) | 30-day | Unlimited | Club RTL, VRT; Netflix BE | Yes (standard + Advanced) | Deloitte (2022) |
NordVPN's country total is the one to read loosely. It has added many virtual locations quickly, so the figure varies from page to page and over time.
How we tested and ranked VPNs for Belgium
We scored every provider on six criteria, starting with the one that rules most VPNs out. Each pick had to run servers physically in Belgium. That way your Belgian IP address comes from real hardware in the country, not a virtual location.
For streaming, we connected to each Belgian location. We checked whether VRT MAX, RTBF Auvio, VTM GO and Netflix Belgium would open from abroad. When a service threw a "VPN detected" error, switching to another Belgian server usually fixed it. For speed, we compared Belgian servers with nearby hops. From Belgium, Amsterdam is usually the closest hop and has the lowest latency, while Frankfurt, Paris and London follow close behind. On NordVPN, Surfshark and PIA, we also watched how the kill switch behaved when the connection dropped.
Privacy came next. We looked for an independently audited no-logs policy and noted where each company is based. Then we weighed price, including renewal rates and money-back terms. Ease of use came last, from first install to router setup. The final order follows the scores each VPN earned in our full reviews. CyberGhost and PIA tie at 8.4, and CyberGhost sits first because its apps suit more people.
What to look for in a VPN for Belgium
Start with server locations. You want physical servers in Belgium for Belgian TV and banking. Fast nearby options in the Netherlands, France and Germany help with everyday browsing. A second Belgian city gives you somewhere to go when one location is busy.
A kill switch blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops, so your real IP address never slips out. It matters most on public Wi-Fi at Belgian train stations, airports and cafés.
An audited no-logs policy means an outside firm has checked that the provider doesn't keep records of your activity. Look for a recent audit rather than a marketing promise.
Streaming support is the next check. A VPN needs to unblock VRT MAX, RTBF Auvio and the Belgian Netflix library. It also needs a few spare servers for the days one gets flagged. Simultaneous connections tell you how many devices one plan covers. The range here runs from 7 on CyberGhost to unlimited on Surfshark and PIA.
Price is the last check. Long plans cost far less per month, but renewal rates are often much higher. Read the second-year price before you pay.
Why you need a VPN in Belgium
You don't need a VPN to browse freely in Belgium, but there are three everyday reasons to use one. The first is public Wi-Fi. Station, airport and café hotspots are shared networks. A VPN wraps your traffic in encryption so nobody on the same network can read it.
The second is travel. Belgian broadcasters lock licensed films, series and sport to Belgium. RTBF's news and in-house productions often play worldwide without a VPN. A Belgian server gets the rest back when you're outside the country.
The third is privacy from your own internet provider. Belgian ISPs block some sites at the DNS level and keep certain user metadata under Belgian law. A VPN hides the sites you visit from your ISP. It adds an extra layer of privacy on every network you join.
How to use a VPN in Belgium and get a Belgian IP address
Getting a Belgian IP address takes a few minutes on any of the picks above.
- Pick a VPN from the list above and sign up. Every pick offers at least a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
- Download the app for your device. All five cover the main platforms (Windows, macOS, Android and iOS), and most also have apps for smart TVs.
- Open the app, search for "Belgium" in the location list, then select it and connect. On Surfshark you can choose between Brussels and Antwerp.
- Check that the connection works. Visit browserleaks to run an IP, DNS and WebRTC leak test. The results should show a Belgian IP and no trace of your real one. Our guide on how to test for DNS leaks explains what each result means.
- Open the service you want to use, such as VRT MAX, RTBF Auvio or your banking app.
Connect to a Belgian server before you open the VRT MAX or RTBF Auvio app. If the app already saw your foreign IP, close it fully and reopen it once the VPN is on.
Accessing Belgian banking from abroad
Logging in to a Belgian bank from a foreign IP address can trip fraud checks and lock your account. Connecting to a Belgian server first means your bank sees a familiar Belgian connection.
Consistency helps too. Connecting to the same Belgian location each time draws less suspicion than hopping between cities or countries. If your bank still asks for extra verification, complete the check rather than switching servers repeatedly.
Internet freedom, privacy and VPN laws in Belgium
Belgium is one of the freer countries in Europe. Freedom House rates Belgium 95/100 in its 2026 report and classes it as Free. That's down one point from last year's 96/100. Belgium also scores 4 out of 4 on people's freedom to express personal views without fear of surveillance or retribution.
As an EU member, Belgium falls under the GDPR. The regulation gives you strong rights over how companies collect and use your personal data. Data retention is the more contested area. On 26 September 2024, Belgium's Constitutional Court upheld most of the 2022 data retention law. It sent questions on mandatory location data to the EU Court of Justice, which has yet to rule. Retention periods vary by data type and by zone, so no single figure sums them up.
Is using a VPN legal in Belgium?
Yes. Using a VPN is legal in Belgium, and no law bans or restricts it. What a VPN can't do is make illegal activity legal. Downloading pirated films or music is still against the law, even over an encrypted connection. Torrenting non-copyrighted material is legal.
Torrenting and blocked sites in Belgium
The best-known block dates from September 2011. In a case brought by the Belgian Anti-Piracy Federation, the Antwerp Court of Appeals ordered Telenet and Belgacom (now Proximus) to block The Pirate Bay at the DNS level. The BAF then threatened other ISPs with legal action unless they followed suit. Today The Pirate Bay and its mirror links stay blocked on every major Belgian ISP.
The block sits alongside an important EU ruling. On November 24, 2011, the EU Court of Justice ruled in Scarlet v. SABAM, a Belgian case. It found that forcing ISPs to filter traffic violates users' privacy. The Belgian court treated DNS blocking as a separate measure.
Gambling is the other blocked category. The Gaming Commission's list of illegal gambling sites now has more than 1,000 entries, and ISPs show a stop page instead of any site on it. For legal torrenting, servers in the Netherlands, Switzerland or Belgium tend to work best. Our guide to the best VPN for torrenting covers the wider field.
How to watch Belgian TV and Netflix with a VPN
Belgian TV and Netflix both change what they show depending on where your IP address says you are. A Belgian server fixes the TV side, and it also gives you the Belgian Netflix catalogue wherever you travel.
Watching Belgian TV from abroad
Belgium's three big streaming services each lock part of their catalogue to Belgium. From abroad, you need a Belgian server to see the full offer.
- VRT MAX is the free streaming service of VRT, the Flemish public broadcaster. It carries livestreams of VRT 1, VRT Canvas and Ketnet plus on-demand VRT programmes. You need a free VRT profile.
- RTBF Auvio is the service of RTBF, the French-speaking public broadcaster. It offers La Une, Tipik and other RTBF channels live and on demand. A flag on each video shows whether it's limited to Belgium or to Europe.
- VTM GO is DPG Media's Flemish commercial service. It's free with ads, and there's also a paid VTM GO+ tier. Much of its content is limited to viewers in Belgium for licensing reasons. Access abroad depends on the tier and each programme's rights.
Outside the EU, the limits are tighter. VRT lets Belgian residents watch only its own programmes there. The livestreams drop out, along with bought-in films and documentaries. On the paid VPNs in our list, a Belgian server gave us a Belgian IP address that opened VRT MAX, RTBF Auvio and VTM GO from abroad. Free RTBF sport such as Formula 1 and MotoGP, which is geo-restricted abroad, played once we were connected to a Belgian server.
Netflix and other streaming services in Belgium
Netflix's Belgian library differs from the ones in the Netherlands, France or the US. A Belgian server keeps your usual shows in reach when you travel. NordVPN is our pick here, since Netflix Belgium streamed without buffering on its Brussels servers. Our guide on how to use a VPN with Netflix walks through the settings if a title won't load.
Belgium has plenty of other services worth keeping access to. Sporza, GoPlay, RTL Play, Proximus Pickx and Play Sports all check your location. If one shows a "VPN detected" error, switch to a different Belgian server and reload the page.
Can you use a free VPN in Belgium?
You can, but a free VPN rarely does the jobs Belgians need one for. Free services come with slow speeds, few servers, data caps and weak security. Many also log and sell user data, which defeats the point of a privacy tool.
Free plans that choose a server for you can't promise a Belgian IP address. That rules them out for Belgian TV from abroad. If you only need occasional protection on café Wi-Fi, our list of the best free VPN options covers the few that are safe to use.
A free VPN that shows ads or caps your data has to earn money somewhere. Read its privacy policy before you trust it with your banking or browsing. Avoid any service that doesn't say how it makes money.
FAQ
Do I need a VPN to watch Belgian TV inside the EU?
Is it legal to visit blocked gambling sites through a VPN in Belgium?
Will a VPN slow down my connection in Belgium?
Can I install a VPN on my Telenet or Proximus router?
Do I need a dedicated IP for Belgian banking or streaming?
Is Proton VPN's free plan good enough for Belgium?
Does the EU's streaming portability rule replace a VPN?
Final thoughts
Your best choice depends on where you'll be watching from. If you mostly travel outside the EU, a VPN is the only reliable route back to VRT MAX and Auvio. NordVPN's Brussels servers handled that best. Inside the EU, the portability rules cover much of your paid streaming. A cheaper plan like Surfshark or CyberGhost may be all you need for public Wi-Fi and the odd Belgium-only show. Heavy torrenters should go straight to PIA for its port forwarding.
