How to Watch Brussels by Night on Netflix in the US with a VPN (2026)

Brussels by Night (1983), the Belgian drama directed by Marc Didden, appears in Netflix Belgium’s catalog. The film follows Max, a deeply troubled man wandering through Brussels while forming unexpected connections with strangers. It stars François Beukelaers, Ingrid De Vos, Amid Chakir, and Michiel Mentens. The official Netflix Belgium page for Brussels by Night identifies Flemish as the original audio language and lists English, French, German, and Dutch subtitles.

However, Brussels by Night is no longer available on Netflix US as of October 2026. Netflix catalog tracker Flixboss records the film’s removal from the American catalog on September 2, 2026. Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN all offer Belgian VPN server connections that can provide Belgian IP addresses. These providers differ in their server selections, connection protocols, and streaming features.

Connecting to a Belgian VPN server does not guarantee access to Brussels by Night through Netflix. The service may detect VPN connections and restrict viewers to movies with worldwide licensing. Netflix explains these limitations in its official VPN support policy. Users must also follow their VPN provider’s terms and Netflix’s applicable conditions.

How to watch Brussels by Night on Netflix with a VPN

Netflix Belgium has an official listing for Brussels by Night, but establishing a Belgian VPN connection does not automatically provide access to its regional catalog. If Netflix and your VPN provider permit the connection, follow these eight steps to check whether the movie is available.

1. Choose a VPN service. Private Internet Access is our Editor’s Choice for its documented Belgian server options, followed by ExpressVPN and NordVPN. Review each provider’s restrictions before subscribing.
2. Download and install the official VPN application on your Windows PC, Mac, smartphone, or another supported device. Open the application and sign in.
3. Open the VPN server list and select Belgium. Choose a documented Belgian location rather than allowing the application to connect to another country automatically.
4. Fully close Netflix, including any open browser tabs and applications running in the background.
5. After establishing the VPN connection, reopen the Netflix website or application.
6. Sign in using your existing Netflix account credentials. Connecting through a VPN does not require creating another account.
7. Search for Brussels by Night (1983). Confirm that the result identifies the Belgian drama directed by Marc Didden.
8. If Netflix displays the movie and permits playback, select it and start watching. If the title remains unavailable or Netflix reports a VPN error, follow Netflix’s official guidance.

Brussels by Night follows Max, a man struggling with despair who travels through Brussels and meets several people, including Alice, a waitress, Abdel, a Moroccan tram driver, and Louis, a former colleague. Their encounters gradually lead toward a tragic conclusion.

The movie uses Brussels itself as an important part of its storytelling. Its streets, nighttime atmosphere, and characters reflect Max’s emotional isolation. The film has become an important example of Belgian cinema from the 1980s.

The official Belgian Netflix listing for Brussels by Night identifies Flemish as the original audio language. It also lists German, English, French, and Dutch subtitles, making the film accessible to viewers who do not understand Flemish.

However, Netflix’s regional pages have produced inconsistent availability results. One Belgian page displayed the movie without an unavailability warning and included an offline download option, while other language versions returned warnings. Flixboss Belgium lists Netflix availability, but JustWatch Belgium’s September 18, 2026 check identified Sooner and Telenet instead. These differences make it important to verify the movie before paying for a VPN.

Best VPNs for watching Brussels by Night on Netflix

Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN all support Belgian connections. They offer different approaches to server selection, encrypted protocols, and streaming performance.

The comparison below uses officially documented Belgian locations. A successful Belgian VPN connection does not guarantee access to Netflix Belgium.

VPN	Server locations in Belgium	Option to try first
Private Internet Access (Editor’s Choice)	Belgium and BE Streaming Optimized	Belgium for permitted connections; BE Streaming Optimized for eligible streaming activity
ExpressVPN	Belgium, with physical infrastructure documented in Brussels	Belgium
NordVPN	Belgium, with Brussels explicitly documented	Automatically selected Belgium server

All three providers offer Belgian IP addresses, but Netflix may recognize VPN traffic and restrict access to movies licensed only in Belgium. None of these providers guarantees that Brussels by Night will appear or play.

1. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is our Editor’s Choice because it offers a straightforward Belgian server selection, a dedicated streaming-optimized connection, and flexible VPN settings.

According to the official PIA server directory, the provider offers two Belgian locations: Belgium and BE Streaming Optimized.

The standard Belgium location provides a regular Belgian VPN connection. BE Streaming Optimized is a specialized location that PIA offers for permitted streaming activities.

For legitimate Belgian VPN use, the standard Belgium connection is a sensible starting point. It allows users to establish a Belgian IP address without choosing the specialized streaming location.

To connect, open the PIA application and select the VPN SERVER section. Search for Belgium and choose the regular Belgian connection.

To find the specialized server, enter streaming into the server search field. The application will display the available streaming-optimized locations, including BE Streaming Optimized.

However, PIA has an important restriction that American viewers must understand.

According to the company’s official streaming support guide, customers should connect to a VPN server in the country where they currently reside.

PIA also explicitly prohibits using its service to circumvent geographical restrictions imposed by content providers. Therefore, US viewers should not interpret the existence of Belgian streaming servers as permission to bypass Netflix Belgium’s licensing rules.

For permitted connections, PIA supports WireGuard and OpenVPN. These protocols encrypt internet traffic while offering different performance characteristics.

WireGuard provides efficient encrypted connections with relatively low overhead. It is a practical initial choice when connection responsiveness and speed matter.

OpenVPN provides additional flexibility, including UDP and TCP transport modes. UDP generally emphasizes speed, while TCP can help maintain connectivity on networks that interfere with certain VPN connections.

Users can select their preferred protocol through the application’s Settings menu.

If a connection becomes unstable, disconnecting and changing protocols may help determine whether the problem comes from local network conditions or the VPN configuration.

PIA also distinguishes physical servers from virtual server locations. A virtual location assigns an IP address associated with one country while routing traffic through infrastructure physically located somewhere else.

Belgium does not appear in PIA’s published list of virtual server locations. Its documentation therefore does not identify the regular Belgian connection as a virtual location hosted in another country.

You can review the official PIA virtual server documentation for further information.

Connection stability matters when streaming video. A VPN can introduce additional latency because traffic travels through another server before reaching its destination.

For users physically located far from Belgium, such as in the United States, the extra network distance can affect loading times and performance.

PIA recommends clearing browser cookies and cached files, updating the VPN application, and disconnecting and reconnecting when users encounter technical problems during permitted streaming activity.

Users can also compare the standard Belgium location with BE Streaming Optimized when their usage complies with PIA’s restrictions.

However, Netflix detection remains a separate limitation. Switching between Belgian VPN connections cannot guarantee access to Brussels by Night.

Private Internet Access ranks first because of its documented Belgian locations, protocol flexibility, and streaming-related features. Its geographical-access restrictions remain an important consideration for US subscribers.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN offers a Belgian VPN location with physical server infrastructure documented in Brussels.

Its official Belgium VPN page explains how users can establish a Belgian connection through the application.

Unlike countries where ExpressVPN lists multiple distinct cities, its public server directory identifies Belgium as a single location. Users should not assume that additional Belgian cities are available without confirming them in the application.

For a permitted Belgian connection, select Belgium directly from the server directory.

To connect, open ExpressVPN and access the VPN Locations menu. Search for Belgium, select the country, and establish the connection.

ExpressVPN also offers Smart Location, which recommends a VPN server based on factors such as distance, speed, and latency.

However, Smart Location may select a nearby country instead of Belgium. Users who specifically require a Belgian IP address should select Belgium manually.

According to the official ExpressVPN server directory, its Belgian location supports Lightway UDP, Lightway TCP, WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, and OpenVPN TCP.

The directory also lists IKEv2 support, although available protocols depend on the operating system and application.

Lightway is ExpressVPN’s proprietary VPN protocol, designed for efficient connection establishment and reliable operation when network conditions change.

WireGuard offers another modern protocol option, while OpenVPN provides additional flexibility for users who need different connection settings.

For ordinary browsing or permitted streaming, Lightway is a reasonable starting point. Users experiencing technical problems can compare supported protocols to determine which works best on their network.

ExpressVPN also distinguishes physical server infrastructure from virtual locations.

With a virtual VPN location, a provider assigns an IP address associated with one country while hosting the actual server hardware elsewhere.

Belgium does not appear in ExpressVPN’s official virtual-location list. The provider also identifies genuine Belgian server infrastructure on its country-specific page.

Its virtual server documentation explains that locations outside the published virtual list use physical infrastructure in their advertised countries.

ExpressVPN therefore documents Belgium as a physically hosted location rather than a virtual Belgian IP address routed through another country.

The provider also offers several networking features intended to improve reliability, including automatic connection management and features that help maintain encrypted traffic on restrictive networks.

However, these capabilities do not override content licensing rules.

For streaming performance, users should consider their local internet connection, network congestion, and the distance to the Belgian server.

A stable connection may provide smoother video playback than a connection with high advertised speed but frequent interruptions.

If the VPN becomes unstable, users can disconnect and reconnect to Belgium, restart the application, or try another supported protocol.

ExpressVPN also provides technical support for identifying problems with VPN connections on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Netflix may still recognize the Belgian connection as VPN traffic and limit the available movie catalog.

ExpressVPN ranks second because of its documented physical Belgian infrastructure, Lightway support, WireGuard compatibility, and straightforward server selection.

Nevertheless, it cannot guarantee that Netflix will display Brussels by Night to a subscriber connecting from the United States.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN provides Belgian VPN connections through its server network and offers automatic server selection, NordLynx, and SmartPlay.

According to NordVPN’s official Belgium server page, users can establish a Belgian connection through the country’s location on the application map.

The provider explicitly identifies Brussels as a Belgian destination. It does not provide a clearly verifiable current Belgium-specific server count on that page, so users should consult the application rather than rely on an outdated figure.

To establish a connection, open NordVPN and search for Belgium in the country list. Select the country and allow the application to choose an available server.

NordVPN’s automatic selection system considers network conditions and connection requirements when recommending a server.

Users who prefer manual configuration can access the available servers through the application or NordVPN’s server recommendation tools.

Brussels is the documented Belgian destination, and users should confirm any other available locations before selecting them.

NordVPN also offers NordLynx, its VPN protocol built around WireGuard technology.

According to the company’s official NordLynx documentation, the protocol aims to improve connection efficiency while maintaining encryption and privacy protections.

Users can select NordLynx through the VPN application’s protocol settings on supported devices.

OpenVPN and other supported protocols provide alternatives when a particular network interferes with the current connection.

Another feature is SmartPlay, which NordVPN includes with its applications.

The company’s official SmartPlay documentation explains that the technology combines VPN security with DNS-related functionality.

SmartPlay activates automatically when users connect through a NordVPN application. It does not require a separate extension, additional subscription, or manual activation.

However, SmartPlay does not override Netflix’s licensing agreements or guarantee access to another country’s movie catalog.

Netflix may recognize a NordVPN connection and limit the available titles to movies with worldwide streaming rights.

For permitted Belgian connections, NordVPN’s automatic server selection is a practical starting point.

If the connection experiences instability, users can disconnect and reconnect or choose another available Belgian server through the application’s location controls.

Changing protocols may also help identify connection problems caused by local network restrictions.

Network performance depends on several factors, including server load, internet quality, and geographic distance.

Users connecting from the United States may encounter greater latency when routing traffic through Belgium compared with using a nearby American server.

NordVPN also updates its server infrastructure periodically. Available servers and locations may change, so the application provides the most useful source for current connection choices.

NordVPN ranks third for its documented Brussels destination, automatic server selection, NordLynx, and SmartPlay.

However, none of these features guarantees access to Brussels by Night through Netflix Belgium.

What to do if Brussels by Night does not appear

If Brussels by Night does not appear in Netflix search results, the problem may involve regional licensing, VPN detection, outdated browser data, or Netflix profile settings. For permitted VPN connections, these eight troubleshooting steps can help identify technical issues.

1. Close Netflix completely, including all open browser tabs and applications running in the background.
2. Disconnect from your current VPN server.
3. Reconnect to Belgium using a connection permitted by Netflix and your VPN provider.
4. Try another available Belgian server or location if the original connection experiences technical problems.
5. Clear Netflix-related cookies and browser cache to remove outdated session information.
6. Open an incognito or private browser window to determine whether existing browser data contributes to the problem.
7. Reopen Netflix and sign in using your existing account credentials.
8. Search for Brussels by Night (1983) again and check whether Netflix displays the correct movie and permits playback.

Private Internet Access users can compare Belgium with BE Streaming Optimized for activities that comply with its service restrictions. PIA explicitly prohibits circumventing geographical restrictions imposed by content providers.

ExpressVPN users can reconnect through the documented Belgium location or change supported protocols when diagnosing connection instability.

NordVPN users can reconnect through automatic Belgium selection or choose another available Belgian server using the application’s location controls.

Changing servers may improve ordinary network connectivity, but it does not guarantee that Netflix will display Brussels by Night.

If the movie remains unavailable, review your Netflix profile’s maturity rating and language preferences.

Netflix Belgium lists the film with a 12 age classification. A profile with a lower maturity limit may hide the title from search results.

The film uses Flemish original audio and lists English, French, German, and Dutch subtitles. Checking profile language preferences may help identify whether Netflix’s search settings affect the title’s visibility.

Netflix’s official missing-title troubleshooting guide explains that licensing restrictions, VPN detection, maturity settings, blocked titles, and language preferences can affect movie availability.

Also confirm that you are searching for the 1983 Belgian film directed by Marc Didden. Other films with Brussels in their titles are unrelated productions.

Netflix may recognize VPN connections and restrict access to regionally licensed movies even when the VPN successfully assigns a Belgian IP address.

If Netflix reports a VPN-related error, follow its recommendation to disconnect the VPN. Users must also comply with their VPN provider’s applicable terms.

Netflix may detect the VPN

A VPN routes internet traffic through a remote server and changes the public IP address that websites and streaming platforms see.

When someone connects to a Belgian VPN server, websites may identify the connection as originating from Belgium rather than the user’s actual physical location.

However, a Belgian IP address does not automatically provide access to every movie licensed for Netflix Belgium.

Netflix maintains separate regional catalogs because studios and distributors license movies and television shows for different countries.

The streaming service also uses systems that recognize certain VPN and proxy connections.

When Netflix detects a VPN, it may restrict viewers to movies and television shows with worldwide licensing.

This means Brussels by Night can appear in Belgium’s regular Netflix catalog while remaining unavailable to someone connecting through a Belgian VPN server from the United States.

Users may encounter missing search results, unavailable-title notices, or playback errors.

Netflix’s official VPN support documentation explains these restrictions and recommends disabling the VPN when it interferes with access to content available in the viewer’s actual region.

Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN cannot independently change Netflix’s regional licensing agreements.

Their Belgian server networks provide encrypted connections and privacy-related features, not guaranteed access to Belgium’s Netflix movie catalog.

Can you use a Netflix ad-supported plan with a VPN?

No. Netflix explicitly states that its ad-supported experience does not support VPN connections.

Subscribers with an ad-supported plan may encounter playback errors when they attempt to watch Netflix through a VPN or proxy service.

Netflix identifies error E121 as one possible indication that the platform has detected an unsupported VPN connection.

According to the company’s official guidance for VPN errors on ad-supported plans, disconnecting the VPN is the recommended solution.

An ad-free Netflix subscription avoids this particular plan restriction.

However, regional licensing restrictions and VPN detection can still apply to ad-free subscriptions.

Consequently, switching to an ad-free plan does not guarantee that an American subscriber can watch Brussels by Night through Netflix Belgium.

Users should verify the movie’s current availability and review their subscription before purchasing another plan solely to access one title.

Does changing the VPN location change your Netflix account?

Connecting through a Belgian VPN server does not automatically change your Netflix username, password, profiles, subscription, or billing information.

A VPN primarily changes the visible public IP address associated with your internet connection.

It does not convert an existing American Netflix account into a Belgian account.

Netflix maintains different movie catalogs around the world because content licensing varies by country.

According to Netflix’s account country guidance, subscribers generally cannot change the country associated with their Netflix account unless they move to another country.

The platform may also recognize VPN traffic and restrict the displayed catalog to movies with worldwide licensing.

For Brussels by Night, establishing a Belgian VPN connection does not automatically alter your account or guarantee access to the film.

US viewers can check current streaming listings before subscribing to another service. Flixboss currently reports that Netflix US does not carry Brussels by Night, while Belgian streaming tracker JustWatch has listed Sooner and Telenet as local alternatives.

These Belgian services are not necessarily available to viewers in the United States. No independently confirmed current US streaming alternative emerged from the checks used for this article.

Which VPN should you use?

Private Internet Access is our Editor’s Choice because it offers the documented Belgium and BE Streaming Optimized connections, WireGuard and OpenVPN support, and flexible connection settings. However, PIA explicitly prohibits circumventing geographical restrictions imposed by content providers and instructs customers to select a server matching their current country. US subscribers must consider that restriction before attempting to access Netflix Belgium.

ExpressVPN provides a documented Belgium connection with physical infrastructure in Brussels, along with Lightway, WireGuard, and OpenVPN support on compatible devices. NordVPN offers Belgian connections with Brussels explicitly identified, automatic server selection, NordLynx, and SmartPlay. Both providers offer useful features for secure Belgian VPN connections, but neither guarantees access to Netflix Belgium.

Brussels by Night (1983) appears in Netflix Belgium’s catalog, while the US catalog tracker records its removal on September 2, 2026. The official Belgian Netflix listing and Flixboss support Belgian availability, although other Netflix page versions and JustWatch Belgium have produced conflicting results. Regional licensing, VPN detection, subscription restrictions, and VPN provider terms mean playback from the United States is not guaranteed.