Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Belgium due to crime, terrorism, and unrest. Crime Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations.”
Updated Thu, 23 Jul 2026
Full advisory →Personalize report nowTailor this report to you.Next: age, gender, group size preference…Next: the latest news and insightsNext: one click, 5 seconds, no costStart now5 districts
Is Aarschot safe? 🇧🇪
Belgium · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Aarschot scores 88/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — very safe. Yes. Aarschot is a very safe Flemish town for visitors, with low crime and minimal safety concerns. The main risks for visitors are tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Aarschot 🇧🇪
Belgium · Assessed 19 October 2026
88
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime85/100GoodCrime index 49.5 / 100
Sentiment89/100GoodMostly positive
Advisories75Good
Stability80Good
Health90Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
No advisory against travel
“National strike action Strike action is an ongoing issue that can cause disruption. Monitor local news and check with your provider regarding potential delays and closures.”
Updated 2026-10-17T19:49:24Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution
“Canada's official risk level for Belgium: exercise a high degree of caution.”
Updated 2026-10-09T09:37:02.707261-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Good
Mugging & robbery risk
Low risk
92
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Low risk
96
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
80 / 100 (Mostly positive)
80
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
28k residents
93
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
1.1 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6Belgium1.1World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
93
Robbery / mugging
LowArmed robbery is extremely rare in Aarschot; no recent incidents reported in the dossier.
Pickpocketing
LowPickpocketing occurs infrequently but can happen in crowded spots like markets or train stations; remain alert in busy areas.
▸ 4 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
89/100
Reported feel80Mostly positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk96Low risk
Expats and travelers describe Aarschot as genuinely safe and quiet, with minimal safety concerns in daily life, per a 2026 expat guide.
Yes. Aarschot is a very safe Flemish town for visitors, with low crime and minimal safety concerns.
Aarschot benefits from Belgium's strong safety indicators, including a low homicide rate and effective institutions, while its small size and quiet character keep risks like petty theft and scams infrequent. Recent reports describe it as genuinely safe for expats and travelers, with violent crime rare and standard precautions sufficient. Visitors should still guard against opportunistic pickpocketing in crowded areas and bike theft, as noted in local expat guidance.
Recent developments
- Sep 2026No recent safety incidents specific to Aarschot were found in the dossier; broader Belgian advisories cite ongoing strike action and petty crime in tourist hubs.— UK Foreign Office
Common scams
- distraction thefts in tourist areas
- fake charity petitions
Full briefing
Aarschot remains a quiet, safe town in Flanders with no recent safety incidents reported in the live dossier. Expat sources from September 2026 describe it as genuinely safe, where violent crime is rare and petty theft minimal compared to larger Belgian cities like Brussels or Antwerp. The main concerns noted are standard European issues: occasional bike theft and infrequent pickpocketing in crowded areas, which aligns with the town’s low population and calm atmosphere.
National advisories for Belgium urge increased caution due to crime, terrorism, and unrest, but these primarily affect major urban centers. The UK Foreign Office highlights ongoing national strike action as a potential disruption to transport and services, advising travelers to monitor local news. While distraction thefts and fake charity petitions are documented scams in Belgium, they are largely concentrated in tourist-heavy cities, making Aarschot a low-risk environment for such incidents.
Visitors should still take basic precautions: secure valuables in crowds using a money belt, lock bicycles to fixed objects even for brief stops, and stay alert to unsolicited help or distractions that could precede theft. With strong institutional ratings, low homicide rates, and no active disaster alerts, Aarschot offers a secure base for exploring the region, provided travelers exercise the same vigilance they would in any small European town.
Was this Aarschot, Belgium report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 5 Aarschot districts for visitors: 3 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Aarschot safety map.
Langs de DemercautionRiverside paths popular with joggers; isolated spots after dark warrant extra vigilance.
Industrieterrein NoordcautionIndustrial zone with limited foot traffic; low risk but avoid isolated areas late at night.
Aarschot CentrumsaferHistoric town centre with low crime; well-lit and patrolled; petty theft rare but possible in crowds.
SpoorwijksaferResidential area near train station; quiet, low incident reports; standard precautions advised.
Heilig-HartsaferLeafy suburb with family housing; minimal crime; safe day and night.
07 · After Dark
Is Aarschot safe at night?
64% of people in Belgium say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).
Armed robbery is extremely rare in Aarschot; no recent incidents reported in the dossier.
After dark, be most careful around Langs de Demer, Industrieterrein Noord. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Aarschot safety FAQ (2026)
Is Aarschot safe right now (2026)?
Yes. Aarschot is a very safe Flemish town for visitors, with low crime and minimal safety concerns. Aarschot benefits from Belgium's strong safety indicators, including a low homicide rate and effective institutions, while its small size and quiet character keep risks like petty theft and scams infrequent. Recent reports describe it as genuinely safe for expats and travelers, with violent crime rare and standard precautions sufficient. Visitors should still guard against opportunistic pickpocketing in crowded areas and bike theft, as noted in local expat guidance. (Assessed 19 October 2026.)
Is Aarschot safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Aarschot report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Aarschot should tourists avoid?
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
What are the most common scams in Aarschot (2026)?
- distraction thefts in tourist areas
- fake charity petitions
How does Aarschot compare with other places in Belgium (2026)?
Aarschot ranks #2 of 8 Belgium destinations we've assessed, scoring 88/100. See the Belgium safety overview for the full list.
How is this aarschot safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
More Belgium reports
6 reports
Nearby destinations
4 reports
Similar safety profile
4 reports
Keep exploring
Raw data: aarschot.json (CC BY 4.0).