Belgium : Safety by CityLocated on the North Sea coast in the Benelux and surrounded by the majority of the West European capitals, Belgium is often considered to be the center of Europe.
Its neighboring countries are France to the southwest, Luxembourg to the southeast, Germany to the east, and the Netherlands to the north, and it is, furthermore, divided into Flanders and Wallonia, while Brussels is considered as a third bilingual region.
The charm of this gorgeous country in the middle of Europe is that it’s a perfect mix of historic and modern: it blends old, breathtaking medieval castles and hip cafes and art museums.
It is also home to some of the best food in Europe: chocolate and waffles more than you can eat!
The safety issue here is that it is exposed to a severe danger from a terrorist attack, apart from it crawling with pickpockets and criminals waiting to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists.
Warnings & Dangers in Belgium
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Overall, Belgium is a safe country to travel to. Crime rates are low and anything happening to you on the streets of Belgium is unlikely. The only issue to keep an eye on, apart from being vigilant for terrorist attacks, is petty theft and pickpocketing.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Transportation in Belgium is very reliable and safe. However, be careful when taking a ride on the bus or a train, since they are frequented by pickpockets and thieves that might try to snatch your personal belongings.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
Belgium being a top tourist destination in Europe, the chances of encountering a pickpocket are high, especially in Brussels, Belgium's capital. Be wary at subways and train stations, and keep your valuables tightly by your side in order to prevent someone snatching them.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Belgium is not exposed to any type of natural disaster risks and there haven't been any natural disasters in its recent history.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
As for muggings, Belgium is relatively safe. There haven't been many reports of someone being violently mugged or kidnapped, but some areas of Brussels should definitely be avoided. Ask local people or authorities about areas of Brussels that you should skip, or that are considered dangerous.
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
As for terrorism, the threat unfortunately exists, and the risk of it happening is high. Since 2015. there have been numerous attacks and attempts of attacks so it is recommended to avoid crowded places, areas, events, or demonstrations.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
As in any country, especially those frequented by tourists, there are high chances of someone trying to scam you. Always double-check your change, negotiate everything in advance, and be wary of people trying to distract you are offering help with your luggage, as it might be a way to steal something from you.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Belgium is, generally speaking, very safe for women travelers. Try to avoid walking alone along with dark, poorly lit, or deserted areas, or finding yourself late at night in areas filled with bars or clubs as you might receive some unwanted attention. Apart from that, use your common sense and your trip should go smoothly.
So... How Safe Is Belgium Really?
Just like many other European countries, Belgium is relatively safe to travel to and there are few threats to worry about.
However, there are some safety issues to consider before venturing to Belgium.
First and foremost, there’s the risk of pickpockets lurking around the big cities.
Even though rates of violent crime are low, petty theft is an ever-growing problem in countries like Belgium.
Thieves may be roaming along at the popular tourist landmarks, transportation, anywhere really in the bigger cities of Belgium.
In case of an incident of serious or petty crime, contact the nearest police station and fill out a police report, since you’ll probably need it for a replacement passport or insurance claim.
The local number in Belgium is 101 for emergencies requiring police assistance or 112 for all other emergencies.
Another issue in Belgium is terrorism.
Sadly, terrorism is on the rise precisely in this country, especially during the last two years.
Since 2015, Belgium has been the target of several terrorist attacks executed by ISIS, that occurred at Brussels’ Jewish museum, in the subway, and at the airport, and there were some attempts on the Thalys Train.
Security has, of course, been increased and police investigations are ongoing while public awareness is present at all times.
Still, the possibility of a terrorist attack in Belgium is what has been keeping tourists at bay for the last year.
How Does Belgium Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Belgium | 70 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Slovenia | 87 |
| Bulgaria | 80 |
| Vietnam | 73 |
| Portugal | 57 |
| Japan | 83 |
| Ghana | 73 |
| Australia | 86 |
Useful Information
Visas
EU nationals do not need a visa to enter Belgium and are allowed to stay as long as they want. For the majority of other European or US nationals, a visa is not required. Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after your planned date of return. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
The official currency in Belgium is the euro. The prices here are generally the same as in other bigger European countries. The northern part of the country is more expensive than the south.
Weather
The weather in Belgium is mostly cold and wet since it has a temperate maritime climate. The average temperature during the year is 10°C, so it is best to visit during summer, which is from June to mid-September.
Airports
Brussels Airport is the biggest international airport, located northeast of Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Other large airports in Belgium are located in Antwerp, Ostend, and Liège.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Belgium, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Belgium Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 6 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Low °C | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| High °F | 43 | 45 | 52 | 57 | 66 | 70 | 73 | 73 | 68 | 59 | 50 | 45 |
| Low °F | 36 | 36 | 39 | 43 | 50 | 54 | 59 | 57 | 54 | 48 | 41 | 36 |
Belgium - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Antwerp | 65 |
| Brussels | 60 |
| Ghent | 70 |
| Waterloo | 85 |
Hmm… interesting points of view. Visited Belgium for 12 days back in 2011 and, while staying in Bruxelles, we (me and my wife) made day trips to Gent, Bruges, and Liege, by train. It felt, overall, pretty safe.
I liked a lot Bruges and Gent and of course the old center of Bruxelles. We also traveled a lot by tramway inside Bruxelles. Never felt unease about crime or anything. There were, here and there, places where the surroundings maybe were not the most appealing (like bland or even dangerous-looking), but that was it. Those were most probably just appearances. People were nicely behaving, with very few exceptions.
Now we’re planning a road trip to Belgium and the Netherlands, for this September. While in Belgium we will stay for 2 nights in Leuven, and also shortly visit Mechelen (coming from Dordrecht) and, maybe, Antwerp (although we’ll probably skip the latter, as too big and time-consuming).
I will return here with some impressions on what (if anything) has changed from our previous trip – concerning the general good feeling we had back in 2011.
In the last several years violent crime at night has become a real concern. That was never a problem before. This type of crime, sometimes very serious, is usually done by drunk younger people, like under 25, after 22:00 when dark (in the summer it can still be light then and is safe) until sunrise.
Personally I make sure I am inside after dark or if not that I am not where drunk people are, like in or near commercial districts, i.e., bars, nightclubs. If I am I try to stay in well lighted areas with other people around. Stay away from groups of drunk young people at night!
Otherwise Belgium is very safe!