Travelling in Germany/Belgium with watches
Hi all, me and my wife is planning a trip to Europe and will be visiting a several cities in Netherland, Belgium, and Germany.
We will be visiting Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich and also the famous Nurburgring.
Most of the areas we will be visiting are tourist attractions as it is our first time here.
After hearing horror stories of robbery in London, are these cities safe to wear a watch in public especially being a tourist? I am thinking of either wearing my Shunbun or Santos for the trip if possible.
Also, any must visit places recommendation for watch nerds?
Thanks in advance!
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You can visit in Frankfurt:
Sinn: They have a small Boutique in the old town but you can also visit their HQ. I don't know uf you need an appointment. Better ask before.
Guinand: A subsidiary of Sinn also located in Frankfurt. At least tgey offer an "Factory outlet".
Of course there are other watch enthusiast places as well to see in Germany. But these are spots located straight in Frankfut.
Safety:
It's easy to say: "Oh no...nothing will happen." But to be honest....especially in the main station and the area around can be very risky. Don't be nervous by the masses of junkies and homeless. They are not a threat to your watches.
But there are professional gangs and robbers, specialized on such goods and traveler bags.
Our safety standards are not as high as expected. So if you do come by train, do not feel safe inside train. Criminals frequently travel with the train between Cologne and Frankfurt. A busy route, strongly used by tourists and business men. Also the trains from Brussels and Amsterdam are coming this way. They are searching for unwatvhed bags and sleepy exhausted travelers.
Even in the Main station, when the train holds for a while, criminals jump fast in, walking quick through the cars. If they can pick something, they take it.
In down town they are observing the jeweleries and follow them till the main station.
The Main station is very busy with thousands of people but very less police and security.
We have frequently tourists and buisness men gettjng robbed like that with big amounts of money.
So...don't be paranoid, but take care.
You can visit in Frankfurt:
Sinn: They have a small Boutique in the old town but you can also visit their HQ. I don't know uf you need an appointment. Better ask before.
Guinand: A subsidiary of Sinn also located in Frankfurt. At least tgey offer an "Factory outlet".
Of course there are other watch enthusiast places as well to see in Germany. But these are spots located straight in Frankfut.
Safety:
It's easy to say: "Oh no...nothing will happen." But to be honest....especially in the main station and the area around can be very risky. Don't be nervous by the masses of junkies and homeless. They are not a threat to your watches.
But there are professional gangs and robbers, specialized on such goods and traveler bags.
Our safety standards are not as high as expected. So if you do come by train, do not feel safe inside train. Criminals frequently travel with the train between Cologne and Frankfurt. A busy route, strongly used by tourists and business men. Also the trains from Brussels and Amsterdam are coming this way. They are searching for unwatvhed bags and sleepy exhausted travelers.
Even in the Main station, when the train holds for a while, criminals jump fast in, walking quick through the cars. If they can pick something, they take it.
In down town they are observing the jeweleries and follow them till the main station.
The Main station is very busy with thousands of people but very less police and security.
We have frequently tourists and buisness men gettjng robbed like that with big amounts of money.
So...don't be paranoid, but take care.
@Uhrologe That is amazing information, thank you so much! I would be visiting old town in Frankfurt, and sounds like I should add Sinn to one of our stops.
And I appreciate the information in regards to safety, I guess that goes for all cities. Just keep it low key and not be flashy. I would probably be taking my beater Casioak for the trip and its got gmt function, better than my two favourite daily watch. 😜
I would be cautious with Rolexes here in Amsterdam. Lot of watches are stolen here over the last years. I only wear my expensive watches to the office or under my sleeve. In summer I only where brands that are not easily recognised… sad but true.
See also:
https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-robbers-dont-become-a-target/#gref
Great tour you got there!
As for watch related attractions, nothing specific to report for Brussels. We of course have a bunch of nice watch stores but probably not worth a specific detour. Just focus on the chocolate, the waffles, the beers and the comic strips ;)
Regarding safety, Brussels will be in the same line as Amsterdam and Francfort. If you stick to the tourist areas you should be very safe except for the occasional pickpockets so keep your valuables very close.
Enjoy :)
I'm in Germany every 3 years, and @Uhrologe is right about the train system and the main train stations. Things have changed, unfortunately.
That being said, many rural areas are largely unchanged, but Germany has become a country where you have to know who you are and where you are. With that I mean there are areas within a city where it is easy to spot unsuspecting tourists as a potential target.
I wear a decent but inexpensive watch while traveling internationally, like a quartz Seiko.
Even though you are Canadian, based on your profile, you might be perceived as an American.
Nurburgring 💪😍😎
Enjoy!
Great tour you got there!
As for watch related attractions, nothing specific to report for Brussels. We of course have a bunch of nice watch stores but probably not worth a specific detour. Just focus on the chocolate, the waffles, the beers and the comic strips ;)
Regarding safety, Brussels will be in the same line as Amsterdam and Francfort. If you stick to the tourist areas you should be very safe except for the occasional pickpockets so keep your valuables very close.
Enjoy :)
Thank you Gauthier!
Definitely looking forward to the waffles and beer!
I'm in Germany every 3 years, and @Uhrologe is right about the train system and the main train stations. Things have changed, unfortunately.
That being said, many rural areas are largely unchanged, but Germany has become a country where you have to know who you are and where you are. With that I mean there are areas within a city where it is easy to spot unsuspecting tourists as a potential target.
I wear a decent but inexpensive watch while traveling internationally, like a quartz Seiko.
Even though you are Canadian, based on your profile, you might be perceived as an American.
Thank you @hbein2022 !
I think I will think less of what's on my wrist for this trip and enjoy the cities!
I would be cautious with Rolexes here in Amsterdam. Lot of watches are stolen here over the last years. I only wear my expensive watches to the office or under my sleeve. In summer I only where brands that are not easily recognised… sad but true.
See also:
https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-robbers-dont-become-a-target/#gref
Thank you @KurtTQ ! Thats was a good read!
Nurburgring 💪😍😎
Enjoy!
Very excited and looking forward to drive on the Ring!
It’s cold here in Netherlands so you’ll be wearing a jacket anyway. Keep your bags close to your body and you’ll be fine. There are pick pockets about. But this is Netherlands and that’s about the extent of it. Just pick pockets. Every time I go to Amsterdam I sling my bag to the front on my chest. I do suggest other places besides Amsterdam/red light. Rotterdam I’m has the cube houses that’s pretty awesome. Also has Markthal which is a food/shops horseshoe shape. Check out Zaandam centrum. Very close to Amsterdam. Has these houses that look like Dutch Lego a kid put together.
…oh and if you go to Brussels you have to try the waffles, beer, fries and meatballs. The best.
It’s like many places, safe and dangerous in equal measure, but these cnuts look for victims, targets that show they are unaware of their surroundings and show no overall awareness. Watch or no watch it can be phones wallets handbags. Don’t look like a victim. Walk with confidence and awareness irrelevant of where you are. Be prepared. However in the unlikely chance of it happening, just give them the watch, it’s a watch, it can be replaced you or your partner can’t be. But before they leave ask them to give you your watch back, if they refuse, tell them you have particular set of skills, and that you will find them and then kill them 👌👍💥😂 have a good trip