fashionable Antwerp has several dandy neighborhoods to boast about Besides prominent hubs Het Eilandje and Het Zuid lesser-known treasures such as a one-street Chinatown and unexpected vintage-haven Sint-Andries deserve their time in the sun dedicated to the eponymous Antwerp cruiser company and the millions of emigrants it carried overseas © glasseyes view / Flickr Borgerhout doesn’t enjoy the best rep in the press and is admittedly a bit rough around the edges, but underneath the surface bubbles a bunch of creative energy. The district behind the Central Station has a little bit of everything: Turkish and Moroccan immigrants, young boho writers, fresh-faced families, and co-housing fans—they all feel their unpolished home is something special. Cultural and social pillar bar none is De Roma a classic cinema from 1928 rescued by enthusiastic local volunteers The abandoned pitch factory known as Pekfabriek is a constant source of impromptu underground dance parties for those in the know; concert hub Trix attracts alternative acts from across the globe and young music festival Borgerwood bathes the neighborhood in local indie and electronic talent For a taste of the terrific energy during the day where vintage décor bars provide comfort and a place for creatives to blow off steam import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_1"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(window.canRunAmazon) { const amazonService = new AmazonBidService(); promises.push(amazonService.fetchBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Het Zuid © Bettina Zuric / Flickr Not so much a neighborhood as it is one colorful street visible from Central Station Antwerp’s Chinatown (the only official one in Belgium) first attracts attention with its bright-red the approximately 250-meter-long (820 feet) Van Wesenbekestraat holds a surprising smattering of solid Asian eateries wonton dumplings made the proper traditional way and democratically priced fortune cookies await Just don’t get scared off by some of the establishments’ plain or shabby looks; unremarkable-seeming canteens such as Ting Kee Mie and Bai Wei offer some of the best Peking Duck and other Asian cuisine classics in town import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_2"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Zurenborg © Dave Van Laere / courtesy of Visit Antwerp The image that pops in most travelers’ minds when thinking of Zurenborg is the Cogels-Osylei the avenue lined with extravagant turn-of-the-century villas in a rainbow of architectural styles isn’t what has captured locals’ hearts about the the hip district southeast of Antwerp’s city core although its general prettiness doesn’t hurt Homey squares Draakplaats and Dageraadplaats with their terraced bars and yummy restaurants are a big reason for the cozy atmosphere that lives in this residential neighborhood They easily pull in locals from the other side of town for laid-back nights or sunny afternoons with friends hipsters on cargo bikes riding through picturesque streets—more specifically the Guldenvliesstraat Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy View Tours >> Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd The page you are looking for cannot be found You may have followed a broken or outdated link The son of King Albert II and Queen Paola, Philippe Leopold Louis Marie was born in Brussels on April 15 The future Belgian King was educated at College Saint-Michel in the Belgian capital and then the Abdijschool van Zevenkerken in Sint-Andries-Brugge This was followed by a four-year stint (from 1978 to 1981) at the Royal Military Academy and training in the Belgian Armed Forces as both a pilot and paratrooper and went on to receive a graduate degree in political science from California's Stanford University Having reached the mid-90s still a bachelor began to see calls from the general public for him to step aside in the line of succession in favour of his younger sister the Prince gave the Belgian people their longed-for Crown Princess Prince Philippe met 23-year-old aristocrat Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz while playing tennis in 1996 the heir to the throne and the young speech therapist declared they were ready to tie the knot in an engagement announcement which surprised many in 1999 It was not long before she had won the hearts of the Belgian people The then crown prince and princess welcomed their first child, Princess Elisabeth and when she eventually ascends to the throne will become the first female Belgian monarch in 171 years thanks to a law in 1991 that ended exclusively male succession "I hope that my daughter will be a great Queen," said Philippe not long after Elisabeth's arrival More children followed the birth of the couple's first child, with Prince Gabriel arriving in 2003 Prince Emmanuel in October of 2005 and Princess Eleonore in 2008 the couple took on the ultimate responsibility when King Albert abdicated in his son's favour on 21 July He was sworn in as the Belgian King an hour after his father abdicated For more news about King Philippe, click here. For all the latest on the Belgian royal family, see here. This is the moment a pilot miraculously survived a plane crash that saw his aircraft parachute nose-first down to earth after a mid-air emergency in Belgium. Video taken from the ground captured the descent of the aircraft, which came into trouble somewhere near the city of Bruges on Friday. Reports said witnesses heard an explosion in the sky above them. When they looked up, they saw the plane steadily parachuting down from the sky. It was at this point that footage of the incident began, showing the small aircraft hanging under the canopy of the red and white parachute, swinging from side to side in the wind as it descended.  At first, the plane appears to be travelling slowly, but as it approaches the ground and drifts over trees and lampposts, it is clear it is coming down with some speed. With a loud crash, the plane lands propeller-first on the side of a road in Sint-Andries, its left wing crashing down on top of a white van and a fence. The fence and van propped the plane up so that it landed in the same position as it was when it was coming back to earth, with its tail pointing up towards the sky. Miraculously, the pilot survived the crash, and walked away with only minor injuries.  Officials, who described the pilot as experienced, said he was being treated. They did not name him. They noted that the pilot's decision to deploy the Ballistic Recovery System (BRS), which launches the parachute, almost certainly saved his life.  Fire officers attended the scene as a precaution against any possible oil spills, with pictures of the aftermath of the crash showing foam on the road around the plane.  Aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. It was not reported what the emergency was that the pilot faced. According to Aviation A2Z, the plane involved in Friday's crash was a Dyn’Aéro MCR01 - a two-seat, carbon fibre light aircraft. A Ballistic Recovery System is designed to avoid a 'hard crash' - and to save both the pilot and the whole aircraft in case of a flying emergency. To deploy, the pilot must pull a lever which fires the parachute out the rear of the plane, which then allows the plane a relatively soft landing. Only small planes have such Ballistic Recovery Systems installed on account of their weight. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... 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Belgian pilot miraculously survives plane crashCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Belgium: Gustaf Nilsson shot Club Brugge to a 2-1 win over Atalanta on Wednesday with a controversial penalty in stoppage time to boost the Belgians' chances of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League Atalanta looked to be escaping Bruges with a draw after Mario Pasalic's fine header four minutes before half-time levelled Ferran Jutgla's fabulous opener for the hosts But Nilsson won and then netted the decisive penalty at the Jan Breydel Stadium delighting home fans and enraging Atalanta who could barely believe that the spot-kick had even been awarded Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini stormed down the tunnel before the final whistle in anger while his players continued to protest at the end of the match Nilsson had crumpled to the turf after being grazed on the face by Isak Hien's left fingers as the Atalanta defender ran to collect the ball in his own area Hien couldn't believe his eyes when referee Umut Meler pointed to the spot and gave Nilsson the chance to fire Club Brugge to a win which they might have otherwise deserved for their enterprising performance in front of passionate home support Club Brugge take a slender lead to next Tuesday's second leg in Bergamo where Atalanta will be fired up to go through and face one of Aston Villa or Lille in the next round The TimesBelgium’s second city is famous both for its diamond trade and trendsetting fashion designers There’s also a country-leading art museum scene Renaissance-style guildhalls testify to Antwerp’s golden age: a 16th-century heyday when 40 per cent of all global trade passed through its still-powerful port ever-improving food and one of Europe’s most beautiful railway stations in the shape of Antwerp Central High-speed services from here conveniently connect to Brussels in 45 minutes — or to London in under three hours is how Antwerp is big enough to have distinct yet not so humongous that you can’t happily roam around on foot discovering cafés on cobbled lanes below tinkling churches tree-shaded squares hosting markets or basketball games or down towards the trendy Zuid (South) district Skip the diamond quarter — it’s consigned to a couple of streets near Antwerp Central where business happens behind carefully locked doors — in favour of Diva a jewellery-themed history museum just off Grote Markt that has glittering gems in subterranean displays Close to boutiques by the likes of Dries van Noten you’ll find MoMu where you can learn about the pioneering Antwerp Six designers a Unesco-protected space containing the world’s oldest printing press The best space is the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (don’t confuse this with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts college when using a map) whose rebooted layout and white-walled extension wackily arrange works by defined themes rather than chronology or discipline so that classic paintings by Jan van Eyck are situated alongside contemporary art and video installations Peter Paul Rubens lived and worked in Antwerp but his home two of the master’s canvases can be admired inside the Cathedral of Our Lady — once you’ve finished admiring its equally impressive gothic exterior Antwerp is mostly assembled east of the Scheldt river crosses the river from near the Plantin-Moretus Museum where the trading-focused exhibits are overshadowed by a red-sandstone-and-glass facade and the terrific port views from its rooftop Antwerp got its first five-star hotel in 2022 Occupying a 15th-century former convent next to small but lovely botanical gardens the Botanic Sanctuary already has three Michelin-starred restaurants and a three-floor spa amid its gabled complex luxurious residences with classy but contemporary design line the historic centre’s eastern fringes: places such as Hotel de Witte Lelie the garden-hugged Hotel Flora and the pied-à-terre-like Hotel Franq A handier option lies along a quiet side street just yards from the Scheldt: Hotel ‘t Sandt has 29 distinct beautiful bedrooms and a large lounge in what was once a warehouse where Europe’s first bananas were supposedly stowed There are lots of cheaper boutiques around here — the hip Matelote repurposing another centuries-old building is a good example — and further south in the cool Sint-Andries district Staying firmly inside that historic city centre might be convenient but you could endure noise and limited space in upmarket digs and budget stays alike Larger chain hotels around the N1 main road near Antwerp Central are a bit of a walk from most things but handy for quick departures — although metro lines also connect to the station • Best hotels in Antwerp Antwerp is one of those cities where every street seems festooned with dining terraces With many places around Grote Markt predictably foxing tourists with overpriced dishes of subpar quality you’re better off retreating ever so slightly to the fringes the revived district of Het Eilandje (Little Island) stretches from the striking MAS museum to dame Zaha Hadid’s equally memorable Port House building — a jagged diamond-like extension atop an austere old fire station — and hosts several solid brasseries Sint-Andries is another option; it’s got that relaxed neighbourhood feel and no end of coffee bars brunch options or bistros along Volkstraat or down a connecting street easily missed facade leads into a high-ceilinged space Its original stained glass and price-listed blackboard survive now accompanied by funky lights and pot plants Ambitious small plates are served while experimental electro plays While dining is fairly pricey in Antwerp — mains exceeding €20 (£17) are common — there are ways to save Falafel tends to be cheap and of good quality you could survive on a classic: open most hours below the cathedral Frituur No 1 dishes out big portions of quality frites for a pittance tasting tours of the mighty De Koninck Brewery Chocolate Nation is a museum for the sweet-toothed opposite Antwerp Central the southern fringe of the Zurenborg neighbourhood is home to something wondrous: half a dozen streets replete with art nouveau townhouses It’s a fantasia of domes and spears; of seasonal motifs and murals pointing out the most notable spots and offering some detailed history but it is equally possible — and fun — to just wander around solo Just to the north is the speciality coffee shop and café Rush Rush — a great place in which to sit and edit your hundreds of awestruck photos as locals catch up over cappuccinos or sandwiches with nearly everywhere accepting contactless payment Lots of shops and restaurants close on Sundays although you’ll find Sint-Andries’ antiques stores along Kloosterstraat open for business The areas immediately north of Antwerp Central station Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here TravelDestinationsEuropeMore from AntwerpMore from BelgiumBelgium 18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Gambleaware.org Aston Villa will travel to Bruges, Belgium, on 4 March to face Club Brugge at Jan Breydel Stadium for a crucial round of 16 clash Aston Villa had a great time in the Champions League group stage making it into the round of 16 nearly flawlessly Club Brugge was one of the sides to beat Villa in the Group Stage So Villa will be hoping they can bounce back over the two legs If you are among the Aston Villa fans travelling to Brugge this post offers a comprehensive matchday guide including recommendations for where to eat and drink Based on the number of tickets allocated for this game away to Brugge there will be a total of 1,470 visiting fans at Jan Breydel Stadium when Aston Villa clashes with Club Brugge much like when the two met in November 2024 many more fans are expected to travel to the city.  If you have yet to buy Club Brugge vs Aston tickets note that the away end was close to being sold out at the time of this publication However, we expect more Villa fans in Bruge because some supporters are expected to buy tickets from third-party resale platforms. We recently reviewed LiveFootballTickets and Seatpick both of which are options for fans looking to purchase tickets from third-party sites you will need to pay more than the face value of the tickets if you choose this option this eliminates the need to buy memberships to obtain match tickets Note that tickets from third-party platforms are neither sanctioned by the respective competing teams nor UEFA Aston Villa can confirm ticket details for our trip to Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League Aston Villa fans in Brugge will occupy the south-east section of the stadium will be used by the Aston Villa fans in Brugge on matchday For Aston Villa fans in Brugge who have booked category one seats While Jay Breydel Stadium is situated in a quiet neighbourhood Aston Villa fans in Brugge can still find plenty of pubs and restaurants in the vicinity Here are some great spots where Villa fans travelling to Bruges Belgium can visit for a good pint during the half-time break or after the Champions League night on Wednesday 6 November 2024 The Cercle Brugge Stadium is located approximately 3.5 km from the Brugge city centre parking can be quite limited despite the stadium being outside the city center driving may not be the best option due to the challenges of finding a parking spot using a satellite navigation system with the following addresses for directions is recommended: Reaching the ground is a convenient experience with the local train or metro services Fans can hop on either Line 5 or Line 15 at the central railway station enjoying a scenic 15-minute journey toward Sint-Andries Once they disembark at the Sint-Andries stop it's just a leisurely five-minute stroll to the stadium allowing fans to soak in the atmosphere as they approach the venue Aston Villa has thoughtfully arranged a travel itinerary for their supporters in Bruges which includes a shuttle bus service commencing at 4:30 PM on matchday Fans can board Bus Line 3 and disembark at Diksmuide Heirweg the nearest bus station to the iconic Jan Breydel Stadium making it a hassle-free option for those looking to enjoy the match For those who prefer the charm of train travel over the shuttle bus Andries will lead you directly to Club Brugge's station it's only a breezy five-minute walk to the stadium allowing fans to relish the excitement building around them as they get closer to the action the West Midlands Police Force Football Unit released some tips for fans ahead of the club's first trip While no new information has been released for the next set of fixtures dir=”ltr”>Fans can enjoy the whole City Centre of Bruges There are 2 large squares that will be welcoming to supporters These are Grand Place and Bruges City Hall They're close together and are surrounded by Bars and Restaurants There will be no away fans within the City Centre — Aston Villa Police (@WMPVillaFC) November 1, 2024 With a chance to play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on the line While they'll have a second leg at home to fix any issues Villa will want to lay the foundation in the first leg While they lost when the two sides met before Villa will feel they are the favourites for this set of fixtures FootballGroundGuide » Latest Football Stadium and Fan News » Aston Villa fans in Brugge: Full matchday guide to Jan Breydel Stadium but there are many picturesque cities and to choose from when looking at where to live in Belgium By Gary Buswell Beyond living in Brussels there are plenty of Belgian cities and communes that make great homes for expatriates moving to Belgium. With good road networks in Belgium it’s possible to live farther afield than Brussels and commute to work With Belgium renowned for having some of the worst traffic jams in Europe, being connected to the Belgian public transport system may also help you consider where to live in Belgium Here are some of the best Belgian cities to live in Spotahome takes the hassle out of househunting by doing the hard work for you and book rental properties all from the comfort of your own home Take the stress out of househunting in Belgium with Spotahome one of which is actually called the City of Brussels The best municipalities in Brussels include Etterbeek and Ixelles (Dutch: Elsene) if you’re looking for beautiful architecture and cultural amenities; Uccle (Dutch: Ukkel) if you’re into green living; and Anderlecht if you’re after somewhere a bit cheaper The city is ideal if you want to be at the center of where everything’s going on there are probably better cities if you want a quiet environment or affordability Read more about the cost of living in Brussels Antwerp (Antwerpen) offers a truly multicultural environment with an ingrained mix of nationalities. There is a well-sized population of British and American families and a good choice of English-speaking clubs and societies, plus several international schools which has the feel of a village within the city Take a look into the cost of living in Antwerp. You can also read more in our guide to the best neighborhoods in Antwerp Popularly known as the northern Venice, Bruges (Brugge) is one of Belgium’s most attractive cities with its cobbled lanes Living in this little UNESCO World Heritage city takes you to Belgium’s historic past while still enjoying the comfort of a lively and modern atmosphere Those seeking more action will find it in the Markt and eastern Burg neighborhoods. Both neighborhoods boast Bruges’ main attractions, such as the Belfry Tower and a steady stream of horse-drawn carriages If you have children or prefer to stay away from the center bustle the districts in the outer ring beyond the canals are a good option and Sint-Michiels are four of the most popular residential neighborhoods outside Bruges’ center Read up more on the cost of living in Bruges there’s also plenty of river-view apartments The most popular locations for expats in Gent’s city center are Muinparkwijk with its’ affordable houses and gardens full of old houses and a delightful river running through it Patershol and Prinsenhof are lively central areas of winding cobbled streets and museums but for a quieter central neighborhood southeast Visserij offers leafy paths along a waterfront and rows of terraced housing that adjoin grand manor houses and industrial lofts Read more about the cost of living in Gent This area outside the Brussels region is a French-speaking enclave in the Flemish belt. The most expensive part to live is by the lake with its Geneva-style waterspout Rixensart is just a 20-minute train journey away from the center of Brussels Property and rent prices are generally cheaper in Leuven than its’ big-city counterparts, thus catering to the student crowd. Lower living costs so it’s vital to do your research early before moving to Leuven Leuven has five deelgemeenten (submunicipalities): Leuven The center of Liège has a good stock of apartment buildings and expats tend to gather around a cluster of streets including Boulevards Frère-Orban and Piercot the island area in the middle of the river Meuse is becoming a desirable area for its cultural character The city center is also renowned for its folk festivals and varied nightlife Suburban living includes the university area of Sart-Tilman and also Cointe and Embourg Expat families can easily commute from surrounding areas if they want more space or school options is now a thriving cosmopolitan hotspot for both the working professional and young families alike Comprising five different styled districts: Baraque ranging from lively bars and restaurants to cultural gems such as the Hergé Museum As the focus here is on sustainability and environmental awareness giving plenty of options for you to enjoy nature in the nearby woods and around the central lake Being conveniently located just 30 kilometers southeast of Brussels it’s an attractive option for the cross-border commuter Louvain-la-Neuve hosts 24h Velo, the biggest student party in Belgium. Other key attractions include the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park and the Musée Hergé In this officially Dutch-speaking area, you’ll hear French and English on the streets among a number of other languages. A large population of expats love the lush country living at the edge of Brussels, with its great park surrounding the Africa Museum and the British School of Brussels at its heart As Tervuren is one of the richer areas of Belgium with acres of land and a real sense of owning your own patch Public transportation options are certainly adequate with a handful of bus routes It’s also at the end of one of the world’s most beautiful tramlines: Line 44 which connects Tervuren with the Montgomery metro station in the Bruxelloise municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre Read up more on the cost of living in Tervuren Waterloo is a small French-speaking municipality popular for its self-containment meaning there is no need to take the train in and out of Brussels when you need something It consists of six districts: Faubourg Ouest It’s a popular area for expats with a raft of international schools and cheaper housing options than Brussels Around 20% of the population is non-Belgian plus there’s a good high street of shops and clusters of big out-of-town shopping centers It has become particularly popular with Americans and Scandinavians Learn more about the cost of living in Waterloo Belgium is a very family-friendly country to live in. It has good educational, healthcare and cultural facilities in all the main cities Belgium is generally quite a safe place to live In terms of living costs, the Brussels-Capital Region is the most expensive for house prices according to Statbel you might want to consider Waterloo or Liège if you’re looking to economize The main Belgian cities all have their crime hotspots, but there are plenty of safe suburban areas. Brussels has the highest crime of any major Belgian city but ranks 24th on the 2019 Safe Cities Index measuring cities worldwide Although Belgium is divided into French- and Dutch-speaking regions English is widely spoken across the country Antwerp is a popular place for those looking for English speakers as it has sizeable anglophone expat communities Tervuren has a tranquil rural feel with plenty of countryside and large housing that attracts retirees Gent and Rixensart also both score highly in terms of quality of life and scenic beauty Young singles moving to Belgium are likely to value vibrant culture and nightlife, a good dating scene are the most renowned for their nightclubbing and dating scenes Liège and Bruges also have good nightlife and plenty of cultural attractions that make for good dating opportunities In terms of student populations, Leuven, Gent, and Louvain-de-Neuve are all home to universities that feature highly in the 2020 QS World University Rankings Gent and Leuven are two good quality cities that are slightly cheaper than the likes of Brussels and Antwerp, with accommodation and general living costs aimed more at the large student populations Housing costs in Belgium are generally cheaper in the French-speaking Wallonia rising slightly in Dutch-speaking Flanders there are variations within the regions and within cities themselves Brussels is unsurprisingly the city that attracts most expats looking to find a job or start a business It’s the city with the largest economy in Belgium and is also home to both the NATO headquarters and multiple EU institutions Brussels has also been ranked as the 44th best city in the world for startup businesses and has a thriving community of entrepreneurs Antwerp is another good city for jobs and business Its GDP per capita is not far off that of Brussels The economy there is dominated by the petrochemical industry which is the second-largest in the world after Houston in the United States and Ieper (Ypres) all have strong tourism sectors so tend to have plenty of jobs during the peak summer season Liège is the most powerful economic city in Wallonia with a growing and diverse technology sector From a regional perspective, the Brussels-Capital Region is the strongest economically and has the highest average salaries Wallonia has lower salaries and a smaller GDP per capita than Brussels or Flanders All cities, even the best ones, have their less desirable areas. Belgian cities are no different. Brussels has some areas with run-down facilities and higher crime rates. According to a 2018 report the neighborhoods in Brussels with the highest crime rates are Quartier Nord (in the City of Brussels French: Quartier Brabant in Schaerbeek/Schaarbeek Antwerp has fewer troublesome neighborhoods but areas best avoided are those close to Antwerp Centraal Station and around the port and docks The Belgian city with the worst reputation is Charleroi in French-speaking Wallonia. It has ranked worst on the country’s crime and safety index. Furthermore, Charleroi suffered the ignominy of being called the ugliest city in the world Gary has been freelancing for Expatica since 2016 An expert writer with experience in social research and community development he focuses on topics such as politics and current affairs Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player