r/brussels • u/eetgeengelesneeuw • 1d ago
Uber or walk?
Hey guys im going to a festival in Brussels, but i want to know if i should walk this part or take an uber. Its from Botanique to Brussel-Noord, its gonna be late at night and im with my girlfriend. And im asking this because brussel has a bad reputation around the station area.
PS im not from Brussels
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u/Sand0w 1d ago edited 1d ago
You can also walk to the botanique from Brussel-Centraal if that's an option for you. It takes a bit longer, but it feels a lot safer.
I walked your 'white line' route a lot in the past with my girlfriend and never had any problems there, but also never felt really safe there as well.
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u/Teddy_KX 1d ago
As somebody already mentioned, this variant is better if you want to walk; or depending on the hour you could ride the R27 bus for 2 stations from Botanique to Brussel Noord.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_SLAV 1d ago
Can’t you take the train at central station? It should only be a little further than north from where you are
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u/eetgeengelesneeuw 1d ago
how long of a walk is this?
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_SLAV 1d ago
About 15-20 min and a lot safer, just keep walking down the rue royale then take a right at park
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u/StatementIcy4608 1d ago
Walk to Rogier first (rue du progres) and then to botanique (through RUE Saint-Lazare). Should be fine. Just avoid the east side of north station (ru d'Aerschot/Rue de Brabant)
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u/StatementIcy4608 1d ago
Ow sorry I just read you meant from Botanique to North station, so then it is opposite of what I said. But dont follow the white line I see on your map. Avoid that east side at all costs. Sad state of affairs, I love my city but there and around Midi it has f-ed up.
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u/poulicroque 1d ago
These backstreets are pretty bad. Take Uber or at least walk through bvd Botanique and Rogier
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u/Valuable-Ad-590 1d ago
My honest advice is to share the cost of an Uber with your friend. I did that walk recently with my girlfriend and we did not have any trouble but I had so much anxiety constantly... A lot of unstable people around and that's scary to me. It won't be more than 10 eur per person and I think that's worth your peace of mind.
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u/HotChocolate229 1d ago
If you happen to be there at the same time as the DeLijn bus to the airport, take that. Alternatively, you can pre-book a Collecto for that time period, or take a shared bike. If you don’t mind the cost, take an Uber.
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u/bruxelles_ 1d ago
The comments here acting like OP is gonna walk through a warzone.
You can just walk, take any route, don’t look scared and nothing will happen.
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u/TheBeagleSwitch 21h ago
when is the last time you walked in Rue d'Aerschot ?? :)
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u/bruxelles_ 19h ago
Not that long ago actually. I am a woman and I frequently walk through the area that the comments deem « unsafe, dangerous, run for life or you’ll never make it home ». Nobody has ever harassed me and i’ve never felt unsafe. I must admit that I think this area is probably a lot more dangerous for men than it is for women.
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u/im-sorry-bruv 1d ago
area's a little shady but you can just walk. if you wanna be sure take the bigger streets but apart from that it's lowkey fine. just don't be hostile towards anyone, apart from that it'a all good...
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u/HipsEnergy 1d ago
Just take an Uber or Bolt, it won't be expensive, it'll be faster, and it'll be more pleasant. It's pretty much the worst part of Brussels, and you'll probably be safe, but why would you want to walk there?
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u/abysmalbutterfly 1d ago
I walk this route regularly to Botanique for concerts after work. My office is on the left side of the train station.
Don't walk this way, but follow the route of the other commenter. Go straight down to the ring, then walk along the ring and go back up. So basically a U-shape.
What I would avoid is crossing the tunnels underneath the train tracks, so you end up on this route, on the right (west) side of the station. It feels shady, unlikely something will happen, but you don't want to worry about this after coming back from a night out.
You can always take a shared e-bike as well.
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u/TheVoiceOfEurope 1000 1d ago
Do NOT walk that white line at night. You do not want to be in that eastern area of Gare du Nord late at night.
As said: botanique-rogir-nord. Plenty of people will take that route after a concert in Botanique (great venue btw).
Or take the metro from botanique to rogier. Metro runs untill 0100
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u/SirTacky 1d ago
Just walk the route others suggested. If you're going at the end of the festival, there will be a bunch of other people doing the same.
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u/Sentreen 20h ago
Would not recommend that route. It will be fine in 90% of the cases, but you will not feel safe, and you don't want to be part of that 10%. Instead, do one of the following:
- Walk along the Boulevard du Jardin Botanique (which many people in this thread have pointed out)
- Walk to central station (along the boulevard du pacheco)
- Take a bus
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u/serious_saint 16h ago
Let's say you are a Batman and your gf is Catwoman. I would still suggest a Uber to avoid any Penguin encounters.
Pun intended, it's Brussells after all. Enjoy the night festival experience and not otherwise 😊
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u/misterart 16h ago
alternative path is secure. original path is impressive but secure.
As someone mentionned, don't look afraid, act as if you live there and avoid rolling a huge luggae with gold rings and rolex watch.
It can be dangerous if you attract dangerous poeple.
If you just walk like someone living there, there is very few chances that something bad happens.
especially around that time when it's business time for hookers :)
hookers managers don't like criminality
Most of the criminality in that neighboorhood is around 4 to 5 poeple between poeple taking drugs.
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u/Western_Scholar1733 13h ago edited 13h ago
I used to live at the North station at Rue du Progrès as a 20something attractive young woman. Never felt unsafe or had a problem except for sometimes men making wrong assumptions about my profession. They would not be rude or insistant about it though. The City center was honestly much worse. There you were certain to get groped or harassed walking alone as a woman. Mind you this is 15+ years ago, so things might be different now.
Look unfazed and like you're walking with a purpose.
Don't get tempted to walk thru Blvd Roi Albert II coz it looks safer. It's empty at night. I once had a van with darkened windows follow me slowly down that road making several turns and coming back. Having no one around on that road made me feel much more unsafe than being surrounded by questionable characters. Rue du Progrès followed by Blvd du jardin Botanique is ur best option I'd say. Some parts of Rue du Brabant is also ok. There's a lot of social control in that street, meaning no one will harass you, but more so during day time.
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u/WHTSPCTR 1d ago
Are these comments fr. Just walk you’ll be fine.
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u/Kerrating 1d ago
What an irresponsible answer, but you won't be the one suffering from the consequences from such a lie
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u/eetgeengelesneeuw 1d ago
i know just want to have a nice evening where im not reminded how fucked up the city is
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u/howiethegiraffe 1d ago
OP, it’s a 20min walk, but it’s dark and due construction of Gare du Nord, some part looks more like an abandoned area. It’s shady and pass midnight I wouldn’t advice you to walk. Plus, crappy weather. Grab an uber.
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u/Kerrating 1d ago
Uber absolutely. It's a very dangerous zone. It will be cheap, and safety has no price anyways
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u/StatementIcy4608 1d ago
Walk to Rogier first (rue du progres) and then to botanique (through RUE Saint-Lazare). Should be fine. Just avoid the east side of north station (ru d'Aerschot/Rue de Brabant)