Page 319 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  317

DIRECTORY
Law Enforcement
Brussels Central Police
Station
Rue du Marché-au-Charbon 30,
1000 BRU. Tel (02) 2797711.
Federal Police
Tel 101.
Grand Ducal Police
60 Rue Glesener, 1630
Luxembourg. Tel 49974500.
A typical pharmacy in Belgium, doubling as a herbalist
Travel and Health
costs, so it is worth taking out full Visitors can also make use of Insurance
travel insurance, which covers local knowledge in an emergency
additional risks such as theft or as people are quick to step EHIC
∑ ehic.org
lost property and travel forward and help. Those staying
cancellation. Travellers from at a hotel can ask staff at the Emergencies
outside the EU are strongly reception for assistance.
advised to take out full travel Ambulance and Fire
insurance, with medical cover – Services in Belgium
a serious accident involving Public Toilets Tel 100.
hospitalization and repatriation In general, most places with Ambulance and Fire
by special air transport can cost tourist footfall have adequate Services in Luxembourg
tens of thousands of euros. provision for public toilets. Many Tel 112.
of these facilities are meticulously
maintained by attendants, who Police in Belgium
Doctors, Hospitals charge a rate for usage. Where Tel 101.
and Pharmacies no rate is shown, people are Police in Luxembourg
Belgium and Luxembourg have expected to leave between 25 Tel 113.
efficient health services funded and 50 cents. If caught short, it
by a mixture of state subsidies is possible to use the toilet of a
and national and private bar or café, but one would be Beer Strength
insurance. Hospitals are plentiful, expected to return the favour Belgian beer is very good, but
modern and well run, and the by buying a drink or coffee. also very strong – Trappist and
quality of treatment is generally Abbey beers regularly contain
very good. Guests taken ill at a 6.5–9.5 per cent alcohol by
hotel will be provided details Smoking volume (abv). The beer is usually
of local doctors by the staff. In both countries, smoking is drunk slowly and in moderate
Whether or not a person has officially forbidden in confined quantities. Drinkers who are used
insurance, doctors will expect to public places and on public to a beer-strength of 3.5–4 per
settle the bill on the spot, and in transport. It is also prohibited cent abv will really notice the
cash. Pharmacists are well trained in restaurants and large cafés difference, and may run into
and run their businesses with (unless they have a dedicated trouble if they heedlessly apply
clinical efficiency. For minor smoking area, or food represents their normal quantities of intake
ailments, they should be the less than one-third of their to Belgian beer.
first port of call. Pharmacies are business and they have special
generally open Mondays to permission). Smoking may be
Fridays from 9am to 6pm, and tolerated in smaller bars. In
every district operates a rota Luxembourg, there is a
system for late-night, weekend complete ban on smoking
and national holiday cover. in cafés, bars and restaurants.
All pharmacies also display
information about where to find
the nearest 24-hour chemist. Mosquitoes
In Belgium, mosquitoes can be
a problem on warm summer
Emergencies nights. The canals of Bruges
Police, Ambulance and Fire and the polders of the north
Services in Belgium and are favoured breeding areas
Luxembourg have dedicated and visitors to these places Bottles of Belgian beer with labels
nationwide phone numbers. will need suitable repellants. signalling the alchohol content

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