U.S. Army Garrison Brussels

Branch: U.S. Army
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Installation Type: U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) / Leased Installation
Status: Active

Overview

U.S. Army Garrison Brussels (part of USAG Benelux) is a leased installation on the northeastern edge of Brussels, Belgium, established in 1967 when NATO Headquarters relocated from Paris to Brussels. The garrison serves as the U.S. Army’s presence in the Belgian capital and the primary support hub for U.S. government personnel assigned to NATO Headquarters and other Brussels-area organizations. USAG Brussels is administratively part of USAG Benelux, which oversees U.S. military communities in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, under U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Provide installation support and services to U.S. military and civilian personnel assigned to NATO Headquarters Brussels and other U.S. government entities in the greater Brussels area; enable joint and multinational operations.
Major Units: Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), Allied Forces North Battalion, U.S. Army NATO Brigade; U.S. military personnel assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and NATO HQ Brussels
Tenant Units: Multiple U.S. military service components assigned to NATO billets; Defense Attache Office; various U.S. government civilian agencies

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Brussels city center – approximately 5-10 km from installation; Antwerp, Belgium – approximately 45 km north; Ghent, Belgium – approximately 55 km west
Nearest Commercial Airport: Brussels Airport (BRU) – approximately 15 km northeast; Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) – approximately 55 km south
Gate Access: Leased installation with controlled access; CAC or military ID required; visitor access requires sponsor coordination; smaller installation than typical CONUS bases

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 500-1,000 (primarily NATO-billetted U.S. military and family members)
Family Members: Approximately 500-1,000
Civilian Employees: Approximately 200-400
Total Installation Population: Not publicly available (varies with NATO rotations)

Key Facilities

Medical: Brussels Health Clinic on post; primary care and preventive medicine; specialty referrals to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany or local Belgian hospitals; TRICARE network provides access to Belgian healthcare system
Commissary: Limited; access to SHAPE Commissary at Mons (approximately 65 km south) or Chievres Air Base commissary for larger shopping runs; some commissary services may be available on-site
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Limited on-site; AAFES services accessible; Chievres Air Base AAFES for full exchange shopping (approximately 65 km south)
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness facilities on post; MWR programs; extensive European travel opportunities; ITT/ITR travel services
Schools: DoDEA-operated Brussels American School serves dependent children; Brussels also has numerous high-quality international schools; contact School Liaison Office for current options
Childcare: Child Development Center or childcare coordination through garrison; Brussels has numerous Belgian and international childcare options; costs in Brussels are high
Veterinary Services: Veterinary services coordinated through USAG Benelux; nearest full military vet services may be at SHAPE (Mons) or Chievres; Belgian civilian veterinarians widely available
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office through USAG Benelux; contact garrison for appointment; Belgian civilian attorneys available locally

Housing

On-Post Housing: Limited government housing on the leased Brussels installation; approximately 100-200 units; most families assigned to NATO-billetted positions live in Belgian economy housing; Belgian housing market is robust
Average Wait Time: Not publicly available; on-post units highly sought; many families go directly to Belgian economy housing
Off-Post Housing: Brussels is a major European capital with extensive rental market; average rent for 3-4 bedroom apartment/house in Brussels suburbs approximately EUR 1,500-2,500/month; neighborhoods such as Tervuren, Wezembeek-Oppem, and Kraainem are popular with NATO/EU families; cost of living in Brussels is high
BAH Rate Reference: Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) applies; Brussels OHA rates among the higher in USAREUR-AF due to Belgian real estate costs; check current OHA rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit/organization through USAG Brussels upon receipt of orders; HHC Allied Forces North Battalion coordinates unit-level sponsorship; welcome packets provided; both official and personal passports are recommended before departure
In-Processing: Report to Brussels Health Clinic for medical in-processing; administrative in-processing through garrison and assigned NATO/U.S. organization; USAG Benelux in-processing guide available at home.army.mil/benelux
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Army Community Service through USAG Benelux; enrollment required prior to PCS; Brussels has excellent medical facilities including multiple university hospitals with specialists; TRICARE provides access to Belgian healthcare network

OCONUS-Specific Information

SOFA Status: Belgium is covered by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (NATO SOFA) as a member nation; U.S. personnel serving in NATO billets also covered by the Ottawa Agreement (a supplementary NATO headquarters agreement); generally favorable conditions for assigned personnel regarding jurisdiction and customs
Host Nation Rules: Belgian traffic law applies off-post; speed limits in km/h; blood alcohol limit 0.05%; French and Dutch (Flemish) are co-official languages in Brussels (officially bilingual city); most Belgians in Brussels speak some English; shops typically closed Sunday; Belgian labor law and rental regulations apply to off-post leases
Curfew Policy: No formal curfew for adults; unit commanders may impose restrictions; Belgium has no general curfew
Ration Card / Customs: NATO SOFA provisions allow some duty-free import of personal goods; limited ration card system compared to large USAREUR garrisons; check current USAG Benelux policies with the customs/ration control office
Vehicle Registration & Licensing: USAREUR driving license valid in Belgium; Belgian registration required for POVs driven on Belgian roads beyond temporary import period; contact Motor Vehicle Registry through USAG Benelux; left-hand traffic applies (same as U.S. – drive on right); Belgian roundabouts (priority to traffic already in roundabout)
Language & Culture: French and Dutch/Flemish both official in Brussels; English widely spoken especially near NATO HQ and EU institutions; ACS provides cultural orientation; Belgian culture values privacy and formality; excellent food and chocolate culture; extensive public transportation (Metro, tram, bus)
Currency & Banking: Euro (EUR); banking facilities on or near post; major Belgian and international banks in Brussels; USAA and other U.S. banks accessible via ATM; NATO Credit Union may be available to eligible personnel
Travel Restrictions: Schengen Area accessible for personal travel; Netherlands, Germany, France, Luxembourg all within 1-3 hours; command approval required for travel to high-risk areas per USAREUR-AF policy
Mail: APO AE 09708 (Brussels); typical CONUS-to-APO delivery 7-14 days; Belgian postal service (bpost) available for local and international parcels
Pets: Belgium has no general quarantine for dogs/cats entering from the U.S. if properly vaccinated (rabies) and microchipped (ISO 15-digit); EU pet passport or USDA-endorsed health certificate required; breed restrictions in Belgium: American Staffordshire Terriers, pit bulls, and similar breeds face restrictions in some Belgian regions; check current Belgian federal and regional regulations before PCS

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Temperate maritime; mild summers (average 22C/72F in July); cool wet winters (average 3C/37F in January); frequent overcast and rain year-round; little snow but occasional frost in winter
Cost of Living: High relative to national U.S. average; Brussels is one of Western Europe’s most expensive cities; OHA and COLA adjustments help offset costs; Belgian groceries and restaurants comparable to other Western European capitals; NATO-assigned personnel typically receive enhanced allowances
Nearby Attractions: Brussels Grand Place (UNESCO World Heritage Site); Bruges (medieval city, 100 km); Ghent (historic canal city, 55 km); Amsterdam (2 hours); Paris (1.5 hours by Thalys train); Ardennes hiking and WWII Battle of the Bulge sites (2 hours)
Spouse Employment: Brussels is a major diplomatic and EU center with significant English-language employment opportunities; EU institutions, international organizations, NGOs, and multinational corporations offer employment; many NATO spouses find work in the international community; ACS Employment Readiness Program can assist

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://home.army.mil/benelux
Main Installation Phone: DSN 361-1110; civilian +32-2-717-9705 (USAG Benelux Brussels)
MWR Website: https://benelux.armymwr.com
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Army Community Service (ACS), USAG Benelux; contact through garrison main line; relocation assistance, financial readiness, employment readiness, cultural orientation

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://home.army.mil/benelux; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/usag-benelux-brussels-schinnen; https://militarybases.com/overseas/belgium/benelux; https://www.usanato.army.mil; Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law