Warning: Brussels train/subway
 

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.

During our visit to Brussels we've witnessed how a gang of teenagers snatched a bag from an old lady on metro and ran away. It was a very shocking experience during the daytime. It seems you need to be extremely cautious in Brussels, Amsterdam and Madrid.

Always be alert: I once saw a bag being snatched from an Asian businessman at Central Station.

SmilingBoy.

These spread all over europe. I have heard of the spot on clothes technique all over Europe from Sweden to Spain. The Spanish maybe are not as politically correct as other societies and blame this directly on Eastern European traveling gangs.

There have been reports of these gangs traveling between cities to avoid being known by police.

I had a group of Spanish from my same flight to Sweden ask me about a connection on map 10 meters from my bags on commuter train from Malmo to Copenhagen. My carryon is straped and locked to my large bag and I have my zippers locked with small code locks.

With my back turned just 30 seconds and even though the Spanish were in group near my bags there was a Danish 'junkie' next to my bag within 30 seconds. They must be lurking just ready to jump at the chance.

I'll second the Madrid warning. My mother and her husband were assaulted, violently, near the Prado in Madrid in broad daylight. The thieves stole her purse, and caused my stepfather injuries that required hospitilization.

BRU train stations are terrible
 

Hi

I too have had terrible experiences in the Brussels train stations - gare midi especially in which I had stolen from me a very important bag (laptop, etc). I had just returned from central Africa and was extremely tired from the trip and thought myself lucky to be safe and sound in Europe. Wrong.

Anyway, the BRU police need a much stronger presence in these stations if you ask me. It really sucks when your first or last experience in Brussels is one of the train stations. I agree that a taxi to the airport is a much better option - I used it the last time too, though much more expensive.

It is now that I feel better in the Kinshasa airport than in the BRU train stations. I feel a sense of relief getting through them without an incident. I'm sure it's similar in other train stations too but...

st

That's it exactly, smalltown. Many places in Europe I've noticed that the airport is literally crawling with police, but at the first train station you reach there is no security whatsoever. Not surprisingly the bad guys use this situation to hunt for victims at the station.

We were in AMS and BRU in November this year. Our video camera was stolen on the train between AMS-BRU and looking back, we are pretty sure we know who took it and how. Do not leave ANYTHING less than 40 pounds on the luggage racks (even the ones directly above your head and across the aisle that you can see the entire time!) and keep your eye on EVERYTHING with you at all times. On the very next day we bought tickets at the BRU train station and the guy TRIED to short change my by 5 Euros. I quickly got back in line and he was waiving a 5 Euro bill when he saw me come back-he was just hoping I would not notice. There was also a public transportation issue in AMS that a guy got on and started SCREAMING profanities at us that I am sure was just his way of telling us he hated Americans.

We have traveled to France, Italy, Germany, Greece, and Austria in the past 3-5 years and NEVER felt so unwelcome and taken advantage of as we did on this recent trip. I am not sure if it is an overall tone towards Americans or we were just lucky on the past several years that we had nothing happen to us. We have often stayed in apartment rentals and used all public transportation but after this trip we may change our habits in the future.

We visited Brussels for the first time this year, flying in via AMS and training it.

In doing prep for our trip, we read that the train stations and area around them were pretty seedy. We only used Midi station and yup, it seemed somewhat seedy; particularly at night of course. That said I think when we researched our previously trip to Europe, the reviews for nearly all cities (Madrid, Rome, Paris, etc) indicated you had to be on alert around the train stations and subways.

As a response to the friendliness in Amsterdam and Brussels, as a Canadian, I personally felt pretty welcome while in Amsterdam. We didn't spend enough time in Brussels get a good feel of the vibes but we didn't feel unwelcome.
When we were travelling in Florence and shared a table for lunch with someone from Amsterdam, she invited us to go visit her home when our journey stopped through Amsterdam. We didn't take her up on her offer though. It was kind of a little "too friendly" for us. [Come on, we only got to know this person for 20 mins while eating lasagna. :) ]

The Dutch love Canadians, as Canadian troops were integral to the liberation of the Netherlands in WWII. They don't seem to give those from the US quite the same credit (even though the US part was crucial in the same effort), but on balance they are very friendly. (Personally I don't expect any credit as I had nothing to do with it). Belgian friendliness varies based on region of origin. In my experience the Flemish are very friendly, and the Walloons considerably less so.

I've heard too many terrible stories about Brussels, but for some reason it's a city that seems to go under the radar while everyone warns about the pickpockets in Spain and Italy.

I had American friends who lived in Brussels for years and finally moved to France after the wife was attacked, yet again, in Brussels in the daytime near a major hotel. They were just fed up with the city. Brussels has a huge drug problem and the junkies are violent and unrelenting in their pursuit of anyone elses money.

Jpooh100, sorry about your incident and thanks for sharing it.

I guess I've been either lucky, alert enough, average or unremarkable enough looking to have avoided any trouble in my travels thus far. The closest I've come was in VIE when some pusher pushed their product a little too emphatically for my liking, but nothing physical.

I did round a blind alley somewhere in FCO to take an elevator rather than walking up some urban incline and met a small group, 3-4 perhaps, of fairly unsavory characters complete with down & out canine; put on my best Canadian smile and when they asked for a smoke, gave them the half dozen or so I had left in the pack and bid them enjoy the Canuck cigarettes, smiled some more and got on the next elevator with a half wave goodbye. I have wondered to this day whether they were local ruffians, scruffy backpackers or "alternative" youths and whether I was actually in any, some or plenty real danger.

I've thought about buying a telescopic baton strictly for self-defence but am not sure whether customs officials would confiscate it as a weapon or not so haven't bothered. For now, think I'll just go low tech and buy a slightly larger Canadian maple leaf pin, make sure it is readily visible and hope it and my unassuming and slightly stupid Canadian smile work if needed at some unknown future time & date.

Thieves don't care at all about the nationality of their victims. They will go for whoever is (or seems like) an easy target. Foreign tourists often make easy targets but I have never heard thieves asking for passports before they decide to steal from you.

I'm sorry, I don't believe this for one moment. Events of over 60 years ago, which the vast proportion of the population were not even alive for, simply do not figure into most people's consciences, let alone how welcoming someone is to a particular nationality.

Most people are equally welcoming to all nationalities. Those who aren't... Well, that's either down to the individual host''s prejudices or the individual guest's behaviour.

I keep a 30cm long, 1X1X1 unbreakable clear plastic ruler with a metal edge along one side in the outer pocket of my hand baggage. It is heavy, hard and hurts like hell if you rap someone accross the head or hands with it. TSA or come to think of it, any security agency have ever considered it dangerous even though I keep it to use specifically as a weapon. I have had to use it before on a couple of yobo's on the District Line in London when they tried to relieve me of my mobile. I saw the try it on another passenger so I was ready. I think I might have caused one to have to get stitches on the head and the other just got beat across the hands and forearms. Both ran off into another carriage and presumably got off at Earlsfield. The policeman I later reported the event to in Wimbledon was very impressed with my choice of weapon. This ruler is over 20 years old but I got it at WHSmith ^