Beneficiaries of international protection are allowed to freely move within Belgium. Their freedom of movement is not restricted in any way. In October 2016, the Reference Point Migration-Integration released statistics showing that recognised refugees or beneficiaries of international protection often move after their recognition.[1] Preferred destinations are major cities such as Antwerp, Brussels or Ghent, whereas Wallonia in general and smaller towns in Flanders are not among the first choices.[2]
[1] Reference Point Migration-Integration, Monitoring movements, October 2016, available in Dutch at: http://bit.ly/2kWCIdt.
[2] De Standaard, ‘Vluchtelingen vluchten weg uit Wallonië’, 3 November 2016, available in Dutch at: http://bit.ly/2jx04dh.