The Belgians have a well-developed sense of community spirit, so if you are unfortunate enough to face an emergency, the chances are that you will receive sympathetic and effective assistance. The emer­gency services are as efficient and reliable as any in Europe.

Take out travel and health insurance when you book your trip. This will allow you to claim compensation if you have to cancel, are delayed, or lose your possessions. It also covers medical costs in case of illness or accident. British citizens can take advantage of reciprocal EU medical agreements as long as they carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), under which 75 per cent of specified costs can be reclaimed. You usually have to pay for medical treatment in the first instance and reclaim costs later, so keep all your receipts.

If you suffer an accident or illness, you might be treated by a GP, or at one of the city hospitals. Ask locally about how best to access these services; for example, hotels have lists of duty doctors.

Belgian dentists are generally of a high standard. Ask locally about how to access the services of a duty dentist.

Belgium has a tradition of hospital care dating back to medieval times. Most hospitals have been rehoused in modern buildings located in spacious grounds in the suburbs and on the periphery of the cities. They rank among the best in Europe.

Pharmacists are highly trained, and their shops are often models of clinical efficiency. To many Belgians, the pharmacist is the first port of call for treatment of minor ailments. But pharmacists know the limits of their jurisdiction, and will refer you to a doctor if necessary. Each commune has a rota of late-night pharmacies.

If you take your car to Belgium, make sure you have full breakdown cover. If you don’t, recovery costs and, worse still, the repatriation of your vehicle, can cost a small fortune. Breakdown services are offered by the two main Belgian motoring organizations: Touring and VAB.

Belgian cities are not notably dangerous or crime-ridden places, but there is a fair amount of pick-pocketing, theft, and even car-jacking. If you remain alert and exercise the same precautions as you would in any other western city, the chances are that you will come through unscathed. If you are the victim of a crime, report it to the police – within 24 hours in the case of theft – if you wish to claim insurance. Many police officers speak English, and you are likely to get a professional response.

In extreme cases – for instance, if you feel you have been unfairly treated by the police – you might wish to contact your country’s embassy.

You are obliged by law to carry an identity document (for example, a passport) at all times. The police are entitled to ask you to produce this for inspection, but they cannot take it away from you.