Embassy of Bulgaria in The Hague, Netherlands; address Duinroosweg 9, 2597 KJ, Den Haag; phone +31703503051.
Bulgaria offers a compelling mix of historical and natural attractions, combining ancient culture with modern hospitality. It attracts over seven million foreign visitors each year, highlighting its significance as a European destination. Given that 22.1 million Dutch travel abroad annually, a portion of them may find Bulgaria an appealing choice.
Bulgaria is generally considered safe for tourists, but it ranks lower in safety compared to the Netherlands. According to safety rankings, Bulgaria is 21st out of 40 countries for safety while walking alone at night, whereas the Netherlands ranks 9th. The Global Peace Index places Bulgaria at 26th out of 160 countries, compared to the Netherlands at 18th. In terms of crime statistics, the murder rate in Bulgaria is higher at 1.3 per 100,000 people, compared to the Netherlands' rate of 0.7. Female murder rates are also higher in Bulgaria (0.8) than in the Netherlands (0.4). Organized crime indices show Bulgaria and the Netherlands have similar scores for mafia groups (4.5), but Bulgaria scores higher in areas like crime networks (6.5) and state crime (7.5). Overall, while Bulgaria is relatively safe, tourists from the Netherlands should remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings, especially in urban areas.