Is Antwerp safe?
Safe in visitor areas with normal care. Pickpockets and station-area nuisance exist; drug-gang violence is mostly outside tourist zones.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2026-07-22.
- Homicide rate in Belgium: 1.1 per 100,000 people (2021, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Belgium: 5.8 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 101 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Antwerp at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing around Centraal station and Meir, bike theft, phone snatching, and drug-related incidents in a few outer districts. |
| At night | Bars on Groenplaats, Schuttershofstraat and Het Zuid are lively and generally safe. Trams and buses slow around midnight; use Bolt or Uber. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women in central areas. Expect some catcalling near the station at night; app rides are easy. |
| Other risks | Tram and cycle-lane collisions; Slippery cobblestones in wet weather |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake charity collectors asking for signatures and donations
- Overpriced tourist-menu restaurants near Grote Markt
- Distraction thefts around Centraal station
Take care
- Around Centraal station late at night: pickpockets and drunks
- Parts of Borgerhout and Antwerpen-Noord after dark: drug-related violence
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Carry your passport or ID; police may ask for identification.
- Cannabis remains illegal, despite tolerance of small amounts for adults.
How Antwerp compares in Belgium
Quick answers
Is Antwerp safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women in central areas. Expect some catcalling near the station at night; app rides are easy.
Is Antwerp safe at night?
Bars on Groenplaats, Schuttershofstraat and Het Zuid are lively and generally safe. Trams and buses slow around midnight; use Bolt or Uber.
What is the crime rate in Antwerp?
Pickpocketing around Centraal station and Meir, bike theft, phone snatching, and drug-related incidents in a few outer districts. Nationally, Belgium records 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in Antwerp?
Police 101 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
More about Antwerp
Going to Antwerp solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Antwerp meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- De Lijn
- SNCB/NMBS
- Visit Antwerp
- Brussels Airport
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.