Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvlmactxt/BELGIUM.TVL

Text File | 1994-12-07 | 4KB | 71 lines

Belgium - Consular Information Sheet
May 19, 1994

Country Description:  Belgium is a highly developed and stable democracy
with a modern economy.  Tourist facilities are widely available.

Entry Requirements:  A passport is required.  A visa is not required of
American citizens for business or tourist stays up to 90 days.  For further
information concerning entry requirements for Belgium, travelers can contact
the Embassy of Belgium at 3330 Garfield Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20008,
tel [phone], or the nearest Consulate General in Atlanta, Chicago,
Los Angeles, or New York.

Medical Information:  Medical facilities are widely available.  U.S. medical
insurance is not always valid outside the United States.  Travelers have
found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific
overseas coverage has proved to be useful.  Information on specific health
matters is available through the Center for Disease Control's hotline for
international travelers at [phone].

Crime Information:  Belgium has a relatively low crime rate in most regions,
but U.S. citizens visiting major cities can become targets for pickpockets
and purse snatchers, especially while traveling by metro (subway) and at
tourist attractions.  Theft of and from vehicles is the most common crime in
Belgium, and the usual precautions apply.  The two largest cities, Brussels
and Antwerp, both have areas best avoided by the prudent traveler and
resident, particularly at night, because it is in these areas that the
majority of crimes involving violence occur.  In Brussels, the areas around
the Botanical Gardens and the Westward Arc between the North and Midi train
stations all have high incidences of crime.  Additionally, Rogier and De
Brouckere metro stations should be used with caution.  In Antwerp, the area
behind the central train station including Statiesstraat, Breydelstraat and
Deconinck Plein, as well as the Borgerhout District, are places to avoid.
Although increased police surveillance has reduced petty crime around metro
and train stations by about 40 percent over the past year, U.S. citizens
should continue to be especially alert in these locales.  Crime victims
themselves must make the report to the police as third party notification of
a crime is not accepted.  As the police have a high recovery rate for stolen
property, victims are encouraged to report all crimes.

Belgian law requires that everyone carry some form of official
identification with them at all times which must be displayed upon request
to any police official.  A U.S. passport will suffice for this requirement,
and the police are almost always satisfied if they see a photocopy of the
information page of the passport.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately
to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  U.S.
citizens can refer to the Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip
Abroad" for ways to promote a more trouble-free journey.  The pamphlet is
available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  In Belgium, the penalties for possession, use, or
dealing in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail
sentences and fines.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register in the Consular Section of the
U.S. Embassy can obtain updated information on travel and security in
Belgium.  The U.S. Embassy in Brussels is located at 27 Boulevard du Regent,
telephone [phone].

No. 94-081

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet issued April 29, 1993, to add
information crime in urban areas.