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Zulte Waregem vs Wigan Athletic

Advice for fans travelling to Belgium to see Zulte Waregem play Wigan Athletic in the Europa League

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Game: Zulte Waregem vs Wigan Athletic

Date: Thursday, 19th September 2013

Time: 19:00 (local time)

Venue: Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, Belgium

As well as this advice, check out our travel advice for Belgium

Passports and visas

  • You don’t need a visa to travel to Belgium, but your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.

  • Remember your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but also take out travel insurance, even if you’re only going for one night - it could save you a lot of money if you get into difficulties.

  • You should carry your passport with you at all times for identification purposes as police officers may fine you or arrest you if you fail to do so.

  • You should be ready to produce photo ID at the entrance to the stadium (passport).

  • If your passport gets lost or stolen while in Belgium, you will need to report it to the Belgian police as soon as possible. To be able to return to the UK you will need to obtain an Emergency Travel Document from the British Consulate-General in Brussels, Belgium. Please call 00 32 2 287 62 11 for further information.

Getting to the stadium

  • Address of stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium, Olympialaan 74, 8200, Bruges, Belgium

  • Local police are willing to guide (walk) the Wigan Athletic fans in a group to the stadium from the meeting point for supporters; which is the main Market Square at 17:00. The stadium is a 35 to 45 minute walk.

  • The public transport options to get to the stadium are poor. If you do not wish to walk we would advise you to take a taxi to Doornstraat (visitor’s entry) for a cost of +/- €20.

  • The visitors parking at the stadium is the Parking Z1 (yellow zone) Doornstraat. Set the GPS on: BRUGGE DOORNSTRAAT 51. Only coaches with a stadium pass will be allowed to enter the parking.

  • There is no public parking for any supporters. If you are travelling by car you will need to park in the streets around the stadium. Please be careful when parking, that it is a valid parking zone and pay for your ticket!

  • Bruges city map

  • General information about Bruges

At the match

  • There will be no tickets on sale in Bruges on the day of the match.

  • Wigan Athletic fans will be located in a segregated area of the South Stand.

  • When entering the visitor’s zone Wigan Athletic fans will be asked to show their ticket. Please hold it up on demand as proof that you are a ticket holder.

  • Wigan Athletic fans will enter via Gate 4 of the Zuid Tribune (South Stand) in the south-east corner of the ground. There are four electronic turnstiles available for the Wigan Athletic fans once through you have to ascend a flight of stairs to get to the upper tier seating.

  • You will be body searched when entering the stadium by stewards.

  • The stewards are entitled to withhold some objects that are not allowed in the stadium. If those objects are not illegal, you will receive a ticket to enable you to reclaim your possessions after the match. Illegal objects will be turned over to the police together with the carrier of the object. Illegal objects are, amongst others: knives, glass bottles, darts, laser pens, drugs,…

  • Wigan Athletic supporters in the South Stand area will probably not be held back in the stadium at the end of the match.

  • Wheelchair supporters: Speak to Wigan Athletic about your arrangements.

Tips

  • As in any other city beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers at airports, railway stations, around the town centre and when using public transport. Only carry what you need, leave spare cash and valuables in hotel safety deposits.

  • Carrying ID is mandatory in Belgium, photocopy is not sufficient. Supporters may be arrested and detained for up to 12 hours if they fail to show ID.

  • Criminal offences can lead to detention of up to 6 days.

  • Public disorder (due to alcohol intake or any other reason) will not be tolerated.

Emergency service numbers

  • Emergencies 112
  • Police 101
  • Fire brigade 100
  • Other EmergencyNumbers
  • To block bank cards : 070 344 344

British Embassy Consulate-General

Avenue des Nerviens 9-31 1040 Brussels Belgium

Opening hours: Mon, Tues, Thur and Fri 9.00am-12.30pm

Tel. 00 32 (0)2 287 62 11 (also out of office hours)

E-mail: consularsection.brussels@fco.gov.uk

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Published 13 September 2013