Belgium began a three-day strike on Monday as unions protest the government's planned social and budget reforms.

The walkouts are expected to heavily disrupt transport, schools, hospitals and public services, with consequences reaching into Germany.

Who will the strikes in Belgium affect?

The Belgian rail operator SNCB reduced its timetable on Sunday evening and said only every second train would run on Monday, with some routes operating at just one-third of normal service.

Several ICE trains on the busy Brussels–Cologne line were canceled. According to the Belga news agency, commuter traffic will remain particularly affected through Wednesday.

The disruption will intensify through the week. After Monday's rail strike, hospital staff, kindergarten workers and teachers will join the walkouts on Tuesday. Public-sector employees across post services, waste collection and local transport are also expected to participate.

Wednesday is set to bring the highest impact, as private-sector unions join a nationwide general strike. The country's two largest airports — Brussels-Zaventem and Charleroi — announced that no flights are expected to depart on Wednesday. Arriving flights are also likely to be affected due to strikes among security and ground personnel.

Why are workers in Belgium on strike?

Unions accuse Prime Minister Bart de Wever's center-right coalition of driving what they call "social dismantling." The five-party government reached a multiyear budget agreement overnight, including €9.2 billion (about $10.6 billion) in savings by 2029.

Belgium's government has defended its savings program, saying it must reduce spending by around €10 billion by 2030 to meet EU debt and deficit rules. Belgium remains one of the most indebted EU member states. At the same time, NATO commitments require the country to sharply increase defense spending in the coming years.

Public pressure on the government has been mounting. In October, around 100,000 people demonstrated in Brussels against the planned cuts. Unions say this week's strikes are intended to force the government to revisit the reforms, though officials have not indicated any change of course.

Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez