{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/belgium/bruges","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T00:42:59.309Z","place":{"city":"Bruges","country":"Belgium","countryCode":"BE","lat":51.20892,"lon":3.22424},"safety":{"score":86,"level":"VERY_SAFE","answer":"Yes — very safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":93,"confidence":0.83,"caps":[],"databaseScore":86,"travellerSentiment":{"score":87,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveller reports on forums and review sites describe feeling safe walking during daylight, though many note occasional petty theft in packed areas and a perception of overcrowding in the historic centre.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":85,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":84,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":87,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":79,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":90,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-06-05T14:23:26Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belgium"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-13T14:53:10.4800879-04:00","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":4.6,"display":"4.6 / 100k","year":"2021","score":86,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":67.9689981,"display":"68/100","year":"2024","score":68,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":79.0425834,"display":"79/100","year":"2024","score":79,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":77.5852129,"display":"78/100","year":"2024","score":78,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":74.5710173,"display":"75/100","year":"2024","score":75,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":74.4753152,"display":"74/100","year":"2024","score":74,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":83.0542039,"display":"83/100","year":"2024","score":83,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"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":53,"display":"US AQI 53 · Moderate","year":null,"score":89,"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":37,"display":"July: highs ~37°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"}],"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 — Bruges is one of Europe's safest cities for visitors.","summary":"World Bank data shows Bruges scores 86/100 on its composite safety index, with homicide rates well below the global average and terrorism deaths recorded as zero. The city enjoys high scores for everyday hazards, health, and environment, and crowdsourced sources consistently rate it as low‑risk for violent crime.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Armed robbery or mugging is extremely rare; isolated incidents have been reported near the railway station after dark"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing is common in crowded tourist areas like Markt, Rozenhoedkaai and the canal bridges, especially during summer festivals"},"safeAreas":["Historic Center","South Canal Belt","Station Area"],"avoidAreas":["North Port Area (near the port and industrial zone)","Commercial Shopping District (Winkel and Zuidzandstraat corridors)"],"scams":["Pickpocketing and bag‑snatching in crowded tourist spots such as Markt and Rozenhoedkaai","Fake pigeon‑poo distraction scam targeting tourists near canals","Overpriced or low‑quality services in the main tourist zones"],"zones":[{"name":"Historic Center (Market Square, Burg Square, Belfry area)","level":"caution","note":"high tourist density, pickpocket hotspot, police presence but stay alert especially after dark"},{"name":"South Canal Belt (including Minnewater and surrounding residential streets)","level":"safe","note":"well-lit, low crime, popular with families and couples, safe day and night"},{"name":"Station Area (Bruges railway station and immediate surroundings)","level":"caution","note":"good lighting and patrols but frequent petty theft targeting luggage-bearing travelers"},{"name":"Commercial Shopping District (Winkel and Zuidzandstraat corridors)","level":"caution","note":"busy daytime crowds, pickpocket risk, avoid lingering after dark"},{"name":"North Port Area (near the port and industrial zone)","level":"avoid","note":"limited foot traffic, higher incidence of opportunistic theft and unsanitary conditions reported"}]}}