{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/belgium/aarschot","updatedAt":"2026-10-19T18:13:40.116Z","place":{"city":"Aarschot","country":"Belgium","countryCode":"BE","lat":50.98715,"lon":4.83695},"safety":{"score":88,"level":"VERY_SAFE","answer":"Yes — very safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":94,"confidence":0.89,"caps":[],"databaseScore":88,"travellerSentiment":{"score":89,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Expats and travelers describe Aarschot as genuinely safe and quiet, with minimal safety concerns in daily life, per a 2026 expat guide.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":80,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":96,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":85,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":89,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":75,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":80,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":90,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Thu, 23 Jul 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.bel.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-10-17T19:49:24Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belgium"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-10-09T09:37:02.707261-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/belgium"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":1.08030153549307,"display":"1.1 / 100k","year":"2021","score":93,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":0.4,"display":"0.4%","year":"2020","score":100,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":4.4,"display":"4.4 / 100k","year":"2023","score":86,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":68.6350103,"display":"69/100","year":"2025","score":69,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":79.4927188,"display":"79/100","year":"2025","score":79,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":75.5563463,"display":"76/100","year":"2025","score":76,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":79.3147266,"display":"79/100","year":"2025","score":79,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":76.3367664,"display":"76/100","year":"2025","score":76,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":83.9092316,"display":"84/100","year":"2025","score":84,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":27656,"display":"28k residents","year":null,"score":93,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":49.5,"display":"49.5 / 100","year":null,"score":55,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":64.3,"display":"64.3%","year":"2024","score":65,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":2.4,"display":"2.4%","year":"2024","score":87,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":1,"display":"1.0%","year":"2024","score":88,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.71,"display":"0.71 / 100k","year":"2024","score":82,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":10,"display":"10.0%","year":"2021","score":76,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":55,"display":"US AQI 55 · Moderate","year":null,"score":88,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":54.219734252,"display":"54 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":92,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":18,"display":"October: highs ~18°C · strong winds","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":75,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":96,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":80,"display":"80 / 100 (Mostly positive)","year":null,"score":80,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes. Aarschot is a very safe Flemish town for visitors, with low crime and minimal safety concerns.","summary":"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.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Armed robbery is extremely rare in Aarschot; no recent incidents reported in the dossier."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Pickpocketing occurs infrequently but can happen in crowded spots like markets or train stations; remain alert in busy areas."},"safeAreas":["Aarschot Centrum","Spoorwijk","Heilig-Hart"],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":["distraction thefts in tourist areas","fake charity petitions"],"zones":[{"name":"Aarschot Centrum","level":"safe","note":"Historic town centre with low crime; well-lit and patrolled; petty theft rare but possible in crowds."},{"name":"Spoorwijk","level":"safe","note":"Residential area near train station; quiet, low incident reports; standard precautions advised."},{"name":"Heilig-Hart","level":"safe","note":"Leafy suburb with family housing; minimal crime; safe day and night."},{"name":"Langs de Demer","level":"caution","note":"Riverside paths popular with joggers; isolated spots after dark warrant extra vigilance."},{"name":"Industrieterrein Noord","level":"caution","note":"Industrial zone with limited foot traffic; low risk but avoid isolated areas late at night."}]}}