Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

324 SURVIVAL GUIDE

Personal Security and Health

Belgium and Luxembourg are relatively safe places
for visitors and citizens alike. Politeness, honesty and
respect for others are cherished and normal levels of
vigilance should suffice. As in any well organized soci-
ety that broadly looks after its citizens, there is a good
network of services to deal with unexpected crises.
Those unfortunate enough to fall ill will find that the
health service in particular is extremely well run, with
first-class hospitals and readily available facilities.

Crowded market typical of town squares such as Place d’Armes, Luxembourg

CRIME

Belgium and Luxembourg
suffer no more from crime
than any other European
nation. That said, Brussels
recently recorded the highest
rates for burglary in Europe
and Luxembourg City, by
contrast, recorded the low-
est. In the cities, visitors
need to be alert to
pickpockets and bag-
snatchers, especially on
public transport. Some
hotels have reported
that smartly-dressed
pickpockets have been
infiltrating their premises
by pretending to be
clients, then targeting guests
in lifts and other communal
spaces. Outside the larger
cities, crime is generally not
a problem, but it is wise
always to be on the alert.

SAFETY GUIDELINES

Precautions to take

in Luxembourg and

Belgium are similar to

those taken in any city in the

Western world. Busy, crowded

places, such as stations, public

transport, major tourist attrac-

tions and markets, are the

haunts of opportunist thieves

and pickpockets. When park-

ing a car, the doors need to

be properly locked and bags

or possessions that might be

construed as potentially valu-

able be hidden away. When

out sightseeing or shopping

on foot in the bigger towns

and cities, and when sitting

in busy cafés or restaurants,

for law and order in their area.

Visitors in the capital can also

get in touch with the Brussels

Central Police Station. In

Luxembourg, the main law

enforcement agency is the

Grand Ducal Police. Victims

of theft will need to go to a

police station and acquire

the necessary paperwork

to claim insurance. Police

stations in major cities

will have someone

who speaks English.

TRAVEL AND

HEALTH INSURANCE

Under reciprocal agreements,

travellers to Belgium and

Luxembourg coming from EU

countries are entitled to the

same subsidized healthcare

that local nationals receive,

provided they are in posses-

sion of an EHIC (European

Health Insurance Card).

British citizens can apply for

an EHIC using forms available

at post offices or online.

Before receiving treatment,

EU citizens should make it

clear that they have state

insurance, or they may end

up with a large bill. Patients

will usually be asked to pay

first and then seek reimburse-

ment from the authorities at

home – so it is essential to

retain all receipts. While gener-

ous, state healthcare subsidies

do not cover all problems

(such as dental treatment or

repatriation) or costs, so it is

LOST PROPERTY

The chances of retrieving

property are minimal if it was

lost in the street. However,

Belgians are essentially honest

and believe strongly in the

inviolable rights of ownership

to personal possessions. As a

result, property left behind or

lost in a restaurant, museum or

shop can usually be retrieved.

The public transport authori-

ties operate lost-and-found

services. For insurance pur-

poses, travellers need to get

in touch with the local police

station and lodge a report.

bags and wallets should be

firmly secured at all times.

On public transport and in

crowded places, women

should wear handbags with

the strap across the shoulder

and the clasp facing the body.

In hotels, rooms and suitcases

need to be locked and it is

best to avoid leaving cash

or valuables lying around.

Rooms often come with a

safe; if not, there should be

one at reception. It is advis-

able always to keep two

separate sets of money and

credit cards in case one set

gets lost. Avoid lonely and

questionable areas after dark.

A Belgian

police officer

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Belgium has two integrated
levels of police. Major crimes
and motorway offences are
handled by the Federal Police.
However, visitors are more
likely to encounter the Local
Police, who are responsible