Lost items on SNCB trains in Belgium: full recovery guide

Every year, thousands of items are left behind on SNCB (Belgian National Railway Company) trains — phones, bags, laptops, glasses and more. If you've forgotten something on board, here is exactly what you need to do.

Step 1: Report immediately on sncb.be

Go to sncb.be and look for the "Lost items" section. You can fill in a declaration form available 24/7. Have the following information ready: date and time of your journey, train number, carriage number (shown on your ticket or on the carriage panel), departure and arrival station.

• Exact date and time of the journey
• Train number (e.g. IC 732) and carriage number
• Precise description of the item (colour, brand, contents if a bag)
• Your contact details so SNCB can reach you

Step 2: Contact the terminus station

Items found on trains are usually handed in at the terminus station. Call the train's arrival station directly and ask for the lost property service. Major stations (Brussels-Midi, Brussels-Central, Brussels-North, Antwerp-Central, Liège-Guillemins, Ghent-Sint-Pieters) all have a dedicated service.

Storage deadlines at SNCB

Items recovered by SNCB are kept for 30 days in a centralised depot. After that, they may be auctioned off or destroyed depending on their nature. Act quickly — the longer you wait, the lower your chances of recovery.

Collecting your item

Once SNCB has located your item, you have two options: collect it in person at the indicated station (bring a valid ID), or request postal delivery (paid service). Postal delivery is recommended if the station is far from your home.

In parallel: post on eFinder

Don't rely solely on the SNCB procedure. Create a listing on eFinder as soon as you realise the loss. A conductor or fellow passenger may have picked up the item before SNCB logged it. Our matching algorithm automatically cross-references your listing with items declared found in the same geographic area and time window.