10 years on, Brussels attack victims still face compensation struggles

A decade after the 22 March 2016 attacks in Brussels, many victims are still battling a complex and often frustrating compensation system, according to victims’ associations, lawyers and survivors.

While millions have already been paid out, hundreds of cases remain unresolved, with victims continuing to navigate lengthy procedures and administrative hurdles.

Ten years after the attacks, 1,419 victims have filed compensation claims, with insurers paying out €88.2 million so far for medical care, disability, and other damages.

However, the process is far from complete. Some 986 cases were closed by the end of 2025, while 433 cases remain open. Insurers are still holding €55.9 million in reserves for future claims.

According to Assuralia spokesperson Delphine Van Bladel, uncertainty remains for many victims.

"The health of some victims has not yet stabilised," she said. "Until their condition is stable, the compensation claim cannot be definitively closed."

She added that total damages were initially estimated at €144 million, with further costs expected in the coming years.

Overall, victims’ representatives say the system remains overly complex and emotionally draining.

Valerie Gerard, lawyer for the Life4Brussels association, criticised ongoing administrative issues.

"Ten years after the attacks, the administration sometimes still reclaims amounts, leaving victims in debt to the state, while it is actually the state that owes them money.

"Victims are still confronted with a multitude of procedures that force them to relive their trauma over and over again."

Lawyers also point to structural problems in how claims are handled. Guillaume Lys, representing the V-Europe association, said insurers were unprepared for a case of this scale.

"The insurance companies were completely unprepared for a terrorism case," he said. "They found themselves lacking in empathy towards victims who didn’t understand why their claims were being handled so complicated."

For many survivors, the administrative struggle adds to the lasting physical and psychological toll of the attacks.

Sabine Dardenne, who was injured in the attacks, described the severity of her injuries: "I woke up in the hospital a month and a half later.

"My hip and vertebrae were dislocated, my hands were burned, my eardrums were perforated, and there was metal everywhere in my body."

Another survivor, Marie, criticised the role of medical assessors in the compensation process.

“The first people we talk to, and pretty much the only ones, are the insurance company doctors. I thought they were there to help us. But in fact, they downplay what we went through. They're there to reimburse you as little as possible.”

In response to ongoing criticism, justice minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) recently announced plans to simplify the system. A single point of contact, backed by a €1 million budget, is set to be introduced to guide victims through the process.

“Victims should not be forced to recount their ordeal each time. They must have a single point of contact who will support them throughout the entire process,” Verlinden said.

While the measure has been welcomed, many concerns remain. “There’s been some improvement,” said Guillaume Lys. “But insurers remain responsible for compensation. That remains a huge problem.”

As Brussels marks the 10th anniversary of the attacks, the figures highlight a stark reality, while compensation efforts have progressed, recovery for many victims is still ongoing.

For survivors and families, the anniversary is not only a moment of remembrance, but also a reminder that justice and closure remain incomplete.