# Question re: bicycles in Belgium versus Amsterdam **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 24, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-bicycles-in-belgium-versus-amsterdam/105256 "2002-04-24T01:22:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-bicycles-in-belgium-versus-amsterdam/105256/1 "2002-04-24T01:22:01Z")
Ok, this is an odd subjective sort of question. I need to go to Antwerp/ Bruges for 6 weeks this summer. Last year I spent 5 weeks in Amsterdam and due to the reputation the town has for bike theft rates I used an old, um, dispensible English bike while I was there-- the other option is a rather expensive folding bike I have-- it travels very well and works splendidly and I like the idea of longer travel on it better than the local ‘Omafiets’ (sorry, all you Omafietsliefhebbers out there, but I like dependable brakes and blood circulation in my legs). So I suppose the question is whether Flanders has nearly the theft rate as Amsterdam. Should I be really concerned about leaving a good (and unusual-looking) bike with a “u-lock” or 2 on the street in Antwerp or Bruges for an hour or two? Overnight? And I think I asked this before, but do we have any Flandopers on the boards? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-bicycles-in-belgium-versus-amsterdam/105256/2 "2002-04-24T02:01:46Z")
This looks to me like the type of thread that should go in IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-bicycles-in-belgium-versus-amsterdam/105256/3 "2002-04-24T02:03:59Z")
Ok. . . could you move it? thanks. . . ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-bicycles-in-belgium-versus-amsterdam/105256/4 "2002-04-24T02:17:52Z")
Thank you, Arnold. cap ---
**Author:** ![kase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@kase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kase)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-bicycles-in-belgium-versus-amsterdam/105256/5 "2002-04-24T06:39:36Z")
Any Belgians aboard here?? I don’t think it’s as bad as in Amsterdam **capybara** , but then, nothing is. I would take some extra locks with you, just in case. Have a lovely time in Belgium. Brugge is a beautiful town. \* not as great as Amsterdam, ofcourse\* 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-bicycles-in-belgium-versus-amsterdam/105256/6 "2002-04-24T07:52:06Z")
Bruges, the Venice of the North! Gorgeous city. Yeah, with a good U-lock, I would leave a bike unattended in Bruges. Maybe not Antwerp if the bike is that special - that city is just as criminal as Amsterdam. Although I don’t know for sure about bike theft. If it’s a fold-up bike, can’t you take it into your hotel room? And DAMN you for the Omafiets remarks! Brakes, who needs brakes on a bicycle in Amsterdam? They have a _bell_, which works find for warning pedestrians. 😉