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Voykit pocket guide · Belgium
Vilvoorde
Spend a half‑day in Vilvoorde, stay in Brussels or nearby; train from Vilvoorde Station is 10 min to Brussels Central.
Vilvoorde is a small suburb north of Brussels with a historic town hall, a Gothic church and the former prison turned cultural centre. It is easy to reach by train and best visited in a few hours while based elsewhere.
- Country
- Belgium
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, fewer events)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards work widely; a few cafés, market stalls and toilets still want coins.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–65 excl. bed · Mid €65–95 excl. bed · High €95+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Proximus, Orange Belgium and Telenet/BASE; prepaid SIMs need ID registration.
- Emergency
- Police 101 · Medical emergencies 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Same as France; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: Service included; add 5–10% for good service if you like.; Taxi: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe, though many Belgians drink bottled; restaurants rarely serve free tap water.
- Toilets
- Often paid (€0.50–1) in stations and some cafés; carry coins.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | €2–3 |
| Beer (draft) in a bar | €3–5 |
| Fast food (fries, kebab) | €5–8 |
| Supermarket (Colruyt) basic groceries | €30–50 per week |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BRU · Brussels Airport
- 7 km (4.3 mi) north, reachable by bus4.3 mi (7 km) north, reachable by bus
Typical fares
- Vilvoorde → Brussels Central, train
- about €5 each way (check)
- Bus day ticket
- about €3 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Train to Brussels Central (10 min); local buses and cycle paths cover the town; most sights are walkable.
See and do
Known for
- Town Hall
- Church of Our Lady
- Domein Drie Fonteinen park
- Former prison (Tuchthuis) cultural centre
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels | Train from Vilvoorde Station to Brussels Central, about 10 min | 15 min total |
| Leuven | Train via Brussels, about 30 min total | 45 min |
| Mechelen | Train via Brussels, about 25 min total | 40 min |
Sleep
- The Lodge Vilvoorde
- Hotel in former prison wing, near centre
- Hotel Campanile Brussels‑Vilvoorde
- Next to Vilvoorde station, easy rail links
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moi / Pardonexküzé mwa / pardón |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?sé kombyan |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?u sɔ̃ le twalèt |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; one cheek kiss among friends (three in some places); avoid: Overfamiliarity with strangers
- Language: English or the local language; avoid: French in Flanders, or Dutch in Wallonia, as a default
- Punctuality: Be on time; avoid: Late arrivals for dinner reservations
- Conversation: Food, beer, football and cycling; avoid: Flemish-Walloon politics unless invited
Scams and watch-outs
- Train timetables may vary on weekends; check the SNCB schedule.
- Opening hours for the Town Hall and Tuchthuis cultural centre are limited; verify before visiting.
Vilvoorde is generally safe; stay aware of bike traffic on shared paths and keep an eye on belongings in crowded areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Vilvoorde yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Town Hall
- Church of Our Lady
- Domein Drie Fonteinen park
- Former prison (Tuchthuis) cultural centre
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Vilvoorde official website: www.vilvoorde.be/
- Wikivoyage: Vilvoorde, revision 5041837 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5041837
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/vilvoorde). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.