Birthday gift trip - city chosen sounds dangerous!

[Lyrixs21]

It was my birthday yesterday, and my partner booked a surprise trip for the two of us plus our 3 year old to go to Brussels on the Eurostar for two nights next weekend (4th July).

Neither of us have been to Brussels before, or indeed Belgium, so I excitedly started to do some research last night once he told me what the surprise was. As I delved into searches about Brussels, once thing kept coming up - how unsafe it is! I didn't go looking for information on safety, but it just seems to be a constant feature of discussions on the city. It's not a city I know anything about (bar always thinking it sounds a bit boring) but my main takeaways from my extensive research last night is that it is unsafe (shootings, drugs, petty crime) has a level 3 terrorist threat currently ('Serious') and is just generally dirty, unsavoury, and boring.

I now don't want to go after reading all that, and particularly don't want to bring my three year old and put her in any danger. I'm a little surprised my partner booked it in one sense, as it's very hard to find anything positive online about it!

Do I:

• Tell him what I've read online and how I feel and that I'd prefer not to go? This seems a little rude given he has spent time and money researching things and booking it for my birthday, and I know I'll end up feeling bad.

• Or, do I go, put up with it, but potentially not enjoy it because I'm worrying about safety and feel anxious and on edge? Based on what I'm reading I'm really not keen. I have found since we've had our daughter I am more concerned about safety generally but I expect that's normal?!

He did mention he looked at Amsterdam but that the hotels were crazy expensive another option for me might be to offer to pay for the hotel in Amsterdam and we change the Eurostar to go there? That way, we are still going and still going to experience the Eurostar and have the weekend away, but without me fretting and not really wanting to be there!

Any thoughts welcome.

Certain areas in Brussels do feel unsafe (the bus station and surrounding area) for example. Research carefully.

Pity he didn’t choose Amsterdam.

Brussels doesn't have a bus station. It has a terminal at Gare du Nord and another at Gare du Midi. Gare du Nord is also where the red light area is so not the best area. No worse than any other city though.

For the poster who asked about Brussels for teens - what are they into?

Went a couple of years ago and had no issues. I've heard the area around the Eurostar station isn't great. Was a bit grubby, but we walked from there to the centre without any problems.

There's not as much to see as in some bigger capitals, but all good for a weekend trip.

Go to Bruges - it’s very pretty and full of chocolates, chips and beer

You couldn't pay me enough to go to sleazy Amsterdam but Brussels is lovely. Definitely the better option especially with children.

Brussels is lovely, I have been in woman only groups and never felt unsafe. Any city has dodgy bits but most tourist bits are fine.

Brussels is amazing. Been so many times. Great city break and as safe as Paris, London etc. if I had unlimited money it where I live. I feel vvv safe there.

You right re Amsterdam....was a huge shock. Only European city I've been too that I felt unsafe. The train station was amazing though. Brussels is literally one of my favourite city breaks...think over 20 times and never once felt unsafe

Are you kidding me? It’s the capital city of Belgium, home to the European Parliament and Commission, an extremely popular city break destination and visited by millions and millions of tourists each year.

You need to get out more, if I was your partner I’d take you to the local pub next year and not bother going anywhere nice.

Brussels is lovely! You’re waaaaaay overthinking!! Any city can be a bit ‘dangerous’ but only if you’re completely naive and irresponsible

Brussels is lovely. You could also take a train to Bruges which is glorious

Haha I also thought they'd booked for like Afghanistan or something! Belgium will be no more unsafe than any other European city. I'd say Amsterdam or Paris would be worse as there is a lot of pick pockets etc.

Go on and enjoy!!! Bet it's got beautiful architecture etc.

I didn't think I could ever read Brussels and dangerous in the same sentence!

Like all the Belgian cities and towns I've been to it's wonderful.

Strewth I've heard it all now...

I have agree entirely, I too prefer Brussels to Paris, so much more relaxed and have always felt safe there

😆🫣 Brussels is absolutely fine!! No more dangerous than Amsterdam, Paris, London. Probably be a bit safer.

Nonsense. Brussels is about as safe as it gets. Every city has crime. Every Western country has terrorism risks.

You can't live like that.

If you check terrorism threat for uk today (if you’re in the uk) it’s level 3 substantial so I’d say you’re as safe as here.
I thought you were going to say somewhere in the Middle East when I opened this thread

Brussels is absolutely fine. Barcelona and Rome have far more pickpockets, Amsterdam has more thieving from café tables.

We all do it don’t we? When we were going to Marseille I read all sorts of horror stories. We loved it! In particular, there were dire warnings about the Pannier District. It turned out to be full of excellent craft workers and galleries and an open air theatre festival. Only really dangerous if a hanging basket fell on your head. I don't know where you live OP but I bet there are areas you don't go to.

I think you are overreacting- London has had heightened status for terrorist attack for some time- there is only one level ahead of heightened , so Brussels is on lower alert than London. The other things you mentioned are occasional features of capital cities everywhere, including Amsterdam.
Amsterdam by Eurostar usually involves a change of trains which Brussels does not.
Your DH has done lots of research, it would be very ungrateful to pour cold water over it all-you would at least have to do all the research yourself for Amsterdam, and I could still understand your DH being cheesed off.
Making these sorts of decisions because of irrational fears is just not acceptable, and no I don't think it is normal.

We spent three nights in Brussels in winter a few years ago, we really liked it. It’s an attractive city with some great museums, good restaurants and nice shops.

This Brussels is the same as any other city, just keep your phone and handbag with you all the time and enjoy mussels and chips, stop reading rubbish.

I've been to Brussels twice. Never felt unsafe. You could say Glasgow is unsafe (I live near there). Or London. Or any big city. Not once did I feel unsafe in Brussels. It's a beautiful city. I don't feel unsafe in Glasgow either.

I love Brussels, great food, amazing hot chocolate and quite compact. I can see your point of view, but on balance I'd go. What might be a good idea whether you go or not, is to discuss your concerns.

As many places with a high crime like London, Liverpool, Birmingham the list goes on... a very very high percentage of crime is targeted. It's very rare that someone is attacked at random. If you looked at crime rates everywhere you went you wouldn't ever want to go anywhere. So you would be as safe as going to London. But that being said the terrorist part of it would worry me anywhere but when there is a terror threat I avoid busy places as busy places are always the target