Safest cities in Belgium
5 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in BelgiumTerrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Belgium.
Demonstrations and strikes
- Security awarenessIn the event of a security incident or any emergency, or if police carry out security operations at short notice, follow the instructions of the Belgian authorities.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsTheft and pickpocketing are common in crowded areas. Take care of your baggage and passports and beware of any attempts to distract you.
- TaxisOnly use official, licensed taxis. Do not get into taxis that stop to offer rides.
- Organised crimeThere are regular incidents of violent crime among organised crime gangs involved in drug trafficking, particularly in Brussels, Antwerp and other large cities. Confrontations between rival gangs have led to violent incidents including shootings, stabbings, and use of homemade explosives. The risk mostly affects those involved in drug crime, but…
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDYou must carry your passport with you at all times.
- Laws on clothingIt is illegal to wear clothing that hides your face partially or completely (for example, the burka and niqab) in public places. You risk a fine of up to 137 euros and detention for up to 7 days. There is no exemption for tourists.
- Illegal drugsPossession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs, including cannabis, are serious offences and can lead to a minimum 3-month prison sentence, long jail terms, or heavy fines. You should expect severe penalties even when transiting through the airport.
- Visiting battlefieldsWhen visiting WW1 battlefields in north-west Belgium, stay on the footpaths and be cautious if you see anything that looks like shells or munitions. Unexploded shells have recently been uncovered. Move away from the site and report incidents to the police.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Belgium, see information on driving abroad. Read the government information on driving laws in Belgium (in Flemish and French).
- Driving regulationsDriving laws differ from those in the UK. Be aware that:
- Low emission zonesThere are low emission zones in Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. You need to pre-register foreign vehicles on the Brussels , Ghent or Antwerp websites.
- Electric scooter regulationsThe maximum speed limit for riding an electric scooter is 25kph and riding with a passenger is illegal. Riding a scooter on the pavement is prohibited with the exception of people with reduced mobility using a mobility scooter.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Belgium, updated 2026-08-12 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 1.08 /100k2021
- Income inequality
- Gini 26.82023
- Human development
- HDI 0.9512023
- Income
- $75,620/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 5.8 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 68/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 79/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 69/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.91GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 8.4 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 100%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 3.6 doctors /1k5.4 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 6.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 2.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 1.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Belgium (as of 2025).
How Belgium compares
| Measure | Belgium | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.1 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.3 /100k — better for Belgium |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 26.8 | 35.2 | −8.4 — better for Belgium |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.951 | 0.763 | +0.188 — better for Belgium |
| Road deaths | 5.8 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −9.6 /100k — better for Belgium |
| Rule of law | 79/100 | 52/100 | +27/100 — better for Belgium |
| Corruption perceptions | 69/100 | 39/100 | +30/100 — better for Belgium |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 8.4 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −11.3 µg/m³ — better for Belgium |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.6/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.2/10 — better for Belgium |
| Measure | Belgium | Europe median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 1.1 /100k | 1.0 /100k | +0.1 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 26.8 | 30.7 | −3.9 — better for Belgium |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.951 | 0.907 | +0.044 — better for Belgium |
| Road deaths | 5.8 /100k | 5.6 /100k | +0.2 /100k — better for Europe median |
| Rule of law | 79/100 | 73/100 | +6/100 — better for Belgium |
| Corruption perceptions | 69/100 | 56/100 | +14/100 — better for Belgium |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 8.4 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | −3.4 µg/m³ — better for Belgium |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.6/10 | 2.5/10 | +0.1/10 — better for Europe median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.