Migration · Nieuwpoort
Migrant boat drifts off Nieuwpoort with about 30 men aboard, rescuers on scene
A small boat carrying about 30 men was drifting about three kilometres off Nieuwpoort on 8 November 2026, after an emergency call at 05:30. Rescue helicopter and boats were on scene, but the people aboard did not want to be taken off for the time being.
AI text based on reports by La Libre.be, NOS, De Morgen and other publishers. Published . How it is made
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In brief
The 112 centre received the call at 05:30, and the NH90 rescue helicopter located the boat shortly before 08:00, more than 3 km off Nieuwpoort, after poor visibility slowed the search.
Police said the boat was not taking on water but had lost its direction, and at 09:45 it was still more than 3 km offshore with three rescue boats on site.
Police were reviewing options, and 7sur7 reported that escorting the boat to French waters was under discussion, with no decision taken.
- 8 NovEmergency centre 112 receives a call from a small boat in distress on the North Sea.
- Shortly before 08:00The NH90 helicopter locates the boat more than 3 km off Nieuwpoort.
- 8 NovThe boat is still more than 3 km from the coast, with three rescue boats on site.
Emergency call and search
On 8 November 2026 the 112 emergency centre received a call at 05:30 from a small boat in distress on the North Sea, somewhere off the Belgian coast. Federal Police spokesperson An Berger said the vessel was a so-called small boat, but its exact position was unknown when the call came in. Rescue and police boats were sent out immediately, and the NH90 rescue helicopter took off to search for it. Poor visibility at sea made the boat hard to find, and shortly before 08:00 the helicopter located it more than three kilometres off Nieuwpoort.
Situation on the water
About 30 people were on board, and Dries Derudder of the Maritime Services Agency said all of them were men. Police said the boat was not taking on water but had lost its bearings. At 09:45 it was still more than three kilometres from the coast, and the people on board did not want to be taken off for the time being. Three rescue boats were stationed nearby to monitor the situation and to intervene if the safety of those on board required it.
“There are only men on board the boat.”
Options still open
Police were reviewing what should happen to the boat and the people on board, according to VRT. 7sur7 reported that one option under discussion was to escort the boat towards French waters, as has often happened in the past, but that nothing had been decided. It is not clear where the boat had set off from. The situation at sea was still being monitored when the reports were published.
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Sources and context
- La Libre.beA boat with about thirty people on board drifting off the coast of NieuwpoortUn bateau avec une trentaine de personnes à bord à la dérive au large de Nieuport · original in French
- NOSBoat with about thirty migrants drifting off the Belgian coastBoot met dertigtal migranten dobbert voor Belgische kust · original in Dutch
- De MorgenAbout thirty migrants drifting in a small boat off the coast of Nieuwpoort: “Clearly lost its bearings, but not taking on water”Dertigtal migranten dobberen in bootje voor kust van Nieuwspoort: 'Duidelijk de richting kwijt, maar maakt geen water' · original in Dutch
- vrtnws.beSmall boat with about 30 transmigrants drifting off the coast of Nieuwpoort, 3 rescue boats on siteBootje met 30-tal transmigranten dobbert voor kust van Nieuwpoort, 3 reddingsboten ter plaatse · original in Dutch
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