The Belgian UFO Wave, which began in late 1989 and continued into 1990, stands as one of the most significant and well-documented series of UFO sightings in modern history. This phenomenon captivated not only the Belgian public but also attracted international attention due to the credibility of witnesses and the involvement of military and government agencies in investigating the occurrences. The wave was characterized by thousands of reports of triangular-shaped crafts with bright lights, leading to heightened public interest and official investigations.
Incident Overview
The Belgian UFO wave began on November 29, 1989, near Eupen, Belgium, close to the German border. Two police officers, Heinrich Nicoll and Hubert Von Montigny, were on patrol when they first encountered the object. “Suddenly, we saw a strange object in the sky,” Nicoll later recounted. “It was so bright you could read by it, like lights on a huge football field.” As they observed the object, they noted its triangular shape with three enormous spotlights pointed toward the ground and a red flashing light at its center. “The whole thing was floating in the air,” Nicoll said, struggling to comprehend what he was witnessing.
The officers immediately reported their sighting to their dispatcher, Albert Creutz. “They told me they were seeing a strange object,” Creutz recalled. “At first, I thought they were joking about Santa Claus trying to land.” However, as more reports began to flood in from other witnesses across Belgium, it became clear that something unusual was occurring.
As sightings continued throughout December 1989 and into early 1990, many witnesses described similar experiences. On March 30, 1990, multiple sightings peaked when radar operators tracked an unidentified object moving across Belgian airspace. Witnesses included civilians and military personnel who reported seeing a large triangular craft moving silently through the sky. One witness described it as “huge and majestic,” while another noted that it seemed to hover effortlessly before accelerating away at incredible speeds.
The Belgian Air Force took notice of these sightings and scrambled F-16 fighter jets to intercept the unidentified objects. Major General Wilfried de Brouwer later stated that he initially believed these sightings might be related to experimental aircraft being tested by the Americans. However, after multiple attempts to visually confirm the objects without success, he acknowledged that they could not explain what had been observed.
Eyewitness Statements
Eyewitness accounts from that period provide valuable insights into what transpired during the Belgian UFO wave:
1. Heinrich Nicoll: The police officer who first reported seeing the triangular object stated, “It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The lights were so bright that they lit up everything around us.”
2. Hubert Von Montigny: Nicoll’s partner corroborated his account: “We both saw it hovering silently above us. It felt surreal; we were both in disbelief at what we were witnessing.”
3. Albert Creutz: The dispatcher who received their report expressed his initial skepticism but later became convinced after hearing multiple similar accounts from other witnesses: “I thought it was just a joke at first, but then I realized this was serious.”
4. Local Residents: Many civilians reported seeing similar objects during that time. One resident from La Calamine said, “I saw three lights in a triangular formation moving silently across the sky; it was mesmerizing.”
5. Military Personnel: Pilots from the Belgian Air Force who were dispatched to intercept the objects reported locking onto targets with their radar but could not visually confirm anything unusual: “We saw something on our screens but when we got close enough to see it with our eyes, it vanished.”
Possible Explanations
1. Extraterrestrial Craft
One of the most popular explanations for the Belgian UFO wave is that witnesses genuinely encountered extraterrestrial craft. Proponents of this theory point to detailed eyewitness accounts provided by both civilians and military personnel who described unusual lights and behaviors that defy conventional aircraft capabilities. The consistency of witness testimonies and corroborative radar data lend weight to this explanation.
2. Military Aircraft or Secret Technology
Another theory posits that what was observed could have been classified military aircraft or experimental technology being tested in restricted airspace over Belgium. Advocates argue that advanced military projects could account for the unusual characteristics seen during these encounters; however, there is no evidence supporting any known military operations occurring in the area at that time.
3. Atmospheric Phenomena
Some skeptics suggest that what was seen could have been atmospheric phenomena misidentified as UFOs—such as flares or other natural occurrences—that created bright lights in the sky combined with reflections off nearby objects or atmospheric conditions. However, this explanation does not adequately account for specific details provided by witnesses regarding how close they were able to approach the objects or their apparent intelligence.
4. Psychological Factors
Skeptics also propose psychological explanations for these experiences such as mass hysteria or collective misinterpretation of natural events due to heightened emotions during a tense political climate in Europe at that time. While it is true that stress can influence perception, this theory does not explain physical evidence or corroborating accounts from multiple witnesses.
5. Celestial Objects
Some have suggested that what was observed could have been misidentified celestial objects like planets or stars appearing unusually bright due to atmospheric conditions; however, this explanation does not account for behaviors described by pilots—such as rapid movements and changes in altitude—that are inconsistent with celestial bodies.
Cultural Impact
The Belgian UFO wave has become an iconic event in UFO history and has inspired numerous documentaries and discussions about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). The incident continues to capture public interest due to its combination of credible witnesses and dramatic circumstances surrounding what transpired during this period.
In recent years, renewed interest in UAPs has led to discussions about government transparency regarding UFO encounters as well as ongoing investigations into similar incidents across Europe.
Conclusion
The Belgian UFO wave stands as one of the most compelling chapters in UFO history due to its combination of credible witnesses, dramatic circumstances surrounding multiple sightings of triangular-shaped crafts emitting bright lights, and enduring mystery surrounding what transpired between November 1989 and April 1990. While various explanations have been proposed—from extraterrestrial encounters to psychological phenomena—the true nature of what happened remains elusive. As Fox Mulder might say: “The truth is out there,” waiting for those brave enough to explore it amid whispers of cover-ups and hidden knowledge about our place in the cosmos—a quest that continues today as we seek understanding about what lies beyond our world.
Read More
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_UFO_wave
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuFsvd72nDw
[3] https://unsolved.com/gallery/belgian-ufo/
[4] https://businessdoceurope.com/connext-series-project-the-mysterious-case-of-the-belgian-triangle-by-bram-conjaerts/
[5] https://vocal.media/history/the-belgian-ufo-wave
[6] https://www.cobeps.org/pdf/belgian_wave_130310.pdf
[7] https://theweek.com/articles/905215/30-years-later-still-dont-know-what-really-happened-during-belgian-ufo-wave
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/brussels/comments/17n62uu/unsolved_mysteries_episode_of_ufo_sightings_in/
[9] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgische_UFO-Welle