Kortrijk is a medium city, it has a good balance of tradition and innovation/modernism. It was seen as the Texas of Flanders, one of the richest and most economic developped areas in Flanders.Kortrijk has always been famous for shopping, and in 2009 a big shopping centre is going to open in the heart of the city. There are numerous traffic-free shopping zones, and lots historical sites in the city centre. Outside the centre there are some less developped hoods, but never really bad neighbourhoods.Kortrijk is not far from France, but it's a rather safe city. Suburbs/sattelite cities like Menen have to endure criminality from French youth and gangsters, but Kortrijk is rather safe. http://wikitravel.org/en/Kortrijk