Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a highly pathogenic flavivirus and the most important arthropodbornevirus in Europe. Considerable increases in human tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) incidence in endemiccountries and the emergence of the disease in several Western and Northern European countries, as well asin the European canine population, have made TBEV an increasing public health risk. Autochthonous TBEhas never been reported in Belgium, despite the presence of suitable climate, environment, vectors and hosts.Though Belgian citizens are increasingly traveling to endemic areas, clinicians do not routinely test for TBEin human meningoencephalitis cases. In Belgium, TBE is not notifiable and surveillance is currently almostnon-existent. If TBE were to emerge in Belgium, it could pose a significant threat to public health. Targetedserological screening of sentinel animals (dogs and wildlife) would contribute in a cost-effective way to acontinuous epidemiosurveillance program for TBEV in Belgium.