Hi fellow punters

I am not new to the punting scene but am still an amateur. However I have been following several reports and have read some very interesting stories, which were damn well written I must say.

I have moved to Brussels and will be here for a 2.5 month period and would like to get just a few tips on the RLD as I have been getting contradicting information out of this forum regarding the safety of it at night.

So, is Linnestraat worth visiting, or only Rue D'aerschot?

Secondly, but more importantly, safety at night? Is it dangerous as some make it out to or is this just an illusion?

I think the board would also enjoy some clarity on the RLD of Brussels.

Any tips, advice and mannerisms that we should learn would be highly appreciated.

I found the Frankfurt RLD not stress full, nor scary, just excruciating with all those flights of stairs to cover...

Regards

M

I've visited most important RLD's from Belgium and the Netherlands and Aarschotstraat is the only RLD where I do not feel completely comfortably at night.

This is not based on a feeling or illusion but minor trouble and annoyances I've encountered on several occasions.
I like to walk around relaxed and for this reason I prefer not to visit it late at night.

And IMO it is got worse in the last 10 years...

I'm not saying that it is a dangerous place, you are just more likely to run into trouble than in let's say Antwerp/Den Haag/Utrecht/Amsterdam. You hear the same stories from other punters and working girls.

Just keep your eyes open, avoid contact. I avoid smoking - refusing to hand over a cigarette can be a reason for certain types to become aggressive.

I've mixed feelings about this.

At dark, the Rue d'Aerschot is indeed a place where you may run into the more aggressive part of Belgian society. Then again, the choice is plenty and service level can (YMMV) be pretty good. And there's an early morning shift, excellent for pre-work relaxation, which few RLD's have. Over all the years, I have been seriously harassed only once (fireworks thrown at me by a gang of meditteranean filth). Would I walk there in the mid of night ? No.

The comparison with Frankfurt is an interesting one. I, too, felt that Taunusstrasse was not the most pleasant place on earth, but mainly due to junkies, who on the whole were not really aggressive. If that was within your confort level, I would advisc to start with late afternoon walks along the Rue d'Aerschot. If it feels allright, go over to early evenings.

There is pretty frequent police patrolling, by the way. And Jefke's advice of keeping cool and lcovered makes excelent sense.

The sidestreets are only interesting if you like (African) blacks in very very very mature state.

good luck,

Gaston.

Thanks a lot, it did clarify my questions and put it into some kind of perspective.

Fortunately it currently only gets dark quite late, so that does help a bit I guess. I will follow the advice and start after work walks and see the area for myself.

I am however excited for the Amsterdam trip, which fortunately is only a few hours from here.

Regards

M

I visited Brussels RLD on a summer night and had someone try to take my watch, so yeah it's not the most safe RLD around.



Why not visit the RLD in Antwerp instead? IMHO it is a virtually a match for Amsterdam. There a few trip reports / reviews on this forum about Antwerp.

bb69

We returned on Monday from a weekend in Brussels; Had a couple of walks around the RLD, but didnt partake on this trip. The area wasnt the most inviting and at times, felt intimidated or quite insecure and we were walking as a couple. Walking along rue d'aerschot, it is not the most appealing of places, with plenty of litter and traffic - pedestrian and car, and the smell from the uriniator lingered long all along the road.

On Sunday there were groups of police who were stopping certain pedestrians and checking credentials, one was arrested.

The rooms are like shops, not the Kamers in Amsterdam and Gent (the only other places we have visited like this) and as everyone has said, those up the hilly streets are African, there are a couple of younger ones who appeared quite friendly and seemed approachable, although I did feel that because of the groups of men on corners and the whole vibe of the place you would not want to go late at night imho at least.

we are well used to the rld in amsterdam and enjoy the area, but were not exactly comfortable here, either of us.

We are returning to Brussels in a few weeks, and will have another look around the area, but will stick to days or early light evenings.

Bear

I was indeed considering Antwerpen as well billybob69 and will def try it out as well. The reason why I was keen for Amsterdam, well, I haven't smoked in ages. But I will pop over the border, which is another 20 min or so.

The Brussels RLD district I will explore sometime when I have got time, and enough daylight to support me, sort of like Will Smith in "I am Legend". As I am not too keen on that whole uncomfortable feeling :)


Either way, thanks for the contribution, I will share my tale when the time has come.

Whilst I don't dispute any of the guys claims of problems they have encountered in the rue d'aerschot area, I will say that for what its worth I have personally never had any issues or felt unsafe in my meanderings. I've happily strolled the area, sometimes late at night, generally stoned and a tad refreshed from the fine local ales without confronting problem people or situations. Heavens I've even darkened the doors of those crappy bars along the street itself and enjoyed the odd beer amongst the various flotsam and jetsam.

I wouldn't exactly describe myself as a regular but I've visited a couple of times a year over quite a period. They just need to open a bar with a good beer selection within a stones throw of the north station to beckon me back more frequently.

I say go, enjoy, and just keep your wits about you as you would in everyday life.

I just came from there, and think I would have been mugged except that a cop drove by at the right moment. I was on one of the side streets. I think if I would have dressed down though, I would have been fine. I guess it was kind of stupid of me to go into an area like that with a 500 euro leather jacket and wearing a Tag Heuer.

I usually get to Brussels a couple of times a year and have never been intimidated walking along Rue d'Aerschot. I wouldnt bother with Linnestraat. If you do feel nervous about heading down to d'Aerschot I'd advise that you go there during daylight hours the first couple of times until you get to know the area better, sticking to the one street - theres nothing on any of the streets off d'Aerschot - and can gauge it for yourself.

Theres a fairly decent selection of girls in the afternoon/evening too! Happy hunting!

Having been to the Brussels RLD, it is still considered fairly safe. I was never personally involved or saw any form of potential criminal activity. It is not as safe and as tourist friendly as the Amsterdam RLD but it is still acceptable. As for the selection of girls, if you like Eastern Europeans...you are in luck in Brussels.

Nevertheless its best to keep your wallet in a safe place (not the back pocket). Same with expensive smartphones, juwelry, etc... Had my wallet stolen once at 2-3 AM but luckily I managed to take it back.

Brussels is certainly full of younger ee girls. Loads of them with some milfs too. One thing I missed was the side streets and plan on returning and making seeing those streets my priority. The peep show is also excellent and has a live sex show too. As for the safety of the rld, I visited in the day time/early evening and it seemed fine. The main train station seemed strange though. Loads of undesirables hanging around playing loud music!!! In England they'd be moved on but it didn't seem to be the case here.