Antwerp Travel Forum

I have read many posts warning about the area around the train station at night. There isn't police crews around there?

Things could happen like killing or stealing the money.

What about Pimps, what could they do?

What is the time I should avoid being there? (after ...?)

Nobody is going to kill you or steal your money. It's Belgium for heaven's sake.
What on earth is a pimp going to do to you? :))

Don't worry. Keep your valuables safe and use common sense. Where did you read this?

So far I have never been robbed there.
coincidally such things can happen everywhere.
Police is present at most "troubling" places and there are cams all over the city so don't forget to smile hahaha
no but it is quite secure it only doesn't look like it if you compare it to other places.

I read this in the following link from VT:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Belgium/Provincie_Antwerpen/Antwerp-358974/Warnings_or_Dangers-Antwerp-places_better_to_avoid_at_night-BR-1.html


I don't plan to circle around there all the night, but in case I come back by train about 11:00PM or 1:00AM. So, I was wondering how the area will be at that time.

Thank you all for the guide.

Well that's interesting. Half of those tip writers are Belgian, so I guess you should take it seriously. More interesting is that all of the tip writers are guys. There's only one girl that writes a tip about this and she's the only one offering to come to the rescue! hahaha.

See http://wikitravel.org/en/Antwerp (right at the bottom) for some safety advice from another source. Which is also a reassurance.

There is one tip that I would agree with, that is that compaired to other big cities, we might have lesser dangerous places.
Lesser doesn't mean no one ever will have problems there.
The tips are written in 2002 and 2003 and I am not sure about the stabbing of Eric (how dreadful!): the tip is written in 2006 but he also became member then.
I remember my brother in law once was threathened with a knife and stolen all his money and that was in the same neighborhood of Conincksplein, wich is a couple of minutes walk from the station. But this happened about 20 years ago.
The place is indeed an area where less fortunate hang around and in the beginning of the Statiestraat (sidestreet of Astridplein) there are 2 pubs where these people hang out from morning till evening and till next morning.

But police is often around and especially if you are talking about hours of 11 pm till 1 am... that is still evening here :)
As long as the station is open there is police around.
Recently (past years) there have been put camera's on Astridplein; at Conincksplein (several!). On top of that at places as Conincksplein are more police around and recently also on Groenplaats, because some ppl can be an embarassement or an annoyance to others.

Just close to the station are jewelry shops so be sure there are more camera's hanging in that area then we know about.

De Statiestraat has some nice cheap restaurants (of which one Malaisian I can recomend) and is quite safe if you don't go into discussion with any drunk in one of those 2 pubs.
I don't think you need to be at Conincksplein but if you like make a walk there during daytime. The African community usually sleeps till late afternoon and then stays up till early hours.

I have often taken the last train or tram back home and I survived till know (knock on wood).
And should you want to go into the city centre on late hours then you always can take a taxi back if you don't want to make the walk.

oh... the same brother-in-law also got kicked of his bicycle, robbed and taken all his money around 7 a 8 pm at daylight on a walking cycling path in my city, which is known to be perfectly safe...
You can not always predict things...

correction: the Malaysian restaurant is not as cheap as the others but it is very good :)

oh and in the Statiestraat I just went to a baptizing party (but I left early as it was on a Sunday) in a disco you might find unsafe too. But I know some one who is mostly around there. He is also VT member Chibuzor... if the girl doesn't hear you, you might try him :)
Sometimes things looks more threatening then they are.
Don't worry :)
and besides this place is so plenty colourful they won't even notice you are a tourist that might have money.
oh and don't take any offer of buying watches or cloths... they are all fake brands... and sure never buy gold from any, it is all fake.
Only buy in the shops and never show in public how much money is in your wallet.
If you go for a drink, keep some notes seperate to pay with.
I sometimes do in places I don't feel safe a 100 %, but that is more often abroad.

What the pimps could do ?

depends how much you pay. . . . .

H Dannie

groetjes uit Las vegas

het is hier 1.17 en nog altijd f***king hot

greetz

F.

oh you funny people! :-)

Hi Bashir,

nothing to worry about in the Antwerp Railway Station area. They renovated this area completely and no problems at all.

I live close to this place and have nothing to complain about.
Enjoy your stay in Antwerp, you will definitely like it.

LOL Flipke! one time you are with gorilla's, then in a Venetian mascarade
now between the slot machines! :)
what is most dangerous to lose your money ?
the Las Vega's slot machines or the pimps hahaha

sorry for this intermezzo !

I am really looking forward to visiting Antwerp later this month, after reading this posting!

Be welcome but keep the place safe :)

Oh ... did I make a fire!

Thanks all of your comments and guidance. Dannie ... you love your city too much.

That is not the only thing in this city. I should read few sources before I come on 2nd of Sept. Should anyone guide me to local offices who have short tour to surrounding areas around Antwerp. OR any local resident who can volunteer to do that (2 or 3 hours). I want to see the nature places around there, but not the sea.

hahaha we loke to joke :)
I will check my agenda.