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.

I'm stunned that anyone would think Brussels unsafe. I was expecting somewhere outside of Europe, perhaps with an unstable government, huge poverty, drug gangs on the loose. Not the seat of the EU parliament, in a rich, stable peaceful country, probably more famous for chocolate than anything else! Where do you normally travel to?

Jesus! You are worried about Brussels?!

Get out more.

Brussels is lovely, so is Antwerp. You'll have a great time and the Belgians are very amenable. Of course there are dangers in any city, you just don't go to those areas.

People from overseas might think of coming to London for a break, to see the sights and have a good time, then read about dangerous things happening in dodgy areas. Yet Londoners live their lives quite peaceably. I do, been here since birth. New York also has that reputation but it's a marvellous place to visit.

There are no go areas everywhere, just avoid them and you'll be fine. I think Belgium is particularly good, have very fond memories of it.

Brussels feels much safer than plenty of European cities.

I feel much safer there than in London or Manchester! It definitely feels less threatening than Paris.

If it’s Belgium you want though Ghent and Bruges are much nicer.

Brussels isn’t any worse than other big European cities imo, take usual precautions to avoid pickpockets, be aware of surroundings etc. I would say if you’re getting the Eurostar don’t feel you have to stay there just because of that, it’s very easy to travel to prettier/nicer places like Ghent or Bruges. I think you could do the bits worth doing in Brussels in one afternoon really.

Agree with this. If I had to move to European capital city, it would probably be my first choice.

Imo, the biggest danger is all the weight you're likely to put on because of all the lovely food and beer.

Like Brussels. Pre Brexit my DH used to go to the European Commission frequently and I'd tag along if I wasn't working. I don't think it is any less safe than any other major European city. Obviously you need to take basic safety precautions just as you would in any other big city and there are parts I wouldn't go to, especially after dark, again, just like there are in any city. But then there are less salubrious parts of our nearest small town that I wouldn't walk alone though by choice either - more or less everywhere has risks. And unfortunately terrorist threat is everywhere currently. It makes sense not to travel to places where there is active unrest of course, but the whole of Europe poses some risk which you probably can't avoid totally even if you stay at home.Just take sensible precautions.
There is some beautiful architecture in Brussels and some great museums. The Atomium is interesting, Mini Europe is fun for little ones and as others have said it's easy to get a train to Ghent, Brugge etc. Plus there's chocolate, waffles, frites and beer...Belgium is great!

😂😂😂😂 It’s Belgium FFS. Do you think you are going to get bored to death, rained on, or do you suffer from a fatal allergic reaction to mayonnaise on chips?

Thank you everyone for posting on this - really appreciate your thoughts, it sounds like I should just go and see what it’s like! I can be a bit of an anxious traveller, particularly since my daughter - saying that, I lived in London for 11 years until about 4 years ago (in dodgy parts!) and I know exactly what it’s like there (moved to another part of the UK, but am back there at least monthly to visit in-laws) but dangerous as it is I think there’s something about knowing the city that makes it seem different!

I’ll give Brussels a go - thank you for all the recommendations too, knowing there’s plenty to see, do and eat will keep me away from darker parts of the internet…. 😂😂

Do the same searches for cities in the UK and you'll find the same sort of results.

Just be sensible and aware, just like when you visit any city in the UK.

You will find warnings about safety for any capital city. Brussels is lovely. You could do a day trip to Bruges if you prefer

This is your anxiety speaking - Brussels is no more dodgy than any other European major city. Glad you are going to give it a go - be sure to try lots of beers!

I was thinking Gaza maybe.....

I think this is the case for most major cities! The UK currently has a threat level of 'Substantial' which is 3 out of 5 so I don't think your any less safe in Brussels. Try not to worry about it and have a fab time

@Lyrixs21 I am really interested to know where you read about Brussels being dangerous. I lived there for several years and always felt very safe.

I was in Brussels a couple of weeks ago to visit a friend her advice was arrive and leave the Eurostar terminal as soon as possible as it’s not nice there, book a cab to your accommodation and you’ll be fine

the city is stunning loads of incredible art deco buildings great cafe bar culture and galleries so fun for mooching in the right areas totally beautiful I really fell in love with it defo going back soon

basically the same as any capital city just watch out around the main train station area

OP, I think you are doing the holiday equivalent of reading the information leaflet in the box of a very widely used, safe drug like paracetamol or a common antibiotic and imagining the worst case scenario. Yes, even drugs like that can have potentially very serious side effects so the information is true and needs to be made available but it also needs to be taken in context. In reality, for every one person who suffers a life threatening side effect from paracetamol or something there will be many thousands of us who take it with no problem and are just happy that our headache has gone.
There are risks to travel. Anywhere. It is sensible to know about those risks so that you can recognise them and take reasonable precautions. But in the same way as most of us will take common drugs completely uneventfully most of us will come to no harm in a mainstream destination. If you worried about every rare possible side effect you'd never take any kind of medication at all. If you worried about every risk of travel you'd never set foot outside your own home. And in both cases your life would probably be poorer as a result. Go. Enjoy it.

Good lord! Is this a wind up???

Rest assured @Lyrixs21 that Brussels is probably the second-most safe/boring/bland tourist city - second only to Toronto ime(apols, Canadians!)

You really need to take control of your anxiety about new experiences - it's so life and joy limiting, and unnecessary.

I was thinking London, Liverpool, or Manchester ...

All perfectly lovely interesting cities which I visit often, but they have their unsafe areas - where it is possible NEVER to have to venture.

If you've lived in London Brussels will be a walk in the park.

As people have said the immediate area around the Gare du Midi is a bit scruffy but really not an issue.

Brussels?! Of all places.. Seriously 😆

A bit of an odd choice for a special occasion and yes, it's dull (to me at least), Ghent or Bruges would be much better. But unsafe? Nah, don't be silly 😆

The only European city I felt slightly on edge in certain parts at night is Paris. But not enough not to visit again 😆I find both London and Barcelona completely fine. And pickpockets exist everywhere, in all big cities. Ditto with the areas around train stations, always dodgy, in most places.

Vas in Venice last February, during the carnival. Due to a massive fuck up with our hotel, had to book another one at the very last minute. Last minute hotels in Venice were $$$$$, so had to book further afield and chose a town called Mestre, 10 min train ride away.

The reviews of the place make it out to be like Tehran or Kabul. 'Step out of the train and die'. 'Heroin capital of Europe'. 'Wear a stab and bullet-proof vest'. Still booked it, not much choice.

It was absolutely fine. A few meek druggies wandering about and a whole bunch of tourists staying there. Not a pretty town, but you don't spend time there, just sleep and go to Venice. I'd happily stay there again.

Moral of the story: don't google too much.

I really don't think Brussels is dull! It has a little t of hidden treasures that are worth visiting. It's got so many quirky elements.

Slightly off subject, my family (all grown ups) absolutely loved the European Parliament which is free to visit.

Antwerp has definitely been having issues lately.

We will be spending a couple of days in Brussels this summer with two teenagers. Any tips from those familiar with the city?
We are also staying in Ghent for a week and doing day trips to Bruges, Antwerp etc, so just looking for ideas in Brussels.
Sorry to hijack the thread!

Never did I think that this thread was going to be about Brussels!