The Flemish Region is the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium, home to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven, Mechelen, Hasselt, Ypres and the North Sea coast.
The Flemish Region is a very safe destination with low violent crime against visitors. The main risks are petty theft (pickpocketing, bike theft and theft from cars) in crowded tourist areas and stations, occasional rail strikes, and rough weather at the coast. Gang-related shootings linked to the drug trade have occurred in some Antwerp districts but rarely affect tourists. Emergency services respond quickly via 112.
Current safety advisory
Low
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Keep phones, wallets and passports in zipped inner pockets in crowded places such as Antwerpen-Centraal, Ghent Sint-Pieters station, Bruges' Markt and Christmas markets.
Lock your bike with two locks (a frame lock and a chain or U-lock) attached to a fixed object; bike theft is the most common crime against visitors in Antwerp, Ghent and Leuven.
Do not leave bags, laptops or luggage visible in parked cars, including in car parks at Bruges' park-and-ride and at coastal beach car parks.
Use official taxis or ride-hailing apps; avoid unlicensed drivers and agree to pay by meter or fixed fare.
Keep to well-lit streets late at night in the areas around Antwerp's Central Station and the red-light district, Ghent's Sint-Pieters station and the Brugse Poort at night.
On the Flemish coast, swim only in lifeguard-supervised areas in summer and obey the flag system at the beach; strong currents occur around groynes and sandbanks.
In forests and heath areas in the Kempen and Limburg, wear long trousers and check for ticks after walks, since Lyme disease is present.
Check train disruptions (Belgian rail strikes are periodic) and the SNCB/NMBS app before long journeys; keep a flexible plan.
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Fake petition or charity collectors
Teams approach visitors near Antwerpen-Centraal, Brussels-bound trains and tourist squares with clipboards asking for donations or signatures, and then ask for money or pick pockets as the victim signs.
How to avoid: Decline politely and keep walking; legitimate fundraisers carry ID cards and never demand cash on the spot.
Overpriced tourist restaurants
Menus without prices or restaurants right on the Markt in Bruges and Grote Markt in Antwerp may charge much more for beer, mussels and 'daily specials' and add tourist fees.
How to avoid: Check the menu with prices before sitting, ask the price of seasonal items (mussels, lobster) and look at the final bill.
Distraction pickpocketing on trains and trams
Thieves work in pairs: one asks for directions or spills something while the other lifts a phone or wallet, often at Antwerp Central and Ghent Sint-Pieters.
How to avoid: Keep bags in front, stay aware near doors and do not put phones on cafe tables.
Unlicensed 'diamond' dealers
Street sellers near Antwerp's Diamond District offer unusually cheap stones that are cut glass or low-grade gems.
How to avoid: Buy only from established, registered shops with certificates (HRD or GIA) and compare prices.
Fake taxi or ticket machine help
People offering to 'help' at parking or train ticket machines may take payment or card details.
How to avoid: Use official kiosks, pay by contactless card and decline unsolicited help.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No special vaccinations are required for entry; routine vaccines should be up to date. Tick-borne Lyme disease occurs in forests and heath, so check skin after walks.
- Water
- Tap water is safe to drink throughout Flanders and is monitored to a high standard.
- Food
- Food hygiene standards are high; raw-milk cheeses and filet americain (raw beef spread) are common and are generally safe but may be avoided in pregnancy.
- Facilities
- Hospitals and emergency departments are modern and located in all major cities; pharmacies (apotheek) display a green cross and rotate night and weekend duty (see apotheek.be or call 0903 99 000 for the duty pharmacy).
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 101 (police) or 112
- Medical
- 112 (ambulance and fire) or via 1733 for on-call doctor out of hours
- Fire
- 112 (fire brigade and ambulance)
- Coast Guard
- 112 and ask for the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Oostende); for sea emergencies call VHF channel 16
- General Emergency
- 112 (free from any phone, including without a SIM)
- Main Hospital
- UZ Leuven Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, +32 16 33 22 11
- Embassy Us
- US Embassy Brussels, Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Régent, 1000 Brussels: +32 2 811 40 00
- Embassy Uk
- British Embassy Brussels, Avenue d'Auderghem 10, 1040 Brussels: +32 2 287 62 11