Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

PRACTICAL INFORMATION 325

DIRECTORY

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Brussels Central

Police Station

Rue du Marché-au-Charbon 30,

1000 BRU. Tel (02) 2797979.

Federal Police

Tel 101.

Grand Ducal Police

60 Rue Glesener, 1630

Luxembourg. Tel 49974500.

TRAVEL AND

HEALTH INSURANCE

EHIC

http://www.ehic.org

EMERGENCIES

Ambulance and Fire

Services in Belgium

Tel 100.

Ambulance and Fire

Services in Luxembourg

Tel 112.

Police in Belgium

Tel 101.

Police in Luxembourg

Tel 113.

BEER STRENGTH

Belgian beer is very good, but

also very strong – Trappist

and Abbey beers regularly

contain 6.5–9.5 per cent alco-

hol by volume (abv). The

beer is usually drunk slowly

and in moderate quantities.

Drinkers who are used to a

beer-strength of 3.5–4 per

cent abv will really notice the

difference, and may run into

trouble if they heedlessly

apply their normal quantities

of intake to Belgian beer.

DOCTORS, HOSPITALS
AND PHARMACIES

Belgium and Luxembourg
have efficient health services
funded by a mixture of state
subsidies and national and
private insurance. Hospitals
are plentiful, modern and
well run, and the quality of
treatment is generally very
good. Guests taken ill at a
hotel will be provided details
of local doctors by the staff.
Whether or not a person has
insurance, doctors will expect
to settle the bill on the spot,
and in cash. Pharmacists are
well trained and run their
businesses with clinical effi-
ciency. For minor ailments,
they should be the first port
of call. Pharmacies are gener-
ally open Mondays to Fridays
from 9am to 6pm, and every
district operates a rota system
for late-night, weekend and
national holiday cover. All
pharmacies also display infor-
mation about where to find
the nearest 24-hour chemist.

MOSQUITOES

In Belgium, mosquitoes can be

a problem on warm summer

nights. The canals of Bruges

and the polders of the north

are favoured breeding areas

and visitors to these places

will need suitable repellants.

PUBLIC TOILETS

In general, most places with

tourist footfall have adequate

provision for public toilets.

Many of these facilities are

meticulously maintained by

attendants, who charge a rate

for usage. Where no rate is

shown, people are expected

to leave between 25 and 50

cents. If caught short, it is

possible to use the toilet of a

bar or café, but one would be

expected to return the favour

by buying a drink or coffee.

SMOKING

In both countries, smoking is

officially forbidden in confined

public places and on public

transport. It is also prohibited

in restaurants and large cafés

(unless they have a dedicated

smoking area, or food repre-

sents less than one-third of

their business and they have

special permission). Smoking

may be tolerated in smaller

bars. In Luxembourg, a smok-

ing ban comes into force from

noon to 2pm and 7 to 9pm in

cafés where meals are served.

worth taking out full travel
insurance, which covers addi-
tional risks such as theft or lost
property and travel cancella-
tion. Travellers from outside
the EU are strongly advised to
take out full travel insurance,
with medical cover – a serious
accident involving hospitaliza-
tion and repatriation by special
air transport can cost tens of
thousands of euros.

Visitors can also make use of

local knowledge in an emer-

gency as people are quick to

step forward and help. Those

staying at a hotel can ask staff

at the reception for assistance.

A typical pharmacy store in Belgium, doubling as a herbalist

Bottles of Belgian beer with labels

signalling the alchohol content

EMERGENCIES

Police, Ambulance and Fire
Services in Belgium and
Luxembourg have dedicated
nationwide phone numbers.