SmogRank / Episodes / Belgium
Belgium and The Netherlands, May 2024
For 2 days, from 9 to 10 May 2024, 18 cities in Belgium and The Netherlands had PM2.5 at least twice their usual for the time of year. The worst reading was Menen, Flanders, Belgium: 38.5 µg/m³ on 10 May, about 3.8× its usual 10.2.
No cause named We have no fire or smoke records for these days, so we only say what the measurements show.
Cities reached 18 in 2 countries
Days 2 9 to 10 May 2024
Worst day 10 May 18 cities counted
Furthest above usual 4.1× Andenne
Day by day
Play 10 May 18 cities at twice their usual or more
Willebroek Stabroek Zaventem Tournai Kapellen Charleroi Spijkenisse Aarschot Maassluis 's-Gravenzande Schiedam Breda Rotterdam Namur Ridderkerk The Hague Mol Hillegom Hasselt Houthalen IJsselstein Badhoevedorp Flémalle-Haute Maarssen Velserbroek Velsen-Zuid Utrecht Eindhoven Marche-en-Famenne Amsterdam Zaanstad Liège Purmerend Barneveld Heerlen Nijmegen Medemblik Venray Eupen Aachen Venlo Nettetal Jülich Mönchengladbach Esch-sur-Alzette Jüchen Luxembourg Krefeld Bergheim Canterbury Clacton-on-Sea Wesel Düsseldorf Duisburg Ratingen Oberhausen Norwich Trier Köln Bottrop Borken Leverkusen Essen Bonn Enschede Gelsenkirchen Wuppertal Dillingen Canvey Island Gillingham Hattingen Groningen Datteln Grays Saarbrücken Hagen Dortmund Neuwied Newmarket Dartford Schwerte Dagenham Bexley Bendorf Lüdenscheid Koblenz Seaford Lingen Unna Münster Brighton London Bad Kreuznach Kaiserslautern Limburg an der Lahn Netphen Biggleswade Soest Hayes Osnabrück Friesoythe Wiesbaden Warstein Mainz Kehl Rüsselsheim am Main Königstein im Taunus Worms Hattersheim Bielefeld Eschborn Lampertheim Ludwigshafen am Rhein Gießen Mannheim Oldenburg Reading Speyer Frankfurt am Main Marburg an der Lahn Northampton Baden-Baden Darmstadt Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Bensheim Karlsruhe Portsmouth Heidelberg Hanau am Main Wiesloch Oxford Delmenhorst Pforzheim Michelstadt Großostheim Rinteln Bremen Oyten Herrenberg Antwerp Maldegem Beveren Izegem Zwijndrecht Evergem Mechelen Tilburg Grimbergen Koksijde Roeselare Brussels Lochristi Gent Kortrijk Menen Mons Andenne 6 May 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Every measured city in the area, coloured by its PM2.5 that day; a dark ring marks a city at twice its usual or more. Bars: cities counted each day, coloured by their median level. Choose a day or press play; without JavaScript, the days link to that day's world ranking.
How it spread
Menen Menen, 6 May: 8.6 µg/m³ Menen, 7 May: 22.4 µg/m³ Menen, 8 May: 10.7 µg/m³ Menen, 9 May: 27.8 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 10.2 Menen, 10 May: 38.5 µg/m³, 3.8× its usual 10.2 Menen, 11 May: 24.3 µg/m³ Menen, 12 May: 14.4 µg/m³ Menen, 13 May: 19.0 µg/m³ Evergem Evergem, 6 May: 9.3 µg/m³ Evergem, 7 May: 18.7 µg/m³ Evergem, 8 May: 7.8 µg/m³ Evergem, 9 May: 27.8 µg/m³, 2.6× its usual 10.6 Evergem, 10 May: 33.3 µg/m³, 3.1× its usual 10.6 Evergem, 11 May: 21.4 µg/m³ Evergem, 12 May: 16.9 µg/m³ Evergem, 13 May: 13.2 µg/m³ Roeselare Roeselare, 6 May: 9.9 µg/m³ Roeselare, 7 May: 21.4 µg/m³ Roeselare, 8 May: 9.4 µg/m³ Roeselare, 9 May: 27.3 µg/m³, 2.5× its usual 11.0 Roeselare, 10 May: 35.9 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 10.8 Roeselare, 11 May: 25.0 µg/m³ Roeselare, 12 May: 16.0 µg/m³ Roeselare, 13 May: 18.0 µg/m³ Lochristi Lochristi, 6 May: 8.6 µg/m³ Lochristi, 7 May: 20.3 µg/m³ Lochristi, 8 May: 9.2 µg/m³ Lochristi, 9 May: 26.5 µg/m³, 2.8× its usual 9.5 Lochristi, 10 May: 32.4 µg/m³, 3.4× its usual 9.5 Lochristi, 11 May: 20.9 µg/m³ Lochristi, 12 May: 14.1 µg/m³ Lochristi, 13 May: 11.1 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht Zwijndrecht, 6 May: 9.6 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 7 May: 15.5 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 8 May: 9.2 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 9 May: 25.5 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 9.3 Zwijndrecht, 10 May: 27.6 µg/m³, 3.0× its usual 9.3 Zwijndrecht, 11 May: 19.4 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 12 May: 11.8 µg/m³ Zwijndrecht, 13 May: 8.0 µg/m³ Izegem Izegem, 6 May: 7.4 µg/m³ Izegem, 7 May: 16.6 µg/m³ Izegem, 8 May: 8.2 µg/m³ Izegem, 9 May: 25.0 µg/m³, 2.3× its usual 11.1 Izegem, 10 May: 31.5 µg/m³, 2.9× its usual 11.0 Izegem, 11 May: 19.3 µg/m³ Izegem, 12 May: 12.7 µg/m³ Izegem, 13 May: 11.2 µg/m³ Kortrijk Kortrijk, 6 May: 7.9 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 7 May: 18.4 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 8 May: 9.7 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 9 May: 24.1 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 10 May: 36.8 µg/m³, 3.6× its usual 10.3 Kortrijk, 11 May: 21.9 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 12 May: 11.9 µg/m³ Kortrijk, 13 May: 10.4 µg/m³ Gent Gent, 6 May: 7.6 µg/m³ Gent, 7 May: 16.8 µg/m³ Gent, 8 May: 8.3 µg/m³ Gent, 9 May: 23.1 µg/m³ Gent, 10 May: 31.7 µg/m³, 3.5× its usual 9.0 Gent, 11 May: 19.6 µg/m³ Gent, 12 May: 12.9 µg/m³ Gent, 13 May: 9.3 µg/m³ Koksijde Koksijde, 6 May: 9.6 µg/m³ Koksijde, 7 May: 19.5 µg/m³ Koksijde, 8 May: 7.8 µg/m³ Koksijde, 9 May: 20.0 µg/m³ Koksijde, 10 May: 30.8 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 9.3 Koksijde, 11 May: 28.7 µg/m³ Koksijde, 12 May: 17.9 µg/m³ Koksijde, 13 May: 22.7 µg/m³ Grimbergen Grimbergen, 6 May: 6.3 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 7 May: 15.0 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 8 May: 12.0 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 9 May: 18.9 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 10 May: 28.3 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 8.6 Grimbergen, 11 May: 17.1 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 12 May: 12.3 µg/m³ Grimbergen, 13 May: 7.2 µg/m³ Mons Mons, 6 May: 2.6 µg/m³ Mons, 7 May: 11.8 µg/m³ Mons, 8 May: 14.3 µg/m³ Mons, 9 May: 20.8 µg/m³ Mons, 10 May: 27.7 µg/m³, 3.9× its usual 7.1 Mons, 11 May: 16.8 µg/m³ Mons, 12 May: 10.2 µg/m³ Mons, 13 May: 6.5 µg/m³ Brussels Brussels, 6 May: 5.9 µg/m³ Brussels, 7 May: 14.2 µg/m³ Brussels, 8 May: 12.0 µg/m³ Brussels, 9 May: 19.1 µg/m³ Brussels, 10 May: 27.6 µg/m³, 3.4× its usual 8.2 Brussels, 11 May: 16.6 µg/m³ Brussels, 12 May: 11.3 µg/m³ Brussels, 13 May: 7.4 µg/m³ Tilburg Tilburg, 6 May: 15.8 µg/m³ Tilburg, 7 May: 11.6 µg/m³ Tilburg, 8 May: 12.7 µg/m³ Tilburg, 9 May: 19.3 µg/m³ Tilburg, 10 May: 27.2 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 8.3 Tilburg, 11 May: 17.8 µg/m³ Tilburg, 12 May: 10.2 µg/m³ Tilburg, 13 May: 6.8 µg/m³ Mechelen Mechelen, 6 May: 6.3 µg/m³ Mechelen, 7 May: 12.8 µg/m³ Mechelen, 8 May: 10.3 µg/m³ Mechelen, 9 May: 18.0 µg/m³ Mechelen, 10 May: 26.2 µg/m³, 3.3× its usual 7.9 Mechelen, 11 May: 16.0 µg/m³ Mechelen, 12 May: 11.4 µg/m³ Mechelen, 13 May: 6.5 µg/m³ Andenne Andenne, 6 May: 0.9 µg/m³ Andenne, 7 May: 9.3 µg/m³ Andenne, 8 May: 14.9 µg/m³ Andenne, 9 May: 22.5 µg/m³ Andenne, 10 May: 25.3 µg/m³, 4.1× its usual 6.1 Andenne, 11 May: 23.2 µg/m³ Andenne, 12 May: 7.1 µg/m³ Andenne, 13 May: 4.0 µg/m³ Beveren Beveren, 6 May: 8.9 µg/m³ Beveren, 7 May: 14.7 µg/m³ Beveren, 8 May: 7.6 µg/m³ Beveren, 9 May: 21.3 µg/m³ Beveren, 10 May: 25.2 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 9.2 Beveren, 11 May: 16.1 µg/m³ Beveren, 12 May: 10.7 µg/m³ Beveren, 13 May: 7.2 µg/m³ Maldegem Maldegem, 6 May: 8.3 µg/m³ Maldegem, 7 May: 18.1 µg/m³ Maldegem, 8 May: 6.5 µg/m³ Maldegem, 9 May: 20.1 µg/m³ Maldegem, 10 May: 25.0 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 9.3 Maldegem, 11 May: 24.4 µg/m³ Maldegem, 12 May: 15.4 µg/m³ Maldegem, 13 May: 16.6 µg/m³ Antwerp Antwerp, 6 May: 8.7 µg/m³ Antwerp, 7 May: 14.4 µg/m³ Antwerp, 8 May: 9.3 µg/m³ Antwerp, 9 May: 22.2 µg/m³ Antwerp, 10 May: 25.0 µg/m³, 2.7× its usual 9.1 Antwerp, 11 May: 17.8 µg/m³ Antwerp, 12 May: 11.4 µg/m³ Antwerp, 13 May: 7.2 µg/m³ 6 May 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Every counted city, in the order the episode reached them, 3 days before to 3 after. Each square is a day, coloured by that day's PM2.5; outlined: at twice the city's usual or more. Good 0–50
Moderate 51–100
Sensitive groups 101–150
Unhealthy 151–200
Very unhealthy 201–300
Hazardous 301+
Every city it reached
City Days Highest Usual Above usual
Andenne Wallonia, Belgium 1 10 May 6.1 4.1× Mons Wallonia, Belgium 1 10 May 7.1 3.9× Menen Flanders, Belgium 2 10 May 10.2 3.8× Kortrijk Flanders, Belgium 1 10 May 10.3 3.6× Gent Flanders, Belgium 1 10 May 9.0 3.5× Lochristi Flanders, Belgium 2 10 May 9.5 3.4× Brussels Brussels Capital, Belgium 1 10 May 8.2 3.4× Roeselare Flanders, Belgium 2 10 May 10.8 3.3× Koksijde Flanders, Belgium 1 10 May 9.3 3.3× Grimbergen Flanders, Belgium 1 10 May 8.6 3.3× Tilburg North Brabant, The Netherlands 1 10 May 8.3 3.3× Mechelen Flanders, Belgium 1 10 May 7.9 3.3× Evergem Flanders, Belgium 2 10 May 10.6 3.1× Zwijndrecht Flanders, Belgium 2 10 May 9.3 3.0× Izegem Flanders, Belgium 2 10 May 11.0 2.9× Beveren Flanders, Belgium 1 10 May 9.2 2.7× Maldegem Flanders, Belgium 1 10 May 9.3 2.7× Antwerp Flanders, Belgium 1 10 May 9.1 2.7×
Daily means in µg/m³, over the days each city counted in this episode. Highest: its highest of those days. Usual: the city's median for the time of year of that day (its days within 21 days of the date, every year, leaving out the week around it). Above usual: its highest day against that, with a usual under 5 µg/m³ taken as 5.
Against other episodes in Belgium and The Netherlands
Number 12 of 21 episodes in Belgium and The Netherlands since our records began, by cities reached.
Europe, 14 to 15 January 2025 90 Western Europe, December 2024 75 France, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, January 2023 66 Western Europe, January 2025 50 France, Belgium and 2 more countries, November and December 2023 43 United Kingdom, Belgium and 2 more countries, September 2023 42 Western Europe, November 2024 38 France, Belgium and Germany, April 2023 36 Belgium, Germany and 2 more countries, May 2023 26 Belgium, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, May 2024 24 Belgium, France and 2 more countries, August 2024 23 Belgium and The Netherlands, May 2024 18 Bars: cities reached; colour: the level of the episode's highest daily reading. All 21 .
Use this page SmogRank, Belgium and The Netherlands, May 2024: 18 cities with PM2.5 at twice their usual or more, 9 to 10 May 2024, smogrank.com/episodes/2024-05-belgium-and-the-netherlands (accessed 4 October 2026).
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You're welcome to reuse a single chart, image or figure with this citation and a link. Terms .
An episode is a run of days when many cities close to each other (four or more within 350 km on a day, 8 or more in all) each had a daily PM2.5 mean of at least 25 µg/m³ and at least 2 times their usual for that time of year. Found in our own measurements, not picked by hand. How we find episodes . Values are each city's daily mean of its own monitors; causes are the usual kinds for a pattern like this, not a confirmed source.
