We've put together a brief travel guide for Lionesses fans with tickets to Belgium v England on Thursday 29 August. This is England's first fixture after the World Cup and will be an opportunity for some of the squad to stake a claim for a place at next summer's Tokyo Olympics. The last time the two sides faced each other was in a EURO 2017 qualifier with goals from Nikita Parris and Karen Carney.
Belgium v England
Thursday 29 August
7.30pm (local time)
Den Dreef Stadium, Leuven
Passports & visas
If you hold a British passport you don’t need a visa to enter Norway, however, please ensure there’s at least three months left on it.
Money
The currency of Belgium is the Euro. Prices in Belgium can be expensive in comparison to some areas of the UK so make sure you have access to plenty of money. Credit/debit cards are widely accepted however carry a small amount of Euros with you to access public transport or for local shops and market stalls.
Safety and security
To contact the emergency services in Belgium dial 112.
Petty crime rates are similar to the UK but are on the rise. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash on you and refrain from keeping your phone and/or wallet in your back pocket as pick-pocketing is common. Be vigilant and take extra care in railway stations – particularly at night. There have been reports of luggage being stolen from racks at the end of train carriages so keep an eye on your belongings and never leave anything unattended.
Report any thefts to police within 24hrs of the incident occurring and get a crime reference number.
It is always the law in Belgium to carry some form of ID with you. In addition, it’s illegal to wear clothing that hides your face – this includes niqab and balaclavas.
For more safety and security advice in Belgium, please visit the FCO website.
Health
If you haven’t already done so, the FCO recommend getting a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving for Belgium. The EHIC entitles you to state-provided medical treatment. It’s also important to take out comprehensive travel insurance that includes cover for emergency medical treatment and in the event your belongings are stolen. Travel insurance can also cover you in the event your flights are cancelled.
Lionesses Supporters Club members receive 10% off their travel insurance quotes through our official partner Thomas Cook Money. Enter the code WH10 at the checkout page to benefit from this exclusive offer.Getting around Leuven
Leuven is a city east of Brussels and is known for its breweries and 15th century architecture. Oude Markt is a long square lined with cafes and bars and is perfect for a pre-match bite to eat. If you’re looking for authentic Flemish cuisine, walk along Muntstraat – a street filled with interesting restaurants open till late at night. You can also visit the iconic Stadhuis (town hall) which is a great example of gothic architecture – it was lucky to survive WW2 as the bomb that hit it failed to explode.
The best way to get around Leuven is by bike or on foot so be careful when crossing roads. If you want to hire a bike yourself, you can do so from vendors at Leuven station. You can then visit the botanical gardens and the Provinciaal Domein which is a popular park containing pedaloes, a petting zoo and tree-walk.
Stadium
Stadion Den Dreef was originally a cycling track but was converted into a football stadium in 1960. The stadium is home to Oud-Heverlee Leuven and the Belgian Red Flames (women’s national team).
Stadion Den Dreef is located south of Leuven’s city centre. You can walk there from Grote Markt (the central market square) in about 15 minutes. From Leuven station, you can catch either buses 1, 2, 18 and 616 to the stadium. Take the bus in the direction of Heverlee and alight at Naamse Poort or Heverlee Groenstraat and walk the remaining 5 minutes to the stadium.
Turnstiles will open two hours before kick-off. If you wish to hang you flags, please arrive early to do so and ensure that your flag is made from non-flammable material. Stewards may inspect your flag before allowing you to hang it up to ensure there are no offensive or political messages displayed.
Please do not take large bags or backpacks to the ground. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will not be permitted at all. Bottles, cans and glasses (including water bottles) will not be permitted inside. Smoking and vaping is not permitted inside the stadium. Please be considerate of your fellow fans by refraining from persistent standing.
We don't anticipate a hold-back at the end of the match, however please listen to stadium announcements throughout the match.
The FA continues to work hard to ensure a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all supporters. If you witness any racist, homophobic, xenophobic or anti-social behaviour before, during or after an England game, you can report it in confidence by emailing lionesses@thefa.com.
