super_belgium2Thinking about moving to molenbeek next month but worried about the safety part and if anything bad might happen to me if i walk around at night? i want to find something cheaper than bruxelles center but i dont want to feel scared every day, is it actually as bad as people say in the news?!
Accepted answer
mister_bxl_77Molenbeek is a diverse area with about 98,000 residents where gentrification is moving fast around the canal and Tour & Taxis. You can find affordable housing here if you look in the right spots (though you must watch the weather as the rain and humidity are constant) and the reputation for danger is mostly an exaggerated stereotype from people in smaller Flemish towns.
expats_eyethere are a lot of trendy cafes sitting right next to much dirtier parts of the neighborhood.
wafflelover882That is true... the Ribaucourt metro station area is a bit unsettling due to the people using drugs in public.
design_eye_antwerpPublic spaces look like a total mess after the market due to trash and spitting ! It is quite unpleasant
belgium_vibescanal doesnt feel like a border anymore since there are expensive cafes on both sides now - it has changed a lot.
been_there_done_thatSome locals feel that social integration is lacking... local government also seems ineffective when it comes to real neighborhood issues!
vibes_only_beA lot of social tension exists where people from richer areas like Ixelles judge anyone living in Molenbeek (it is quite annoying)... you see it all the time