I just want to share my recent experiences in Brussels, hoping that it will help someone else who may be planning to travel there. I have benefited so much from advice posted on FlyerTalk I hope I can give back in this small way.

By way of context, I travel worldwide, usually with my husband since we work together, and we have used public transportation in most major European cities.

On a trip to Brussels a few months ago we had our backs sprayed with some substance as we got on the train in Brussels Central to go to the airport. We both had rollerboard suitcases with briefcases attached so it was quite obvious we were business travellers. Our coats primarily, and also the back of our pants were completely covered with what looked like hand lotion. A passenger pointed it out to us, and we don't know if that person may actually have been the perpetrator. Although we were speaking French, and were not dressed in a way to identify us as Americans, we think we may have been targeted because we are American.

We have ex-pat friends who live in Brussels, and they always are very alert and careful using the trains and subways since crime is common. They were visited by some US friends who were robbed twice while using the train!

Last week in Brussels, we took the train from the airport and got off in Brussels Central. While we were buying tickets for the subway, within the space of one minute, we each had someone come behind us and detach our briefcase from our luggage to try to steal it. Just before that I had been "sprayed" with something awful on the back of my coat again, and someone spit at my husband as we were walking by. We were not acting in any unusual way or doing something to provoke such a reaction.

So, personally we have decided only to use the train/subway system when we are not carrying our suitcases/briefcases (in other words we will use a taxi to and from the airport), and to be very cautious when using it for day to day transportation.