Fast Facts

Currency Exchange -- The tourist office is a good place to change money and traveler's checks, as are banks. ATMs can be found around the Markt and at numerous other points in the center city.

Doctors -- For a doctor on night and weekend duty, call tel. 078/15-15-90.

Emergencies -- For the police, dial tel. 101; for firefighters and ambulance, call tel. 100.

Hospital -- Bruges's main hospital is the Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan, Riddershove 10 (tel. 050/45-21-11; www.azbrugge.be).

Pharmacies -- A pharmacy is an apotheek in Dutch. Regular pharmacy hours are Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm (some close earlier on Sat). Try Baert Steven, Wollestraat 7 (tel. 050/33-64-74), just south of the Markt. All pharmacies have details of the nearby all-night and Sunday pharmacies posted on the door.

Police (Politie) -- In an emergency, call tel. 101. In nonurgent situations, go to the Central Police Station, Hauwerstraat 7 (tel. 050/44-88-44). Bruges police are likely to be both professional and helpful to visitors with problems, and you're sure to be attended to by an officer who speaks English.

Post Office -- The main post office, Markt 5 (tel. 050/33-14-11), is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Restrooms -- The finest place to find relief in the center of Bruges is the Crown Plaza Brugge Hotel, on the Burg. There are tolerable public restrooms on the west side of the Minnewater lake, close to the Begijnhof.

Safety -- Bruges is safe and there are no areas you need be leery of going into. That said, since it's a big tourist center, it can't hurt to take routine precautions against pickpocketing and other types of theft.