YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO LIVING IN BELGIUM FOR MORE INFORMATION PLUS DAILY BELGIAN NEWS IN ENGLISH VISIT WWW.EXPATICA.COM
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Welcome to Belgium! If you have just moved here, it’s likely you are feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Apart from a new culture and language to cope with, you will have to sort out a host of practical things within the first few weeks: somewhere to live, your finances, permits and papers, and maybe a school for your children and a job for your partner. The Expat Survival Guide will give you a starting point: the basic information you need and direct you to the people, companies, organisations and institutions that can help you. This guide is published by Expatica Communications, a leading media organisation serving the international community in Europe. Check out www.expatica.com to access daily news, features, and resources such as housing and job searches, free classifieds, all-English yellow pages, local entertainment, and an online community. We wish you a wonderful stay in Belgium!
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - 6 RELOCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 - 13 Your first few days; Relocation and moving service providers; Residence permits; Social security system; Marriage, partnerships and divorce. HOUSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 - 23 The housing market; Renting a home; Buying a home; Accommodation agencies; Where to live. MONEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 - 29 Banking; Taxation; Insurance. EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 - 40 Education system; How to choose a school; School listings; Higher education; Holidays; Language schools. JOBS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 - 43 How to find a job; Recruitment agencies. HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 - 50 Healthcare system; Hospitals; Fitness clubs. SHOPPING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 - 53 Shopping guide; Food from home. OUT AND ABOUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 - 61 Brussels bars; Cinemas; Weekends away. SETTLING IN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 - 66 Utilities and telephoning; Television and internet; Libraries and post offices; Embassies. TRANSPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 - 70 Public transport; Driving and parking. LISTINGS AND INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 - 74 Expat groups and clubs; Religious services; Phone book decoder; Weights and measures; Emergency numbers; Advertisers’ index.
Published March 2010 © Expatica Communications BV rue Francois Gay 152, 1150 Brussels, Belgium feedback@expatica.com www.expatica.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Expatica Communications BV, Gedempte Oude Gracht 31, 2011 GL Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Editorial Research: Gary Hills, Editor: Paul Morris Cover picture: Grand’ Place by e³°°° at flickr.com. Advertising information Chalks Corriette, Andy Smeets, Roberto Spitzer (To advertise in next year’s guide or online on expatica.com, contact: sales@expatica.com, + 32 0478 482 023)
Expatica makes great effort to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this guide. However, we will not be responsible for errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, which results from its use, and make no warranty of claims as to the quality or competence of businesses or professionals mentioned. Users are advised to take care when selecting professional services and to use common sense when adjusting to new life in a new country.
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•• INTRODUCTION ••
Introduction It is flat and boring, overcrowded, always rains and is torn apart by the language conflict. Oh, and I bet you cannot name ten famous people who come from there. These are just some of the usual misconceptions about Belgium, the tiny country founded in 1830 and, as home to the European Union, the self-proclaimed capital of Europe. The fact is that, while the north may be very flat, the land in the south is not, with the wild Hautes Fagnes region rising 694 metres above sea level. It is not as densely populated as, say, the Netherlands, its average rainfall is less than the UK and it has evolved a system of checks and balances to ensure each of the language groups have a say in government. And when it comes to naming ten famous Belgians, there have, actually, been quite a few, including Adolphe Sax, the Dinant-born musical instrument maker, and Hergé, creator of Tintin. And, still going strong, there’s Toots Thielemans, world famous jazz musician. Despite all this, there is no getting away from the fact that Belgium still labours under something of a negative image. Even so, for no less than 500 years, it has welcomed expatriates, many of whom have been happily settled in Brussels and Antwerp, in recent times often working for multinational companies or institutions, such as the EU or NATO. For those feeling a tad homesick, the Belgian government even runs a special office (02 280 0080) dedicated to helping expats with their needs. Despite its `bad´ press, the unmistakable fact is that Belgium consistently scores well in all the main indicators of good living.
The country also scores highly on quality of life, being ranked 14th in a 2009 league table of world capitals by Mercer Human Resource Consulting (ahead of cities like Stockholm and Toronto). For those coming to Belgium for a limited period, there is no shortage of places to live, with furnished apartments, or so-called ‘aparthotels’, probably the best option, especially for families with children. There is a wide choice of rented and owneroccupied housing, both within the city’s 19 communes and in the suburbs, ranging from studio apartments to villas. The best Brussels addresses include Ixelles, convenient to the city centre and its many schools, and Uccle, traditionally one of the favourite addresses for expats over the years. Further afield is an equally wide choice of property in more rural residential areas. But be warned! If you thought Brussels was still a cheap property option, think again. While it still may lag behind other European capitals, such as London and Paris, in terms of property prices, it is catching up fast and has recorded a startling increase in the last few years. People coming to work in Belgium for the first time would do well to heed another word of warning: the country’s employment legislation can be a complicated affair, not least because one of Belgium’s three official languages (French, Dutch and German) must be used in all employer-employee relations. On the plus side, easily one of the best things about Belgium is its medical services, known to be among the most modern in the world. Some 40,000 doctors serve the needs of just over 10 million inhabitants and there are almost 400 hospitals with 80,000 beds (www.health. fgov.be). Expats with young families will be reassured to know that the country also has one of Europe’s most extensive childcare networks with over 50 percent of all young children attending organised day-care.
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•• INTRODUCTION ••
One very useful group to know is the Brussels Childbirth Trust (02 215 3377) which organises meeting groups aimed at parents with babies and/or pre-school children. The Belgian educational system, generally, offers parents a huge choice, including a range of international and language schools. Check our education channel on expatica.com for a comprehensive guide to schooling. Belgium is unlikely to disappoint on the cultural and entertainment front. Whatever your taste in film, for instance, there is something on offer here and usually in the original English language. It has some impressive museums, and there is also a lively theatre scene. But, of course, Belgium is particularly well known for two things: its beer and food. Brussels and all major cities and towns have bars of all types, from trendy lounges to old Flemish hostelries, usually serving a bewildering array of beers. When it comes to eating establishments, the country is rightly proud of the choice and quality of its restaurants, with Brussels claiming to have more Michelin-starred restaurants than Paris. The city also claims to be the greenest capital in Europe and, certainly, Brussels is one of the few capitals where you can go for a forest walk on your lunch break.
The country – and Brussels in particular – can also rightly boast as good a public transport system as can be found anywhere, with a smooth-running integrated network of bus, metro and tram. It is also an ideal base for anyone who likes to be on the move, with Amsterdam, London and Paris all within a couple of hours’ travel from Brussels. When it comes to moving on from Belgium, the country’s notorious bureaucracy comes into its own, but a service offered by the Belgian post office called DoMyMove (details from www. domymove.be) makes the job a lot easier. The past year has seen a Belgian, Herman Van Rompuy, become the EU’s first ever President, leaving the government in the hands of gaffeprone Yves Leterme. It remains to be seen if he can hold the country’s fragile political system together as the cultural divide grows ever wider. But for all its shortcomings, Belgium is a magical mixture and a country that grows on you, albeit slowly. Gradually, you discover where the best restaurants are, which towns have the best schools, and where the most beautiful buildings and parks are. Some of these places can be devilishly hard to find but, if you make the effort, your rewards will be just heavenly. Martin Banks.
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BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
• • R E L O C AT I O N • •
Survival checklist If you’ve just landed in Belgium it’s tempting to start exploring, but there are some essential tasks to get through first. DECIDE WHERE TO LIVE Deciding where to live is one of your most important decisions and will dictate the sort of lifestyle you lead. (pages 21 - 24)
NOTIFY THE COMMUNE One of your first tasks will be to register with your local commune. If you start your new life in temporary accommodation, you may use that address but must notify the commune of any subsequent change, and re-register completely if you move to a different commune. (pages 11 – 12)
FIND OUT ABOUT MEDICAL CARE Unlike in other European countries, you need not necessarily register with a local doctor or dentist; the system allows you to visit any you choose. However, it is worthwhile to know what is available in your area, where the nearest hospital is, and to learn the relevant emergency numbers. (pages 44 -47)
FIND A JOB If you have just arrived in Belgium and you have your social security card, you can start the search for a job now. Start reading the papers, scouring the internet and registering with suitable employment agencies. (pages 42 -43)
GET AROUND Belgium has a good public transport system, but it pays to familiarise yourself with the various ticketing options. (pages 67 - 70)
MEET PEOPLE Discover the bars and restaurants in your neighbourhood or join one of the hundreds of expat clubs in all major centres. You can finally start to enjoy your new life in Belgium.
CONTACT UTILITY COMPANIES When you are ready to move into your permanent home, you must contact the utility companies to either connect you or put the bills in your name.
(pages 58 - 59 and 71 - 72)
(pages 62 -63)
OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT One of the first things you’ll need when you arrive is a bank account. Getting one is a fairly straightforward procedure which requires an ID card or passport and proof of address. Most banks offer special expatriate services. (pages 25 -26)
FIND A SCHOOL You have likely thought about schools long before arriving. If not, you should make appointments to visit schools to decide which is the best option. The same holds for childcare facilities. (pages 30 -39)
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R99 Wine Consulting www.r99.be
• Interested to learn more about wine? • Would you like to participate in a wine tasting workshop? • Want to host a wine tasting for friends at your house? • Or for colleagues at your office? • Perhaps a tasting as a corporate event? • Have you thought of special wines as corporate gifts? • Do you have old wines in your cellar you don’t know whether to drink, keep or throw away? • Need advise on food and wine matching for a special event or dinner? • Do you need to give somebody a birthday gift but have no idea what to get?
Elizma Myburgh | +32 (0) 477 755 763 | elizma.myburgh@r99.be
• • R E L O C AT I O N • •
Relocation companies, moving companies Relocation companies can take the hassle out of moving country.
Clos du Vieux Moulin 34 - 1410 Waterloo
RELOCATION COMPANIES
FRS – Foreign Relocation Service
Art of Living |
02 653 00 37
rue Ernest Solvay 59 - 1310 La Hulpe www.artofliving.be Caroline Driessen |
0474 270966
info@carolinedriesen.com
0476 28 79 66
Rue de Nivelles 143 - 1440 Braine-Le-Château www.gmc-relocationservices.com 02 658 80 80
Brusselsesteenweg 410D - 3090 Overijse www.map-relocations.com am&pm |
0800 91 100
www.brussels-relocation.com
02 253 20 05 Melkstraat 91A - 1830 Machelen
MAP Relocations |
02 658 80 80
Brusselsesteenweg 410D - 3090 Overijse www.map-relocations.com
www.carolinedriesen.com
MAP Relocations |
Storage Services |
02 353 21 01
www.frs-relocation.com
avenue Victor Rousseau 33 - Brussels 1190
G.M.C. sprl |
Brussels Relocation |
MOVING COMPANIES Ziegler Moving Division |
02 422 25 56
rue Dieudonné Lefèvre 160 - 1020 Brussels www.ziegler.be Capital Worldwide |
02 535 7430
Avenue Louise 149/24 - 1050 Brussels Gosselin World Wide Moving NV |
016 58 94 90
Naamsesteenweg 25 - 3000 Leuven
Belcrownlaan 23 - 2100 Deurne
www.am-pm.be
www.gosselin.eu
Andrews Roe Consult |
02 767 2996
Sterrebeeklaan 81 - 3080 Tervuren www.andrewsroe.com SIRVA |
02 785 0985
Bosdellestraat 120 Box 1 - 1933 Sterrebeek www.sirva.com World Wide Relocation Services 03 360 5500
Interdean Interconex |
03 360 5500
02 757 9285
Jan Baptist Vinkstraat 9 - 3070 Kortenberg Property Hunter |
02 344 61 47
Rue Alphonse Renard 1 - 1050 Bruxelles www.propertyhunter.be STORAGE SERVICES Shurgard Benelux |
03 640 0000
Oude Bareellei 9-11
Vaartdijk 40 - 2100 Antwerp
2170 Merksem
www.worldwiderelocationonline.com
www.shurgard.be
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• • R E L O C AT I O N • •
How to get a residence permit? EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (EEA) NATIONALS EEA nationals are those from the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Monaco and Switzerland. In theory, within eight days, EEA nationals need to register at the local town hall (maison communale/ gemeentehuis). In practice, most arrivals have better things to do in these crucial first few days and stretch this timeline a bit. The documentation you need also varies depending on the commune, your nationality, and frankly the mood of the official on the day. Take the following as indicative and check with the commune before you visit. As an EEA citizen, you will need the following documents: a valid passport, up to three passportsized photos, and proof of means of support, usually in the form of a letter from your employer (attestation patronale/verklaring van de werkgever) or employment contract. Some communes may also require birth or marriage certificates. There are still some restrictions in place for citizens of Bulgaria and Romania. Belgium has decided to lift the restrictions in three years, which means up to 2011. NON-EEA NATIONALS Non-EEA nationals must apply for a temporary residence visa to a Belgian embassy or consulate Here is a list of the major town halls in the communal districts of Brussels. For others see the front section of the Yellow Pages. Anderlecht . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 558 0800 Auderghem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 676 4811 Brussels City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 279 2211 Etterbeek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 627 2111 Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 370 2211 Hoeilaart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 658 2840 Ixelles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 515 6111 Kraainem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 719 2040 Overijse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 687 6040
before they arrive. Residence visas are restricted to purposes such as study, work (if a work permit is in hand) and family commitments. Non-EEA nationals are then obliged to register at the municipality within eight days of arriving in Belgium. In addition to the requirements for EEA nationals, you may also need the following, depending on the commune: up to five passport photographs, a medical certificate signed by a doctor recognised by the Belgian Embassy, a certificate of good conduct covering the past five years (criminal history record) issued by the police authorities of your last country of residence, legalised marriage license (if relevant) and birth certificates for any children. There is a small fee, which varies from commune to commune, but it is usually no more than EUR 20, payable in cash. You may well need to speak the language of the commune when you visit: if you don’t, go with someone who does. After the first visit, you will get a receipt but no card. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT The municipality contacts the police who visit to check that your name is on the door of the address you gave. If their report checks out, EU citizens get an invitation to collect a temporary three month card. This is renewed for a further three months if proof of employment or self-employment and registration with the relevant social security scheme has been or is later produced, and then in due course you get a permanent five-year card (carte de sejour/verblijfskaart). Non-EU citizens eventually get an annually renewable proof of registration for foreigners (Certification d’Inscription dans le Registre des Etrangers/Bewijs van Inschrijving in het Vreemdelingen Register). Rhode-Saint-Genese. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 380 2040 Rixensart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 634 2121 Saint Gilles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 536 0211 Saint Josse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 220 2611 Schaerbeek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 244 7511 Tervuren. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 769 2011 Uccle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 348 6511 Waterloo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 352 9811 Watermael-Boitsfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 674 7411 Wezembeek-Oppem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 783 1211 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 761 2711 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 773 0511
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• • R E L O C AT I O N • •
Social security Joining the Belgian Social Security system is bureaucratic, but not difficult. First you need to visit www.socialsecurity.fgov. be for a 64-page brochure ‘Everything you have always wanted to know about social security’. This tells you about the structure of the system and your entitlements. There are separate rules and institutions for the salaried, the self-employed and civil servants. If you are employed, your employer will likely take care of the formalities and deduct contributions from your wages. Salaried are covered for seven sectors (medical care, unemployment, pension, family, accident, work-related injury, vacation). If you are self-employed you will start by paying a minimum quarterly contribution which increases at the same rate as your income. It’s important to know that contributions are calculated on what you earned three years previously. You will need to sign up with one of a number of specialised organisations or a health insurance company mutuelle/mutualiteits, who act as collection agencies for the national social security offices. Once registered, they will send you a Social Security Identity Card (SIS) which is needed to get prescription drugs and other medical services.
From January 2008, the law changed to cover the self-employed for petits risques/kleine risico’s. This means you can now claim for doctor appointments, dentists and prescriptions in the same way as the salaried. Naturally, this doesn’t come without financial implications and contributions are increasing from 19.65% of income to 22%. The increase will be staged over four years. INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION There are EU rules designed to maintain entitlement to national benefits for EU citizens working in other EU countries. For a short stay it is often best to take advantage of these especially if you plan to return to the home country directly after your current stay. There are specialised offices in each EU country for further advice. CONTACTS The social security offices are semi-autonomous parts of the Ministry of Social Affairs and are known as parastatal institutions. The salaried should contact ONSS/RSZ, the national social security office and the self-employed can find more information from RSVZ-INASTI the national institute for social insurance of the self-employed. National Office of Social Security - ONSS/RSZ 02 509 3111 Place Victor Horta 11 1060 Brussels www.onssrszlss.fgov.be National Institute of Social Security for the self-employed - INASTI/RSVZ | 02 546 4211 Place Jan Jacobs 6 1000 Brussels http://inasti.be Overseas Social Security Office - DOSZ/ OSSOM | 02 642 0511 Avenue Louise 194 1050 Brussels www.dosz.be
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• • R E L O C AT I O N • •
Marriage and divorce Anyone in Belgium can be married from the age of 18. Below that age young people must have the consent of their parents and permission from the court. Civil marriage is obligatory, even if the couple decide to marry in church. This must take place in one of the communes before any church ceremony. It is important to remember that the civil ceremony is the legally binding one. Contact your commune for full details. To contract a marriage in Belgium, one of the parties must reside in the country. There is no specific period of residence, but several weeks are generally necessary for completion of the required formalities. If neither of the parties has a fixed residence in Belgium, one of them must establish a residence for this purpose. You then need to apply for a Certificate of Residence for Marriage Purposes (Certificat de Domicile/ Bewijs van Woonst voor Huwelijksdoeleinden) from the commune.
into a mariage à regime légal/huwelijk onder wettelijk stelsel. This means that all property held before the marriage is owned individually and any inheritance is held individually, but other monies coming to the couple during the marriage are held in common. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Belgium since 2004. There are no restrictions regarding nationality and recognition of the marriage in a partner’s home country. DIVORCE Belgian divorce is obtainable for one of three reasons: 1. By mutual consent 2. Through serious cause (such as adultery or cruelty) 3. Legal separation of five years Where couples divorce by mutual consent, the process can be finalised within six months. Before the divorce process may begin, the couple must notarise an agreement that states how property will be divided and how child custody arrangements will be handled. Foreigners living in Belgium, although married abroad, may obtain a divorce under Belgian law. It is also worth checking with your home country that it recognises Belgian divorce law.
You will need a raft of papers to fulfil the legal requirements of getting married, including birth certificates, previous wedding certificates, legal divorce papers, sometimes even a statement from your embassy confirming your civil status. All these papers need to be translated into one of the official Belgian languages by an accredited legal translator. MARRIAGE CONTRACTS It is usual practice for a separate legal marriage contract to be made in Belgium. The contract must be drawn up by a notary before the wedding and the attestation of contract presented at the ceremony. In the absence of any contract, the couple enters
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•• HOUSING ••
Housing Most expats will rent a home when they first arrive in Belgium. Perhaps they’re on a short contract, need accommodation immediately, or simply don’t want to commit to anything more long-term before settling down RENT OR BUY? It is obviously quicker to find somewhere to rent than to go through the formalities of a purchase. Renting is more flexible and gives you time to settle into your new life. If you don’t like the property or the area, you have the option of looking elsewhere. Unless you’re lucky, finding a suitable home to buy can take years. Be aware if you rent that early termination of a short-term contract incurs a penalty. A standard nine-year contract is actually more flexible. The Belgian system can be rigged in favour of the landlord if you don’t watch out. (See page 16 for more information.) And it can be irritating to throw away money each month when it could be going toward a mortgage as a future investment. The difference between rent and mortgage costs is not so great in Belgium. However, up-front payments on property or land purchase are high. There is a purchase tax on homes (typically 12.5%) as well as legal and mortgage fees of around 4.5%. So if you’re only staying for the short-term or are uncertain about the future of your job, renting is the best idea.
HOW TO FIND A HOME Apartments are normally rented unfurnished, sometimes without essentials like fridges and cookers. Furnished flats are available but are either expensive and targeted at upmarket short-stay tenants or shabby and downmarket. Regardless of your needs, there are several ways to find somewhere to live. Once you see an area you like, take time to walk the streets armed with a notepad and mobile phone. Many properties display a standard orange poster reading ‘A Louer/Te Huur’ (For Rent) or ‘À Vendre/Te Koop’ (For Sale). Estate agents also put up signs. Also be sure to look at the free weekly paper ‘Vlan’ (www.vlan.be). The website www. immoweb.be is also excellent, is in English, and allows you to search all of Belgium for a place to rent or buy. Also see Expatica’s property pages on expatica.com. Some of the best properties never get advertised. If a particular area appeals to you, ask colleagues and even local shop owners if they know of anything. Belgium has a large choice of estate agents. But you’ll have to do much of the footwork yourself, particularly if buying. After an initial flurry of activity, you may soon drop off their radar. Rental agencies are happy to drive you around town to visit various properties. Agents’ fees are typically paid by the landlord or seller of the property. There are pitfalls in setting up home, of course, so check our special features before you rent or buy. For more information about housing services, visit our Ask the Experts section on expatica.com.
Property prices, stable for years, have been rising steadily; though there was a slight drop in prices during 2009. But compared to Amsterdam, London and Paris, properties in Brussels and Antwerp still look cheap and you tend to get a lot more for your money. The conclusion? If Belgium will be your home for a while, take the plunge and buy.
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•• HOUSING ••
Renting Once you have found the property you want to rent, you need a lease (bail/kontract), an inventory (état des lieux/ plaatsbeschrijving), and a security deposit. You’ll need to get the phone, electricity and gas reconnected. Plus you need to take out an insurance policy for fire and water damages. THE LEASE Belgium has an odd system of a standard nine-year flexible lease, and a less flexible three-year lease. At first sight the three-year lease seems the more attractive to a newcomer whose time in the country is uncertain, but this is not necessarily the case. A three-year lease can be for any agreed period up to a maximum of three years. It fixes the rent for the period of the lease and commits the tenant to pay for the entire period of the lease. It can include a diplomatic clause (designed to indemnify the tenant if he wants to break the lease because he is leaving the country) but these have been nullified by the Belgian courts in the past. So, it is better to opt for a nine-year lease, which can in fact be broken by giving three months’ notice. But if you leave in the first, second or third year, you will pay an indemnity of three, two and one month’s rent respectively. From year four, there is no penalty for leaving. The monthly rent is fixed for nine years subject to the normal statecontrolled annual indexation. The landlord can only give you notice if they intend to occupy the property personally, need to carry out major work (where major has a legal definition), or at the end of year three or year six, for no reason but subject to compensation to the tenant of nine or six months’ rent respectively. For an apartment, the monthly outgoing may include an element of rent and a fixed amount of service charge. Usually the service charge is just a prepayment (provision pour charges/ vooruitbetaling) and there will be an annual assessment of common charges for the property 16
that you will share in. If you want to negotiate a better price, negotiate down the rental not the service charges! If there are things you want the landlord to correct before you move in, either specify them in the lease contract so legally binding the landlord or, if you can wait, don’t sign the lease until they have happened! THE INVENTORY The inventory (etat des lieux /plaatsbeschrijvin) is the source of more misery to tenants than any other legal document. Typically, the landlord’s agent or a designated expert prepares a detailed list of the condition of the property complete with photographs which the tenant signs. At the end of the lease, the landlord’s agent checks the property against this inventory. Be aware that tenants can be charged for scratches in the bath that were there before they arrived, simply because they didn’t notice the damage when signing the original inventory. It is bad enough to have someone who seems to be less than independent assessing costs against you, and even more irritating that you have to pay 50% of his bill. Some agents insist you sign a document agreeing to the fee and to accept his expertise before he starts. Don’t do so. The way to avoid all such problems is simple. Refuse to accept the landlord’s agent and select your own agent (expert immobilier/expert) to do the check-in and the check-out. That way both parties get a truly independent and fair assessment. THE SECURITY DEPOSIT You will be asked to put up a one or two months rent as a security deposit (two months is the legal norm) against tenant-caused damages. The best way to do this is to ask your bank for a guarantee. This is basically a low-cost insurance policy sold to you by the bank which uses your salary as its means of security. Alternatively, you can open a blocked deposit account which needs the signatures of both tenant and landlord for any withdrawal. Never pay the security deposit in cash, it’s against the law. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES It is the tenant’s responsibility to insure the property not only for contents but for fire and water damage. You should also arrange to have chimneys cleaned and boilers serviced annually. If the property has a private garden it is the tenant’s responsibility to maintain it (communal garden costs are usually included in the service charge).
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•• HOUSING ••
Buying House purchase is straightforward, if laboured. In summary, once you have found the property, you sign an agreement to purchase (compromis de vente/verkoopcompromis) almost immediately committing yourself to buy if the seller is in good faith. Then some four months later you sign a final contract (acte authentique/authentieke) once all the legal paperwork and the mortgage have been sorted out. This all happens via a notaire/notaris. There is one notaire for the buyer and one for the seller. The price of the property agreed upon with the seller and the sum of money you finally hand over are alarmingly different. First, for most properties you pay 12.5% registration tax to the state. For downmarket properties with a revenu cadastral/kadastral inkomen below Euro 740, this can be reduced to 6%, but there are not many of those to be had! Buyers in Flanders benefit from a slight reduction in the basic 12.5%. There are fixed state-agreed costs for the legal services of a notaire. These charges vary with the property value. So, with the registration fee of 12.5%, a mortgage registration fee of 1,1% plus the notary fees, all in all this adds around 15% to the nominal price. It is worth checking out extra benefits for firsttime buyers, which vary depending on the location. THE ROLE OF THE NOTAIRE As all notaires are obliged to pay the same fees, it is best to select one on recommendation, and preferably one who is conveniently-located and speaks a common language. Failing that, have a look at www.notaire.be. Find one before you find the house, as they will need to spring into action the moment you do so. The seller’s notaire typically drafts the compromis de vente and sends it to your notaire, who should amend it for any unfavourable clauses. Once the text is agreed, you all visit the offices of the seller’s notaire to sign and hand over a deposit (usually 10%). You now have a period agreed in the compromis to find a mortgage; your notaire will do the legal checks, and all going well four
months later, you all meet in the offices of your notaire to sign the acte authentique and hand over the remaining money (usually a cheque from the mortgage lender) in return for the keys. Strangely, structural surveys are not a legal part of securing a mortgage. It is typically an independent activity for your own peace of mind and should be done before signing the compromis de vente. You will need to show serious hidden defects in order to escape penalty-free once you have signed. Another oddity is that once you have signed the compromis de vente, you become liable for the property insurance. Even if the property burns down whilst you don’t legally own it, you lose! MORTGAGES There is a full set of mortgage options available in Belgium from many sources including the major banks. Mortgages can be fixed for the term of the loan, variable annually, or reviewed every three or five years with different options on the type of interest payment. Ask your lender for a printed tabular estimate covering the loan period and discuss the options available to you. The loan can include the 15% additional costs if your lender agrees. Some lenders will charge you for a mortgage offer that you do not take up: check this in advance and walk away if you find that inappropriate. Offers also have a time limit on them. Single market mortgages are available from, say, Germany but these can only be obtained via a broker. Some lenders will try to link the loan to their own property and life insurance. Ensure that you see the costs for this clearly separated and compare with other quotes. Insurance rates in Belgium are high. If you have existing life insurance, there should be no need to duplicate the cover at a higher cost. Lenders are no longer able to insist that you buy insurance from a specific company.
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Accommodation services
Macnash Associates | www.macnash.com
The following agencies (agence immobiliers/ makelaar) typically deal in both sales and rentals. Also visit the Immoweb site for a full list of agents in each region, or look in Yellow Pages (www.pagesdor.be).
Trevi | 02 343 2240 www.trevi.be
NATIONWIDE Century 21 | 02 513 1996 www.century21.be Immoweb | 02 333 2525 www.immoweb.be ANTWERP Belimmo | 03 238 0357 www.belimmo.be Carl Martens | 03 226 8500 www.carlmartens.be Engetrim – Trevi | www.engetrim.be
03 218 6304
02 381 0698
Toby | 02 219 2333 www.bureau-toby.com
VIPOFFICES | 02 400 0000 www.vipoffices.com AARTSELAAR ERA | 0800 - 20 227 www.era.be OVERIJSE Immo2002 | 02 687 2779 www.immo2002.be HOEILAART Immo Desco | 02 306 67 85 www.immo-desco.be GENT Era Vastgoed Ryckaert | www.era.be
09 223 1177
Nelde | 09 248 03 50 www.nelde.be LIEGE Optimum – Trevi | www.optimum.be
04 221 4875
Sidimex | 03 203 0202 www.sidimex.be BRUSSELS Eurorent | 02 646 2686 www.eurorent.com Eurohouse | 02 672 0555 www.eurohouse.be Brussels Business Flats | www.bbf.be
02 539 2614
Immo Living | 0478 209 552 www.immoliving.com Housing Service | 02 732 9920 www.housing-service.be
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Where to live in Belgium Beyond Brussels there are plenty of cities and communes that make great homes for expatriates. Here are some of the best from across Belgium.
ANTWERP There is a well-sized population of British and American families living here; plus there is an international school and a good choice of English-speaking clubs and societies. Add to that the fact that the majority of Flemish speakers speak English, and Antwerp becomes an attractive place to settle. Most families tend to live in the north of the city with its residential flavour and gardened houses. The single expat tends to live in the midst of it all in beautiful, if expensive, apartments. Up and coming areas include the redeveloped museum area (‘t Zuid) and parts of Berchem with its grand Art Nouveau houses and slightly bohemian feel. The urban set favour apartments in the area known as St Andries, between the river and Nationalestraat. GENT The most popular places for expats to live in the centre of town are Muinparkwijk with its affordable houses and gardens and Coupure, full of old houses and with a delightful river running through its midst. Many families make the decision to live outside the city limits in the surrounding villages, where they can enjoy a rural lifestyle with space for the kids and easy access to the city. GENVAL This commune outside the Brussels region is a village in its own right and a French-speaking enclave in the Flemish belt. The most expensive part to live in is down by the lake with its Geneva-style water spout, water sports facilities and five-star hotel. Genval is just a 20-minute train journey into Brussels Centre, so it is an ideal commuting territory.
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•• HOUSING ••
LIEGE The centre has a good stock of apartment buildings, and expats tend to gather around a cluster of streets including boulevards Frère Oban and Piercot, Le Mont St-Martin, Botanique and Les Terrasses. Suburban living includes the university area of Le Sart Tilman and also Cointe and Embourg. TERVUREN This is real country living at the edge of Brussels, with its great park surrounding the Africa Museum and The British School at its heart.
WATERLOO Waterloo is popular for its self-containment, meaning there is no need to drive in and out of Brussels whenever you need anything. There is a whole raft of international schools here, a good high street of shops and clusters of big out-of-town shopping centres. It has become particularly popular with Americans and Scandinavians. Housing tends to be big with ample land.
© Marie-Thérèse GUIHAL & © anjocreatif - Fotolia.com
Houses are expensive but big, with acres of land and a real sense of owning your own patch. You’d need a car to live here, but it’s at the end of one of the world’s most beautiful tram-lines. Tervuren is best suited to families as life here is rather quiet.
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•• HOUSING ••
Where to live in Brussels The bulk of expatriates living in Brussels tends towards the south and south-east of the city. Here are seven of the most popular neighbourhoods.
BRUSSELS CITY If living in the thick of it all is irresistible then downtown is the place for you. In recent years, previously run-down parts of the centre have become a magnet for the young professional with major renovations and industrial spaces coming up for rent or sale. Much sought after areas are St Géry, Ste Catherine and the rue Antoine Dansaert area leading up to the canal. The Marolles is becoming increasingly popular
with a young urban set. The Sablon and Louise are fabulously upmarket but that is naturally reflected in price. Up and coming are the streets around the main boulevard leading down to Gare du Midi, with many old properties ripe for development and still at attractive prices. ETTERBEEK Best known for the area at the top end of the Parc du Cinquantenaire, Etterbeek is filled with attractive streets of early 20th century town houses. It is home to many European institutions
and has fantastic public transport facilities. Its relatively cheap housing prices, with good availability of houses and apartments, mostly in conversions, make it particularly attractive. IXELLES/ELSENE Wildly popular with the expatriate community, Ixelles is a massive commune with character and style. It falls into distinct areas: trendy Châtelain with its café culture, the leafy ponds
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•• HOUSING ••
and abbey area leading down to the Bois de la Cambre; buzzy chaussée d’Ixelles which takes in the Matongé, the African quarter, and the cemetery with its late-night bars and student population. Through it all runs Avenue Louise with its upmarket shops and restaurants. The housing stock tends to be large townhouses and desirable apartment conversions, but you’ll certainly pay for them. ST-GILLES/ SINT-GILLIS St-Gilles is a favourite among those expats who like to live as locals. From the top end, with its grand Art Nouveau houses, down to the earthy Gare du Midi, St-Gilles is packed with quirky restaurants, shops and a buzzing nightlife. You are most likely to find a bargain place to live here, especially if you buy, as it is one of Brussels’ most dynamic areas with a definite future as both expats and locals become more attracted to its enigmatic character. UCCLE/UKKEL This is a beautiful and calm commune with huge houses and upmarket apartment blocks.
Popular with expat families, it is well located for shops and schools. It is probably Brussels’ most leafy commune with the Forest of Soignes, and housing surrounded by large gardens. The international community here is huge. WOLUWE-SAINT-PIERRE/ SINT-PIETERS-WOLUWE This is often the choice of folk working at the European institutions, both for its proximity and its affordable housing. It’s almost self-contained with its massive park, sports centre and public amenities. It’s also on the metro line 1, giving easy public transport access. WOLUWE-SAINT LAMBERT/ SINT-LAMBRECHTS-WOLUWE Saint-Pierre’s next-door neighbour shares much the same attractions, including the huge Woluwe Shopping Centre. As it is a step further out from the centre it begins to get even more suburban and green and is within good striking distance of the airport and major international motorways.
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•• MONEY ••
Your money CURRENCY Belgium is in the Euro zone, sharing a common currency with Austria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands. Of the older EU countries, Sweden, Denmark and the UK remain the outsiders. Most of the newer EU countries plan to adopt the Euro when they are ready to do so, but each has its own timetable for convergence; Slovakia became a member in January 2009. Euros from any of the 12 countries may be used anywhere in the EU. Coins: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 EUR, 2 EUR Notes: 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, 200€, 500€ On one side of the coins is a European Union emblem showing a map of the Euro zone surrounded by the 12 stars of the Union. On the other side is a design specific to the country where it was minted. There is talk of abolishing the one and two cent coins to improve the trouser line. All Euro notes are the same, regardless of which country they come from, and feature symbols representing co-operation, openness, dynamism and harmony. PAYING FOR GOODS AND SERVICES Cash Cash dispensers are usually found wherever there is a bank, and they all take the Bancontact/Mister Cash cards issued by local banks as well as credit cards. Dispenser lobbies within banks are open after hours, and are usually only for customers of that specific bank and most don’t issue cash on credit cards. You’ll need to swipe your bank card to get in. There is an irritating lack of machines in central Brussels which means queues at peak times. Machines can often be drained dry on a Saturday night, thereby frustrating Sunday morning customers.
Debit and credit cards The most common card in Belgium is the Bancontact/Mister Cash card. It is linked to your current account, and is accepted in department stores, supermarkets, petrol stations, and high street shops. It’s a good idea to have one of these, as there are still many places in Belgium that don’t accept alternatives. A Bancontact/ Mister Cash card with a PIN will be issued when you open a Belgian bank account. Most types of credit card are widely accepted. If you get a Visa or MasterCard from a local bank, the standard option in Belgium is for this to operate like a debit card, with the full balance taken from your account each month. Some of the major banks do offer credit cards (Visa Pinto for example, from KBC bank) but these can be expensive. Diner’s, American Express and other major international credit cards can also be obtained and used in Belgium. Proton Belgium is a pioneer of the cashless society. The Proton card is actually a chip integrated into your Bancontact/Mister Cash card and is like a rechargeable electronic purse. It is designed to pay for everyday items such as newspapers and sandwiches, as well as paying the butcher and the baker. This is how it works: using your usual fourdigit PIN, you load the card at a cash dispenser and then go shopping. The shopkeeper enters the amount to be paid into the Proton terminal, and you put your Proton card into the terminal. When the amount to be paid appears on the screen, you simply press the OK button, and the payment is made. A word of caution: a lost card is like lost cash so don’t overload the card. Recently some larger stores have removed the Proton payment option.
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•• MONEY ••
Banking INTERNET AND PHONE BANKING Most major banks offer both a telephone banking and an Internet banking service. Internet banking, based on free proprietary secure software, allows complete account management, the easy payment of regular and non-standard bills throughout the Euro zone and increasingly anywhere in the EU. There are reduced fees for standardised Euro transfers below a threshold limit if you agree to share fees. CHEQUE Cheques, while still available when you open an account, are more or less obsolete and can attract penal banking charges. They are not recommended nor are they encouraged by the banks. THE TRANSFER SLIP If you do not bank online the most common means of payment is via a bank transfer (virement/ overschrijving). This is an orange and white payment slip found at the bottom of almost all Belgian bills. This has to be filled in, signed and handed in at your bank or paid via an ATM machine. DIRECT DEBIT This practice, known as domiciliation/ domiciliering, is the most efficient way to pay bills to people you trust, for it precludes the problem of forgetting to pay them. Since late payment incurs a small penalty charge added to the next bill, this form of payment is common for utility companies. STANDING ORDER This is called ordre permanent/bestendige opdracht and can be set up for regular payments of a fixed amount, like rent or mortgage repayments. You can also use it as a way of saving a fixed amount regularly, by automatic transfer from your current account to your savings accounts. OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT To open a current or checking account (compte à vue/zichtrekening), you need either a passport 26
or a Belgian ID Card as proof of identity. Once the account is opened the bank will send you a Bancontact/Mister Cash debit card. A PIN number will be sent to you separately. If you want to open a savings account (compte d’épargne/ spaarrekening), the bank can advise you on the different accounts on offer.
Major Belgian banks Most websites include a branch finder. All the major banks offer their services in French, Dutch and English. BANKS 02 464 60 04 ING | www.ing.be/expats 078 152 153 KBC | www.kbc.be/expats BNP Paribas Fortis | www.fortisbank.be
02 433.40.34
02 222 1201 Dexia | www.dexia.be INSURANCE COMPANIES 02 44 44 111 Euromut | Louis Mettewielaan 74/76 - 1080 Brussels www.euromut.be 078 150 400 Partena | Coupure Links 103 - 9000 Gent Business@partenaexpats.be www.partena-expats.be 02 406 35 11 Vivium/Vivium Life | Rue Royale, 153 - 1210 Brussels expat@vivium.be www.vivium.be 03 217 65 29 Vanbreda International NV | Plantin en Moretuslei 299 - 2140 Antwerpen www.vanbreda-international.be www.expatplus.com
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•• MONEY ••
Taxation Expatriates and Belgian citizens alike suffer from one of the highest taxation rates in the EU. In November 2009, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development confirmed once again that Belgium has one of the highest tax burdens in Europe. It amounts to – including social security – 57.3% for a single earner. This compares to an average 44.5% in Europe. An expatriate working in Belgium will typically be liable to Belgian income tax. Additionally, property tax, gift and succession duty may be relevant. In most circumstances there are no capital gains taxes or wealth tax for individuals in Belgium, thus pushing the burden firmly onto the employee. Residents of Belgium pay personal income tax on their total income from all worldwide sources on a sliding scale. The basic exemption for 2010 is 6,430 EUR regardless of marital status with further exemptions for dependent children and a spouse. For 2010, marginal income tax starts at 25%, rises to 30% over EUR 7,900, 40% over EUR 11,240, 45% over 18,730 EUR with a top limit of 50% for incomes above EUR 34,330. Residents also pay communal and regional taxes at rates between 0% and 8.5% of the total income tax payable. The most common rate is 6%. Income tax is paid on the taxable base which is determined from salary less compulsory social security contributions (paid either in Belgium or abroad). Professional expenses can be deducted either directly with supporting documentation or more usually on a lump sum basis depending on salary. The 2010 rate for this standard professional deduction is a maximum EUR 3,590.
Professionnel/Bedrijfsvoorheffing. Similarly the self-employed or paid company directors have to pay tax monthly in advance via a collecting agency or bank. SPECIAL EXPATRIATE STATUS Expatriates who satisfy specific conditions come under a special taxation regime and pay Belgium tax only on income connected with professional duties carried out in Belgium. A foreign executive assigned temporarily to Belgium may so qualify but the conditions are tough. Employment must be by an international group or in a scientific research centre, and must be temporary. Also, the expatriate’s centre of personal and economic interest must not be Belgium. In determining the latter the authorities take the following into account: the ownership of real estate, personal property or securities abroad; a life assurance contract written abroad; the inclusion of a diplomatic clause in the Belgian rental agreement for accommodation; continued affiliation to a group pension scheme abroad; renewal of credit cards issued by banks abroad; continued affiliation to a social security scheme abroad; continuing to act as an officer of a foreign company. If you qualify for the above, there are specific benefits and deductions available which vary depending on income, personal circumstances and your home country. Professional advice is recommended. Service Public Fédéral Finances/Federale 0257/257 57 (Contact centre) Overheidsdienst Financiën www.minfin.fgov.be For tax consultants: Ask the Experts on www. expatica.com
The Belgian tax year for personal income tax begins on 1 January and ends 31 December. You will typically receive a tax return (declaration/ aangifte) during May relating to the previous year’s income. This must be returned by mid-July (you will find the exact date on your tax return). If you don’t receive a return, request one from the Ministry of Finance before 1 June or risk a penalty!
LOCAL TAX OFFICES As stated before, communal and regional taxes depend upon which commune you live in. For Brussels it is 7% and for both Antwerp and Liège it is 8%. To find your local tax office, please check your annual income tax return or go to annuaire. fiscus.fgov.be for more information.
Employers are responsible for withholding tax on a monthly basis – this is known as the Précompte
In cooperation with FisCuriosa www.fiscuriosa.be
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•• MONEY ••
Insurance HEALTH Healthcare insurance is a part of the Belgian Social Security system and to benefit you must join a health insurance fund mutuelle (mutualité) /ziekenfonds (mutualiteit). Once you are employed by a Belgian company, your contributions and those of your employer will be automatically deducted from your salary by the ONSS (National Office of Social Security). Then you sign up with a health insurance fund, which will reimburse your medical costs. To take you on they will need written certification of employment signed by your employer. Although most funds are affiliated to a religious or political institution, there is no real difference because reimbursement rates are fixed by the government. These funds do not, however, cover 100 percent of your bills; you may get around half to three-quarters of a typically doctor’s or specialist’s visit. Check also with your doctor that what he prescribes is refundable. Pharmacies maintain a state-advised list. Consequently many people opt for additional private insurance (complémentaire). Once insured you get a standardised credit card style SIS card which you will need in pharmacies and hospitals. You also get a sheet of stickers (vignettes) which you need to attach to a doctor’s bill to get a refund. CAR Belgian car insurance is expensive, and it is the car not the driver which is insured. This means that anyone can drive your car, but if you want cover for injury sustained by the driver, you need to ask for additional coverage. The minimum insurance required by Belgian law is Third-Party Liability, which covers death, bodily injury or physical damage that you cause to another person. You can opt for Fully Comprehensive cover, which provides for most eventualities including vandalism, fire, theft or damage resulting from a collision. The company will issue you with a Green Card, which you should keep in your car at all times.
You will also receive an accident report form, which you must keep in your car. Ask for additional copies in French, Dutch and your language, so you can complete it more easily. If an accident happens, do the following: ask for the other driver’s Green Card as proof of insurance; get names and addresses of any witnesses before they leave the scene; fill in the accident report form (and get both parties to sign); state the facts but nothing else regarding liability. HOME Whether you own or rent your property, you need to get insurance. Almost all rental agreements in Belgium require the tenant to take out insurance on the rented property within 30 days of signing a lease. This insurance is required by the Belgian Civil Code, which holds a tenant responsible for any damage to the building, unless proof can be given that it was not his/her fault. If you are renting, take your lease with you when you arrange your insurance. You are also responsible for providing cover against third-party liability, but the owner is required to have a policy covering the property against earthquakes, lightning, fire, etc. If you are in furnished accommodation you are required to take out insurance against damage to the landlord’s furniture. Homeowners may have a policy linked to their mortgage but there is no obligation to do this. Additionally if you employ a part-time or fulltime cleaner or nanny you need to take out special low-cost liability insurance in case they injure themselves on the job; for instance, slip on the stairs. Home buyers are responsible for the insurance after signing the compromis de vente – around four months before they get the keys. Contents insurance is not compulsory but advisable. Remember that theft is not covered automatically in contents insurance; it is an option. Valuable personal items, such as jewellery or cameras, may require an All Risks policy, which will cover you for damage or loss in or out of the home. Premiums on these for desirables such as laptop computers are high.
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• • E D U C AT I O N • •
How to choose a school Making the right choice of school is one of the most important decisions expat parents have to make. Here is a guide to help you through the process.
with an international (English) stream. Most importantly, such children should attend a school with a system (curriculum, testing, etc.) that is compatible with future needs. If your child plans to go on to higher education – either back home or at your next destination – it is vital that you find out how the school they go to now will affect their choices later. Once you narrow down your list of possibilities, try to visit the schools you are considering before you make your final decision. See the box below for a list of important questions to ask when you visit.
Most people will tell you that the headmaster’s There are three basic aspects that determine (principal’s) attitude and management style will what the best choice of school will be for your be the most important factors in making a school international child: how old the child is; how long successful. you will be abroad; and whether this is an QUESTIONS TO ASK isolated move or one Steer clear of any • Are there any other expat kids at the school? in an expected series of school that does not • What is the social life like for the average moves. encourage or accept child at the school? the fact that you do If your child is young, not speak the local • What is the curriculum? a local school could language at home. • How will your child’s progress be assessed? be the best and most That indicates they do • Which diplomas does the school offer? convenient choice for not have a clear idea of • To what extent are parents encouraged to your whole family. This the realities and needs is especially true if you get involved with the school and decisions of the multilingual, plan to be abroad for multicultural child. regarding its policies, etc.? only a few years as a one-off experience, or Although not all conversely, if you plan to live long-term in your children relocate easily, it helps to know that new country. most children are more adaptable than we usually give them credit for and, with support, Your child will make friends close to home and will make a success of this new opportunity. learn the language and culture, which will benefit the whole family. Most European primary schools offer a solid foundation for further studies, and it would be unlikely for the children to find themselves behind in certain subjects once they return home. But if your child is at the end of primary school, or in secondary school, or will be moving often during his or her educational career, being thrust into an ordinary local school will not be ideal. In these cases, most parents and educators would agree that the best option is either an international school or a local school 30
BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
The British School of Brussels vzw Leuvensesteenweg 19, 3080 TERVUREN, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 766 04 30 - Fax: +32 (0)2 767 80 70 admissions@britishschool.be - www.britishschool.be
Call us for a School tour and find out how we prepare students for the 21st century.
With more than 1200 students coming from 70 different countries, we follow the UK (English) National Curriculum up to the age of 16 adapting it to reflect the multinational and multicultural nature of our School. With impressive academic results, we are unique in Belgium in the range of courses we offer Post-16: A Levels, International Baccalaureate and our own Foundation course. Crèche facilities for children from 1 to 3 years of age are also available.
A British Education for international families in the heart of Europe.
The British School of Brussels
ECOC – supporting children and young people with learning challenges
An estimated 10% of Europeans have some form of learning difficulty. Imagine how difficult it is for these people when they are living in a country where the education system is not in their mother tongue. ECOC’s mission is to promote opportunities in order that young people and children with any form of learning challenge are included, respected and supported by the teaching process in mainstream education.
We do this primarily through our website, providing useful information and details of the support services that are available. We also form partnerships with likeminded organizations, particularly those that can provide practical help, and we host events.
Visit us at www.ecoc.be Please help us by giving us a donation. Rue François Gay, 152 | Woluwe-Saint-Pierre | 1150 Brussels E-mail: ecoc@ecoc.be - Phone Number: 02/613.2703. Bank Account: 310-1238787-86 - IBAN: BE78-310-1238787-86 - BIC: BBRUBEBB Europe’s Children Our Concern is a registered charitable organization 457070829
• • E D U C AT I O N • •
Education system In keeping with the myriad levels of national and local bureaucracy in Belgium, the state school system can seem a minefield to newcomers trying to make a choice for their children. The first decision is whether to integrate the children into the local system or to take advantage of the many international schools in the country. This naturally depends on whether you are on a short contract or plan to adopt Belgium as your home country. The international option would allow your children to continue in the same education system once they return to their home country. BELGIAN SCHOOLS Whilst the state sets the laws regarding education, responsibility for schools lies with the language communities; Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia, both languages in Brussels and in some surrounding communes. As well as state schools there are subsidised ‘free’ and independent schools, often run on religious lines, though their curricula and certification are recognised equally within the system. Religion plays a part in state education too, and students can opt for Catholic, Protestant or Jewish studies, or a more general secular approach. The compulsory school age in Belgium is six to 18 years, though there is an opportunity for 16+ pupils to study part-time. Education is free, though at secondary level parents may be expected to contribute to the cost of some text books. All schools are co-educational. Children start school at the age of six, though they may be accepted at five if they are deemed ready. Before this, nurseries are available for babies and children up to two-and-half years. Priority is given to mothers in full-time work.
Kindergartens then take over until the child reaches school age. These are often attached to local primary schools. Children stay at primary school for six years during which time they study the whole range of subjects with an emphasis on languages. Homework is set from early on and there is a strong tradition of parental participation. Secondary schools fall into Type I and Type II categories. The former is freer and more informal whilst the latter is more traditional, with a greater degree of specialisation chosen at 12 years. Both types offer a general studies curriculum in the early years, but then start to channel students into general, vocational, technical or artistic streams depending on individual choice and ability. Assessment is ongoing and rigidly enforced. There are a number of educational certificates awarded which include the Certificate of Lower Secondary Education and the Certificate of Higher Education. Most schools work a half-day on Wednesday, though the afternoon is sometimes given over to sporting or cultural activities. These can also happen on a Saturday morning. Childcare facilities are available before or after school for working parents, though this is usually at a charge. Similarly your children can be cared for on Wednesday afternoons. METHOD SCHOOLS There is a wide range of schools which adopt the methodology of an educational philosophy. In these, children often learn through discovery and the liberal arts, with subjects such as grammar, mathematics and science being taught from direct experience rather than in a formal setting. The Celstin Freinet system follows this approach, whilst the Decroly schools separate out the academic and creative skills in a verticallystreamed organisation, with younger children benefiting from the experience of older pupils. The Steiner schools place greater emphasis on the arts. The world-famous Montessori schools are well represented in Belgium and teach children in small, focussed groups according to the relaxed self-developmental Montessori method. These schools tend to offer a bilingual French-English education.
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Visit our library (Fictional, Special Needs, Self Development)
To find out more, please contact Chalks, Director of Expatica Café Rue François Gay, 152 | Woluwe-Saint-Pierre | 1150 Brussels Tel.: 02.613.2703 | Fax: 02.613.2702 | Mobile: 0478.482023 chalks.corriette@expatica.com | www.expatica.com/be Are You Ready To Be Connected?
JOKER BRUSSELS Handelskaai 27 1000 Brussels Tel 02 502 19 37 Brussels@joker.be www.joker.be
Hot Desk with us for business or pleasure. To find out more, please contact Chalks, Director of Expatica Café Rue François Gay, 152 | Woluwe-Saint-Pierre | 1150 Brussels Tel.: 02.613.2703 | Fax: 02.613.2702 | Mobile: 0478.482023 chalks.corriette@expatica.com | www.expatica.com/be Are You Ready To Be Connected?
• • E D U C AT I O N • •
International schools These are the choice of parents who wish their children to remain in a system they know, with a language they know and with the option of continuing the system back in the home country. With its burgeoning international community, Belgium – and Brussels in particular – has a raft of international schools following British, American, French and Dutch education systems, among many others. These schools offer the whole range of education from nursery to school-leaving age. As they are all private, they are fee-paying, though many companies offer education costs as part of an overseas benefits package. The International School of Brussels (ISB) is the largest American curriculum international school, for students aged 3-19 years. It also offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.
The British School of Brussels (BSB) is the largest British curriculum school, set on a large campus in Tervuren. Since September 2005, BSB also offers the IB programme as well as GCSE and A-levels. Both ISB and BSB place great emphasis on sport and the arts and run highly successful summer schools, which are open to all. St John’s International School emphasizes Christian values, encourages academic excellence and stimulates social development within a culturally diverse environment. Similarly in Antwerp, the small Antwerp British School offers an international curriculum for children aged 3-16 years, leading to the IGCSE. The Antwerp International School also offers the IGCSE as well as the IB. Both schools offer Dutch and French as standard. EUROPEAN SCHOOLS The European schools are notoriously difficult to get into unless at least one parent works for an EU institution. Education is in the mother tongue with a second language being introduced at primary
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• • E D U C AT I O N • •
level. A third language is then obligatory from the second year of secondary school with optional additional languages on offer in later years. Courses lead to the European Baccalaureate which is recognised for university entrance throughout the EU. MONTESSORI SCHOOLS Dr Maria Montessori, born 1870, was the first woman in Italy to obtain a medical degree. Working in education and psychiatry, she developed her notion that each child is born with a unique potential to be revealed rather than as an empty vessel to be filled by others. Out of this came a method of learning and self development that has become recognised around the globe. At the heart of the Montessori method of education is the child. Montessori children learn in a supportive and non-competitive environment and the focus is on the child’s individuality and specific needs. Children are encouraged to work at their own pace and independently, meaning the teachers can work with other individuals or small groups. This places a certain amount of
responsibility upon children to develop their own learning, whilst teachers act as an encouraging guide and facilitator. An essential concept of Montessori is that the teacher must pay attention to the child rather than the other way round. Teachers are, of course, an important part of the Montessori process. It is the teacher who creates the environment where learning can take place. The teacher and the children share the whole space between them – there is no teacher’s area or desk – and the total environment comes into play. The Montessori schools in Brussels operate bilingually with two teachers, one who speaks only in English and the other in French. Extra languages, such as Dutch and Spanish, can be introduced as the children become older, though these tend to be taught more traditionally. The working languages however, are integrated into all the work and activities the children do, strengthening the concept that Montessori-educated children are problem solvers, self sufficient and destined to have confident, enquiring minds.
“St. John’s provides an environment for broad thinking, respect for others, importance of academic achievement as well as the benefits of involvement in sports and arts activities.” “St. John’s is a great school with lots of diversity in the teachings as well as the students and activities.” “Great education and wonderful support for family and parents and student groups.” “St. John’s lives up to its great reputation.” These are some of the comments we received when we asked parents what they think about the school. St. John’s International School is widely regarded as one of the best international schools in Europe.
St. John’s International School
Drève Richelle 146 1410 Waterloo, Belgium Tel. 02/352 06 10 admissions@stjohns.be
www.stjohns.be
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We invite you to come take a look for yourself if this is the school for your family! Make an appointment to tour the school and speak to teachers and students.
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• • E D U C AT I O N • •
School listings ANTWERP Antwerp British School | 03 271 0943 Korte Altaarstraat 19 - 2018 Antwerp www.britishschoolantwerp.org
British Primary School | 02 767 3098 Stationsstraat 3 - Vossem - 3080 Tervuren www.britishprimary.be
Antwerp International School | 03 543 9300 Veltwijcklaan 180 - 2180 Ekeren, Antwerp www.ais-antwerp.be Da Vinci International School | 03 216 1232 Verbondstraat 67 - 2000 Antwerp www.da-vinci.be Lycée Francais d’Anvers | 03 239 1889 Lamorinièrestraat 168 A - 2018 Antwerp www.lfanvers.org BIERGES Ecole Internationale Le Verseau Primary section 010 231 717 Secondary section 010 231 727 rue du Wavre 60 - 1301 Bièrges www.eiverseau.be
Montessori House | 02 385 1503 rue Pergere 117 - 1420 Braine L’Alleud www.montessorihouse.net Primary and secondary schools British School of Brussels | 02 766 0430 Leuvensesteenweg 19 - 3080 Tervuren www.britishschool.be Brussels American School | 02 717 9552 John F Kennedylaan 12 - 1933 Sterrebeek www.brus-ehs.eu.dodea.edu Brussels International Catholic School 02 640 3536 chaussée de Wavre 457 - 1040 Brussels www.bics-be.com
BRUSSELS AND SURROUNDS Primary schools AC Montessori Kids | 02 633 6652 boulevard de la Cense 41 - 1410 Waterloo www.acmontessorikids.com British Junior Academy of Brussels 02 732 5376 boulevard Saint Michel 83 - 1040 Brussels www.bjab.org
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British International School of Brussels 02 736 8981 avenue Emile Max 163 - 1030 Brussels www.bisb.org
European School of Brussels I | 02 373 8611 avenue du Vert Chasseur 46 - 1180 Brussels www.eeb1.org European School of Brussels II | 02 774 2211 avenue Oscar Jespers 75 - 1200 Brussels www.eeb2.be European School of Brussels III | 02 627 4700 boulevard du Triomphe 135 - 1050 Brussels www.ee3.org
Brussels English Primary School - Brussels 02 648 4311 avenue Franklin Roosevelt 23 - 1050 Brussels www.beps.com
International Christian Academy 02 358 16 64 chaussée de Waterloo 47- 1640 Rhode St Genese
Brussels English Primary School - Waterloo 02 358 5606 chaussée de Waterloo 280 - 1640 Rhode Saint Genèse www.beps.com
International Montessori Schools 02 767 6360 Tervuren, Sterrebeek, Wezembeek-Oppem www.international-montessori.org
BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
• • E D U C AT I O N • •
International School of Brussels | Kattenberg 19 - 1170 Brussels www.isb.be
02 661 4211
Japanese School of Brussels | 02 672 1038 avenue des Meuniers 133 - 1160 Brussels www.japanese-school-brussels.be Lycée Français de Belgique Jean Monnet 02 374 5878 avenue du Lycée Français 9 - 1180 Brussels www.lyceefrancais-jmonnet.be Scandinavian School | 02 357 0670 Square d’Argenteuil 5 - 1410 Waterloo www.ssb.be St John’s International School | 02 352 0610 Drève Richelle 146 - 1410 Waterloo www.stjohns.be World International School | 02 358 5606 chaussée de Waterloo 280 - 1640 Rhode-SaintGenese www.wis.be MOL European School of Mol | Europawijk 100 - 2400 Mol www.esmol.net
014 563 111
MONS Shape International School | 065 44 57 44 avenue de Rekjavik 717 - Shape 7010 www.nato.int/shape/community/school.htm LANGUAGE SCHOOLS De Rand | 02 456 97 80 Kaasmaarkt 75 - 1780 Wemmel www.derand.be Fondation 9 | 02 627.52 52 avenue Louise 485 - 1050 Brussels fondation9@ulb.ac.be www.fondation9.be
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• • E D U C AT I O N • •
Higher education University study is supported by the state and is free of charge, although some private colleges will require a fee. Students entering university are usually aged 18 and have either completed six years of secondary schooling or passed their Jury Central examination. Duke Goethe Executive (MBA) Goethe Business School +49 (0)69 789 33500 (Relationship Manager) Mertonstrasse 17 - 60325 Frankfurt am Main Germany Admissions & Customer www.goethe-business-school.de
Euro*MBA Desk University of Maastricht Business School +31 (0)43 388 4619 Tongersestraat 53 - P.O. Box 616 6200 MD Maastricht www.euromba.org Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School Ghent Campus Reep 1 - 9000 Gent Leuven Campus 09 210 98 99 (English) Philipssite 5, bus 8 - 3001 Leuven info@vlerick.be www.vlerick.be
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2010 1 January 5 April 1 May 13 May 24 May 11 July 21 July 15 August 27 September 1 November 11 November 15 November 25 December 26 December
New Year’s Day. Easter Monday. Labour Day. Ascension Day. Whit Monday. Flemish Community Holiday.* National Day Assumption. French Community Holiday.* All Saints’ Day. Armistice Day. German Community Holiday.* Christmas Day. Boxing Day. *Observed by the respective communities.
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BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
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•• JOB ••
STARTING WORK
Finding a job LANGUAGES If you are competing in the national job market, you will likely need an excellent command of French or Dutch, depending on where the job is based – or both if in Brussels. A third language such as English is either a bonus or a job requirement. In the international arena you are certainly going to need English with French or Dutch as a working language. Any language in addition to that is a bonus.
WHERE TO LOOK Finding work depends very much on your language abilities in this multi-lingual country. If you are happy to work in French or Dutch (or preferably both in Brussels), then the weekend editions of national newspapers Le Soir and Het Laatste Nieuws are excellent places to start. For English speakers, Expatica (jobs.expatica. com), the weekly newspapers The European Voice and The Bulletin advertises international secretarial and managerial positions, typically in public affairs and teaching. You’ll also find several recruitment agencies focused on the expatriate offering jobs at various levels. Headhunting agencies are also common in Belgium, but tend to specialise in executive positions.
Once you have found a job, there is usually a probationary period of two weeks for blue collar workers and anything between a month and twelve months for white collar, depending on salary. Typically, those earning less than EUR 36,355 will have a trial period of one to six months, while those earning more can be on trial for as much as 12 months. During this period either side can terminate the employment with seven days’ notice. The average working week is 38 hours, although longer working hours are common, particularly in international institutions. Overtime regulations do not apply in all circumstances; so be prepared not to receive time off in lieu or compensation for working overtime. In Belgium, you must work for one year before any holiday entitlement is paid. That is then calculated on the basis of how many months you were in the job for the preceding year. However, if you worked a full calendar year, you are then entitled to a minimum of twenty days. In addition there are ten legal holidays in Belgium, many of them religious days. If a legal day falls at the weekend, you are entitled to a day off in lieu. You are also entitled to a holiday allowance which varies according to the type of job.
WORK PERMITS FOR NON-EU NATIONALS Type A: Valid for an unlimited time for any employer. To apply for this either you must have resided legally in Belgium for a continuous period of five years, or you must have lived and worked in Belgium for at least four years and already hold a type B. Type B: This type is the more usual one and is valid for one specified employer for a renewable period of one year. If you change jobs your permit is invalidated. To obtain this type of work permit your potential employer must apply for authorisation from the regional employment office. Once this is issued you are automatically eligible for the type B permit. A medical certificate may be required.
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BELGIUM BEL BE B EL E L GIU G IU UM E EXPAT EX EXP XP X PAT AT SURVIVAL S U RV SU SUR RV RVI VII VAL G GU GUIDE UIDE U IIDE ID DE | W DE WWW.EXPATICA.COM WW WW W.E .E E XPA XP XP PA PAT ATI T IC TIC CA A. C OM A.C OM
•• JOB ••
Recruitment agencies
BRUSSELS Advice and Executive Search 02 732 7400 www.imb.be Daoust Interim | www.daoust.be
NATIONAL Actiris www.actiris.be
070 22 11 40
Excel Careers | 02 646 5050 www.excel-careers.com
Adecco www.adecco.be
Excel Interim | 02 641 1740 www.excel-interim.com
Axis http://be.axis.jobs
MCP International Executive Search 02 644 2043 www.mcp-int.com
Hays Inter Office Select www.hays.be
Prolink Europe www.prolink-europe.co.uk
Kelly Services www.kellyservices.com
Rainbow Careers | 02 735 4154 www.rainbow-careers.be
Manpower www.manpower.be Randstad www.randstad.be
Russell Reynolds Associates 02 743 1220 www.russellreynolds.com
Robert Half Management Resources www.roberthalf.be
Spencer Stuart www.spencerstuart.com
Search and Selection www.searchselection.com
ONLINE AGENCIES Jobs Career www.jobscareer.be
ANTWERP Bakker and Partners | www.bakker.be
03 218 0000
Consultants in Personnel Management 03 218 6927 www.cpm-hrm.be
Jobs in Brussels www.jobsinbrussels.com Monster www.monster.be StepStone www.stepstone.be
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• • H E A LT H • •
Healthcare system
If you are on a private scheme, or are uninsured, you pay the whole lot there and then. It’s always worth checking fees before you book an appointment.
You can be assured of the highest-quality medical care in Belgium, regarded as among the best healthcare systems in Europe.
DENTISTS
As in most countries, the system divides itself into state and private, though fees are payable in both, so you need to ensure that you are adequately covered through either the state insurance and/or private insurance. The advantages of the state mutuelle/mutualiteit scheme is that you can choose any doctor, clinic or hospital you like, in any location and without referral, according to your needs in much the same way as you can with private insurance.
DOCTORS General practitioners can be found in private practices or attached to clinics and hospitals and you are free to consult or register with any you like, as with specialist consultants. It may be a decision based on location, language or recommendation. It’s always worth speaking to neighbours or colleagues when you first arrive; everyone knows of a doctor, or has heard of one with a good reputation. Also try asking on the Expatica.com forums. Embassies usually keep lists of doctors who can work in your language, though it has to be said that most doctors have a good understanding of English. It’s always worth checking whether a doctor is registered in the national health service (conventionné/geconventioneerd) or private. Some are both, perhaps working at a hospital and also in their own private practice. One thing to remember is to take cash with you. Consultations usually end with a handing over of money and very few doctors offer payment by card of any type. If you have state social security, reimbursement rates are calculated but only after you’ve paid up front. 44
The majority of dentists in Belgium are private, though there are those who accept part-payment on state insurance. Make it a priority to check when registering as the fee differentials can be huge. For any specialist work, such as crowns and bridges, the dentist may well ask how you will pay and offer you different quotations. To qualify for health insurance reimbursement you’ll need to visit the dentist at least once a year. In the big cities, Brussels in particular, there are international dentistry practices, though they can be considerably more expensive.
HOSPITALS As with general practitioners, you can arrange to see a specialist of your choice at any hospital. You can also walk into ‘emergency outpatients’ for immediate treatment, though as in other countries, do not use this as a GP replacement. You should remember to have your insurance card or other identifiable means of payment with you, though emergency treatment will not be refused if you don’t. If you’re going into hospital for a stay, take everything you need – towel and soap included – as nothing is provided. In Brussels the eleven big public hospitals are organised under the Iris association (www.irishopitaux.be).
EMERGENCY TREATMENT Should you need to use the emergency 100 or 112 number, an ambulance will arrive quickly and take you to the nearest emergency centre. Sometimes, a decision may be made to admit you to the best centre suited for your needs, for example, a specialist burns unit.
PHARMACIES Chemists are ubiquitous in Belgium, with the green cross sign everywhere. There is a rota system for chemists to open outside of usual hours and throughout the night. Lists are available from any pharmacy, or check newspapers for in your area which are open at night.
BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
PARTENA ziekenfonds & partners YOUR PARTNER IN HEALTH INSURANCE Health insurance in Belgium is part of the national social security system. Partena ziekenfonds & partners is a specialised player in this field. Our Expats & Business department provides for a quality service specifically adapted to your needs. Contact our specialist team for detailed information.
PARTENA ziekenfonds & partners Expats & Business department Coupure Links 103 - 9000 Ghent Bld. Anspach 1, box 6 - 1000 Brussels
YOUR PARTNER IN HEALTH INSURANCE
T. 078 150 400 business@partena-expats.be www.partena-expats.be
• • H E A LT H • •
Hospitals Visit www.iris-hopitaux.be for a full listing of hospitals in Belgium.
ANTWERP Algemeen Centrum Ziekenhuis AntwerpenCampus St-Elisabeth | 03 234 4111 Leopoldstraat 26 - 2000 Antwerp www.zna.be Algemeen Centrum Ziekenhuis Antwerpen – Campus St-Erasmus | 03 270 8011 Luitenant Lippenslaan - 2140 Antwerp (Borgerhout) www.zna.be Algemeen Ziekenhuis Middelheim 03 280 3111 Lindendreef 1- 2020 Antwerp www.zna.be Algemeen Ziekenhuis St. Augustinus St. Bavo - St. Augustinus | 03 443 3011 Sint-Augustinuslaan - 2610 Wilrijk-Antwerp www.gvagroup.be Koningin Paola KinderZiekenhuis Antwerpen (Children’s Hospital) | 03 280 3111 Lindendreef 1- 2020 Antwerp www.zna.be
Clinique du Parc Leopold CHIREC | 02 287 5111 rue Froissart 38 - 1040 Brussels www.chirec.be Institut Médical Edith Cavell CHIREC | 02 340 40 40 Rue Edith Cavell 32 - 1180 Brussels www.cavell.be Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel 02 477 41 11 Laarbeeklaan 101 - 1090 Brussels www.uzbrussel.be Cliniques Universitaires St Luc UCL 02 764 1111 avenue Hippocrate 10 - 1200 Brussels www.saintluc.be Cliniques de l’Europe - St Elisabeth 02 614 20 00 avenue De Fré 206 - 1180 Bruxelles www.cliniquesdeleurope.be Cliniques de l’Europe - St Michel 02 614 30 00 rue de Linthout 150 - 1040 Brussels www.cliniquesdeleurope.be Hôpital Erasme ULB 02 555 3111 route de Lennik 808 - 1070 Brussels www.ulb.ac.be/erasme
BRUSSELS Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann Site Victor Horta (there are 3 different sites for Brugmann, this is the main one) 02 477 2111 place Van Gehuchten 4 - 1020 Brussels www.chu-brugmann.be Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre 02 535 3111 rue Haute 322 - 1000 Brussels www.stpierre-bru.be
Hôpital Universitaire Des Enfants Reine Fabiola (Children’s Hospital) 02 477 33 11 rue J.J. Crocq 15 - 1020 Brussels www.huderf.be Institute Jules Bordet 02 541 3111 boulevard de Waterloo 121 - 1000 Brussels www.bordet.be
GENT Centre Hospitalier Etterbeek-Ixelles 02 641 41 11 Rue Jean Paquot 63 - 1050 Brussels www.iris-hopitaux.be 46
Algemeen Ziekenhuis Maria Middelares 09 260 6060 Kortrijksesteenweg 1026 - 9000 Gent www.azmmsj.be BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
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Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Lucas 09 224 6111 Groenebriel 1 - 9000 Gent www.azstlucas.be AZ Jan Palfijn | 09 224 71 11 Henri Dunantlaan 5 - 9000 Gent www.janpalfijn.be University Hospital of Gent | De Pintelaan 185 - 9000 Gent www.uzgent.be
09 332 21 11
LIEGE Centre Hospitalier Régional de la Citadelle 04 225 6111 boulevard du Douzième de Ligne, 1 4000 Liège www.chrcitadelle.be Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Joseph-Espérance 04 224 8111 rue de Hesbaye 75 - 4000 Liège www.chc.be Centre Hospitalière Universitaire de Liège 04 366 71 11 Domaine du Sart-Tilman, Bat B 35 4000 Liège www.chuliege.be
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• • H E A LT H • •
Fitness clubs New health clubs continue to open in Brussels at an impressive rate. Many are allied to hotels and are at the top end of the market. Before parting with a stash of cash though, check out what your local commune offers as well as the smaller independent gyms and fitness centres in your neighbourhood. Ashtanga Yoga Institute of Brussels 02 340 6787 610, chaussée d’Alsemberg, Uccle Ashtanga gives a good work-out as well as increasing suppleness. This centre offers courses at all levels – mainly in French, but in English on request.
Corpus Studios | 02 513 0766 / 02 648 7990 33 rue Borrens, 1050 Brussels info@corpuspilates.com www.corpuspilates.com Kelly McKinnon started Corpus in 2000 and offers Pilates, Gyrotonics and yoga in collective, private and semi-private tuition; mat-work and apparatus. Classes are offered in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Greek. David Lloyd Uccle | 02 379 32 00 41 Dreve de Lorraine, Uccle This complex has 11 tennis courts, squash courts, two swimming pools and fitness rooms. Physical Golden Club | 02 538 1906 33 Place du Chatelain, 1050 This is a serious gym for those interested in serious workouts, so don’t expect the luxury of some of capital’s more pampering health clubs.
Aspria | 02 508 0800 26 rue de l’Industrie, 1040 Aspria is both exclusive and expensive. Its centre-piece is a 21-metre swimming pool and it offers a gym, health spa and beauty treatments next door. Its location means it is clearly aimed at the EU and executive crowd. There is another branch in Avenue Louise (02 542 46 66) and St Josse (02 609 1902). Aspria Louise | 02 610 40 66 71B avenue Louise, 1050 If you’ve got deep pockets, then your money will be well spent at this ultimate pampering spot in the posh Conrad Hotel. Everything here is fivestar; the pool, the gym, the fitness rooms and the beauty treatments. Royal La Rasante | 56 rue Sombre 1200 Brussels
02 609 1902
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• • H E A LT H • •
Sportcity | 02 773 1820 2 avenue SalomĂŠ, Woluwe St Pierre For EUR 3 admission, you can enjoy an Olympicsize swimming pool, tennis and squash, as well as saunas, baths and steam rooms. Winners | 02 280 0270 13 rue Bonneels, 1210 Popular with the EU crowd, this friendly nononsense club has 9 glass-fronted squash courts, aerobic rooms and a climbing wall. World Class Health Academy | Renaissance Hotel 19 rue du Parnasse, 1050
Wellness Paladins | 02 400 00 96 Les Collines de Wavre avenue Pasteur, 6 1300 Wavre Companies: www.wellness-paladins.be Individuals: www.obiwell.com This company provides wellness services to individuals and companies, offering turnkey or tailor-made solutions in terms of incentives, gifts, rewards, team building or corporate wellness.
02 505 2929
Also in Diegem, Antwerp and Berchem Caters largely to expense-account executives and EU civil servants.
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Not only a fantastic restaurant!
At the café you can: UÊ` iÊ Ê>ÊÜ>À Ê> `ÊÃÌÞ Ã Ê V>Ì Æ UÊi ÞÊ>Ê`À ÊÜ Ì ÊvÀ i `Ã]Ê iiÌÊ ÌiÀ >Ì > Ê> `Ê V> Ê«i « iÆ UÊÀÕ ÊÞ ÕÀÊLÕà iÃÃÊ> `Ê iiÌÊÞ ÕÀÊVÕÃÌ iÀÃÊ ÊvÀ i ` ÞÊÃÕÀÀ Õ ` }ÃÆ UÊL ÀÀ ÜÊL ÃÊvÀ ÊÌ iÊ Ý«>Ì V>Ê LÀ>À ið Opening hours h The building is open 7/7 from 10am to 10pm Lunch is served 6/7 Sunday to Friday 12pm to 3pm Dinner is served Wednesday to Sunday 7pm to 10pm To find out more about, please contact Philippe Wilbers or Chalks Corriette, Directors of Expatica Café
Rue François Gay, 152 | Woluwe-Saint-Pierre | 1150 Brussels Tel.: 02.613.2703 | Fax: 02.613.2702 info@expaticacafe.be | www.expaticacafe.be
Are You Ready To Be Connected?
•• SHOPPING ••
Shopping Shopping in Belgium is mostly a fulfilling experience with reasonable prices and a wide range of goods. Occasionally, however, you may be frustrated when trying to buy a specific item which may be available everywhere back home. There are two main supermarket chains in Belgium: Delhaize and GB which is owned by the Carrefour group (the big out-of-town hyper-markets are branded with that name and increasingly some smaller shops). These carry everything you’d expect, often with international sections. Both supermarkets also have an excellent range of wine at keen prices. Opening is usually Monday-Saturday from 8am-8pm, and until 9pm on Friday. Meanwhile the Culruyt stores claim to have the keenest prices but make sure to take a bag or two as they don’t sell them. Brico is Belgium’s largest DIY and gardening chain. You can find anything for the house here. Delhaize has the distinct edge on internet shopping and home delivery. Caddyhome stocks most of what you would find in the supermarket whilst Wineworld specialises in just that with an impressive selection of world wine delivered to your door. When it comes to household goods, this is where frustration can set in. Most of the bigger furniture, textile, kitchen and bathroom shops are located outside city centres with poor public transport links. Inner city shops range from reasonably priced, awful-style to bank-breaking top designer with little range in between (although Habitat can be found in both Brussels and Antwerp). IKEA now has six stores in Belgium. 52
For electrical and white goods there are two main competitors, Vanden Borre and Krefel, both rather similar but always worth comparing for special offers. For computers, television and hifi, Photo Hall is ubiquitous throughout Belgium with some excellent value monthly offers. FNAC (Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Liège) also has a stylish electrical department. At the top of the Inno department store in Brussels, the German mega-outfit Media Markt has taken possession of the entire fifth floor. Dutch chain Hema is good for modern, reasonably-priced homeware, including bedding, lighting, curtain tracks and kitchen equipment. The same goes for Casa and Blokker, both of which sell small household items, garden furniture and crockery. If it’s antiques you’re after, then go either to the Sablon in Brussels for the gaspingly expensive, or the more bric-a-brac oriented rues Haute and Blaes and the decidedly downmarket flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle. In Antwerp, the area between the river and Nationalestraat – known as St-Andries – is packed with quirky brocante shops. For department stores, you’ll need to rely on the soulless – and often windowless – Inno. From perfumes to clothing, children’s toys and household items, Inno has everything but charm. The sales are good though. For books, Brussels is blessed with its own branch of Waterstones where you can find a massive stock of English books, magazines and newspapers. Sterling Books is an excellent, independent shop which bases prices on current exchange rates. The best second-hand bookshop is Pêle-Mêle, with two shops, one in the centre and the other in Ixelles. Shops are generally open Monday-Saturday, with many inner-city shops preferring a 10am opening. They are exceptionally open the two Sundays before Christmas and also New Year. Sales take place in January and July – dates are strictly government controlled.
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Sail Dunkerque - Dover to the UK 24 sailings daily. 2 hour crossing from
â‚Ź26
car + 4 each way
www.norfolkline.com Tel. 0044 208 127 8303
•• SHOPPING ••
Food from home A small selection of American, British, Spanish, Italian and kosher products can be found in the larger Delhaize, Carrefour or GB supermarkets. It’s also worth checking Chinese supermarkets for specific British or American brands. ANTWERP
Irish Jack O’Shea’s | rue le Titien 30
02 732 5351
Italian Casa Italia | 02 733 4070 rue Archimède 39 Piola libri | 02 736 93 91 rue Franklin 66-68 Japanese Tagawa | 02 648 5911 chaussée de Vleurgat 119 Mediterranean Midi Market | Around Gare du Midi Sunday 8am-1pm
Chinese Sun Wah Supermarket | 07 022 86 88 Van Wesenbekestraat 16-18
Scandinavian/Nordic Branches of IKEA www.ikea.be
American Graré | 03 449 41 18 Prins Boudewijnlaan 175 Wilrijk
Gourmet Food & Gifts Brussels | Rue Archimède 59
Jewish Hoffy’s | 03 234 3535 Lange Kievitstraat 52 Mediterranean Foreigner’s Market | Oude Vaartplaats Saturday 8am-5pm
BRUSSELS
Gourmet Food & Gifts | Allé Petit Paris 5 1410 Waterloo
02 735 11 38
02 353 04 30
Spanish ABC Poisonnerie | 02 512 7547 rue Ste. Catherine 46 Economato Mariso | 02 521 4736 place de la Constitution 23 España Calidade | 02 537 2387 avenue de la Porte de Hal 63
British Stonemanor | 02 759 4979 Steenhofstraat 28 - Everberg www.stonemanor.uk.com Chinese Kam Yuen | 02 512 5833 rue de la Vierge Noire 2-4 French Oliviers & Co | 02 502 7511 rue au Beurre 28 Rob | 02 771 2060 boulevard de la Woluwe 28
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•• OUT AND ABOUT ••
Cinemas in Brussels
Cinémathèque Royal de Belgique 02 551 1900 9 rue Baron Horta 1000 Brussels
The mega UGC (www.ugc.be) and Kinepolis (www.kinepolis.com) chains dominate the cinema scene in Brussels with their multi-screen complexes showing mainstream films mostly in original language.
Tied into the Film Museum at the Palais des Beaux Arts, Cinémathèque restores and archives old films and gives regular public showings The museum itself is closed for renovation until September 2007, so all activities are moved into the old house where Ann of Cleves lived. Flagey | 02 641 1020 Place Flagey, 1050
But Brussels also has an important art house circuit showing Belgian and world cinema. Our listings concentrate on the independents.
A tiny but stylish cinema in the wonderful Art Deco Flagey arts complex. In its short life it has gained a reputation for being a true world cinema. It also has a penchant for Film Noir and other classic Hollywood films such as Sunset Boulevard and Casablanca.
Actors Studio | 02 512 1696 16 petite rue des Bouchers
Movy Club | 02 537 6954 21 rue des Moines, 1060
The Actors Studio is one of Brussels’ best loved cinemas. Hidden by the lobby of a hotel, you’ll need to seek it out, but just follow the posters. Typical fare here is schlock horror from around the world and independent European films, often in original language with French and Dutch subtitles, so do check if your only language is English.
A rarity – a truly local cinema for local people but well worth a trip if you want to experience a lovely old Art Deco cinema. It’s big and draughty and shows a range of world cinema, mostly the sort of stuff that comes with a message.
Arenberg Galeries | 02 512 8063 26 galerie de la Reine
The Nova has been run for many years as a cooperative against all financial and bureaucratic odds. It shows anything that has social context and has an edgy underground feel to it. Sometimes short seasons are themed and there’s always the monthly Open Screens when wannabe directors can showcase their attempts.
Located in the glamorous covered galleries, this equally stylish cinema showed Belgium’s first public film in 1895. It’s still going strong despite cyclical threats of closure. It shows mostly European films, including British and is a great supporter of the Belgian and French contemporary director. The Ecran Total festival every summer shows over 90 films with 900 screenings.
Nova | 02 511 2477 3 rue d’Arenberg
Styx | 02 512 2102 72 rue de l’Arbre, 1050 The tiny Styx is now 35 years old. Its fleapit look and feel belies the quality of its programme from themed seasons to modern Belgian films. It also runs impressive retrospective seasons showing classic European films. Previews/Reviews (in English): www.picturenose.com
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•• OUT AND ABOUT ••
BRUGES
Bars Beer and bar life is an ingrained part of Belgian culture. Here’s our guide to Belgium’s best and most traditional bars, perfect for discovering a slice of life and impressing your visitors. ANTWERP Den Engel Grote Markt 5 The Angel is as much a part of Antwerp life as Rubens and fashion. Slap in the middle of town, it has no pretensions, no grand style but the locals give it a buzzy, gossipy edge. Kulminator Vleminckveld 32 A classic bar renowned for its range of beers – 500 in bottles, plus a huge choice on draught. Try the beer of the month and scribble notes about your favourite in the visitors’ book. Tiny and cosy, it’s used by locals and visitors alike. De Pelikaan Melkmarkt 14 The Pelikaan makes no effort to dress up or flaunt itself; it’s cosy and dark and attracts arty types and fulsome philosophers. This is a serious talking shop where you can put the world to rights as the beers slip down almost unnoticed. De Vagant Reyndersstraat 25 This is where to come for a good glass of Genever (or Jenever), the fiery gin-like spirit. There are 200 types on offer, with a restaurant upstairs serving food cooked in it. Watch the locals – they sip rather than down it in one.
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Brugs Beertje Kemelstraat 5 Beertje is like a Dutch brown café – dark, moody and atmospheric. The beer menu is a ray of light, though, with its 300 beers on offer. Ask the owners Jan and Daisy what’s what, depending on what you fancy.
BRUSSELS A la Mort Subite 7 rue des Montagnes aux Herbes Potagères This cavernous, loud and slightly louche bar is a slice of Brussels life. Long rows of tables – perfect for head-to-head nattering - yellowing walls and its own Mannekin Pis, it is the perfect place for a Kriek on draught. Le Bier Circus 89 rue de l’Enseignement As the name implies, this basic emporium of beer stocks around 200 varieties, all bound in a special beer menu. The place itself is nothing to look at but it’s the exquisite and rare range of brews that the boozers love. Chez Moeder Lambic 68 rue de la Savoie Sitting in the shadow of the St Gilles town hall, this tiny wooden tavern, with benches, scrubbed tables, racks of comic-strip books and Scrabble with half the letters missing, stocks over 1,000 beers. Some of the rarer bottles cost as much as a vintage wine. Cirio 18 - 20 rue de la Bourse A minute from the Grand’Place and you take a step back into the 19th century in this bar with its original wallpaper, lights and Art Deco toilets. A thorough selection of mostly bottled beer is supplemented by the famous half-en-half, a mixed glass of still and sparkling wine.
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•• OUT AND ABOUT ••
La Cléf d’Or 1 place du Jeu de Balle Opening daily at 4:30am, this vinyl-chaired, pink neon-signed café-bar serves up beer and basic food to market traders and punters. Sunday morning finds it at its maddest with the Maitre D barking his orders to the staff and an accordionist vying for dominance. La Fleur en Papier Doré 55 rue des Alexiens This old bar, on a steep hill just below the Sablon, was the hangout of the Brussels Surrealists and their scribblings and drawings can still be seen on the walls. It was under threat of closure in 2007 until a group of die-hards clubbed together to save it for posterity. Monk 42 rue Ste-Catherine Monk looks like it has been there forever. Well, the house dates from the 17th century, but the interior is impressively authentic despite being a modern facsimile. A great range of beers, including hard-to-find artisinales, make this place popular with a whole range of youngish locals and bemused tourists.
GHENT De Dulle Griet Vrijdagsmarkt 50 The Griet took a leap of faith many years ago and became the first bar to specialise in Flemish beers. Because of that it gets its fair share of tourists but is also used by locals. You may be asked to exchange a beer for a shoe, which then gets hauled into the air in a basket where it hangs until the drinker has paid up and returned their glass. (This quaint tradition evidently stops you walking out with one of the specialised beer glasses.) Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant Groentenmarkt 9 With its 14 beers on draught (including all the Trappists) this place gets packed, especially in summer when the canal side terrace is open.
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•• OUT AND ABOUT ••
Weekend breaks Nowhere in Belgium is too far, so here are some ideas for getting away from it all and breaking free of the city.
Knokke-Heist is a much more upmarket resort, where wealthy Belgians keep swanky seaside homes and where the shops, restaurants and beach clubs are all designer. A short way north, close to the Dutch border, is Zwin a protected area of natural beauty. A great way to explore the whole coastline is by the Kusttram, a tram which runs its entire length from De Panne to Knokke. Run by De Lijn, the tram calls in at 70 stops in all 16 towns. www.dekusttram.be
TAKING THE PLUNGE Let the original Spa take away the stress of modern life. The eponymous town of Spa is located in the heart of the Ardennes, and takes around two hours to reach by train. Its sulphurous waters were originally discovered by the Romans, although it was to be another half century before it became famous as a resort. After falling into 19th century disrepair and disregard Spa has, since 2004, been transformed into a magnificent therapy and relaxation centre, worthy of a new millennium. www.thermesdespa.com
DIPPING YOUR TOES The Belgian coastline is only 64 kms long, but it embraces the best of kiss-me-quick seaside activities, sophisticated living and wildlife sanctuaries. Ostend is a good place to head for if you want a taste of royal Belgium, for this place is known as the Queen of Belgian Resorts. The Fort Napoleon, built in 1812, is the only intact Napoleonic fortress left in Europe. At the western end of the promenade, there is Leopold’s 390m gallery. Without doubt the crowning glory of the post-war period is the Ostend Casino, built in 1953, the fourth casino to stand on the same spot. www.ostend.be
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•• OUT AND ABOUT ••
RAMBLING IN THE ARDENNES The Ardennes, in the south of the country, covers the three provinces of Namur, Luxembourg and Liège and is an area of outstanding beauty. The gentle but rugged countryside of the Ardennes is full of heritage, history and charm. It can get quite touristy in the summer, but there is always somewhere to escape, especially if you have a car. www.catpw.be Dinant is a good place for a day trip from Brussels. Overlooked by its hilltop citadel, it’s a pretty location - though there’s not much to do over a longer period of time. St-Hubert also has a railway station and is a perfect base for setting out on cycling or walking activities. It’s named after the patron saint of hunters which explains why this is the centre of hunt land and why its restaurants specialise in game. www.dinant-tourisme.be
In the winter, parts of the Ardennes become a ski resort. We’re not talking Alps here, but Belgium’s highest point, the Baraque de Fraiture, at 652 m offers three alpine pistes.
CARNIVAL TIME Carnival is an important part of Belgian cultural heritage and happens every year at Lent, mostly in smaller towns and villages in Wallonia. The most famous carnival is in Binche, not far from Charleroi. There are strict rules for taking part; only men born in Binche can don the Gilles costume. The costumes are wonderfully outrageous and carry strange, secret symbols. The festivities last three days, culminating in a parade where boys throw blood oranges into the crowd (these are not meant as missiles, but gifts and should never be thrown back). The Malmédy carnival involves men in black hats decorated with ostrich feathers grabbing at onlookers with their tong-like hape-tchâr (flesh snatchers). They won’t let go until you say sorry. While in Stavelot, the carnival is renowned for its participants in white monks’ robes and hoods known as the Blancs-Moussis. In Geraardsbergen on the first Sunday of Lent is the Tonnekensbrand. The oldest citizen, followed by the mayor, are presented with a glass of white wine swarming with small live fish. Both drink a mouthful and swallow a fish. It’s a funny old world. Binche carnival www.carnavaldebinche.be
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•• SETTLING IN ••
Utilities and telephones
Gas Leaks |
Waste Disposal | Water TMVW |
09 240 81 11
078 35 35 99
UTILITIES
LIÈGE
For connection of all utilities, you will need a Belgian ID card or a passport if you have just arrived. Electrabel and Sibelgaz remain the two main providers of electricity and gas, though a European directive has now deregulated the market throughout the EU.
Electricity ALE | 04 263 18.80 InterMosane | 078 15 78 01
Call 02 549 4111 to find out about suppliers in your region. Household rubbish collection is organised by the city or communal councils. It is usually collected twice a week. Recycling is becoming more common and there are special yellow sacks for paper and blue for recyclable items such as PET containers, plastic and aluminium. Brussels has recently introduced the environmentally friendly approach, with white, blue and yellow bags.
ANTWERP Electricity IMEA | 078 35 35 34 Gas IGAO |
078 35 35 34
Gas Leaks |
0800 65 0 65
Waste Disposal | Water AWW |
03 244 05 44
Gas Leaks |
Water IBDE/BIWM |
02 274 4066
Power Failure |
078 35 35 00
Water SWDE |
04 222 4422
078 15 16 17
TELEPHONES Belgacom still has a monopoly on fixed-line telephone services, but is now partly privatised, resulting in greater efficiency and cheaper bills. Telenet is its biggest competition at the moment, but still only offers service in parts of the country. Tele 2 is also making headway in the domestic market. Contact details for all phone operators are the same country-wide so are listed below without city headings.
MOBILE PHONES
02 739.52.11 (Emergency)
Electricity and Gas IMEWO | 078 35 35 34
0800 87 087
Waste Disposal |
Telenet | 0800 666 55 www.telenet.be
0800 981 81
GENT
Gas Leaks |
078 78 78 00
Tele2 (now part of Base) www.tele2.be
02 274 4044
Waste Disposal |
Power Failure |
INTERNATIONAL CALLS
Electricity and Gas Sibelgaz | 02 549 41 00 Power Failure |
Gas ALG | 04 254 47 02 InterMosane | 078 15 78 01
Belgacom Special expatriate services | 0800 32 005 General information (English) | 0800 55 800 www.belgacom.be
03 22 11 333??????
BRUSSELS
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0800 65 065
Base | 0486 19 19 99 www.base.be Mobistar | 0495 95 95 00 www.mobistar.be Proximus | 078 05 6030 www.proximus.be
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•• SETTLING IN ••
Television and internet Belgium is one of the most cabled countries in the world with television typically offering over 40 channels. Although there are some 30 cable operators in Belgium, they often enjoy a monopoly in a particular region. The choice of channels also varies. The Dutch-speaking channels transmit anglophone films, documentaries, series, and sit-coms in their original version whilst the French channels usually dub. Satellite television is also available and some providers offer Sky from the UK. There is a fairly hefty set-up charge as Sky is not allowed to market its product on the continent because of licensing agreements. Digital television is at varying stages depending on where you live and which company provides your cable service. The national picture is split regionally with the Flemish community switching over to digital at the end of 2008 and the Frenchspeaking community switching over in 2011. There now appears to be greater competition in trying to offer combined services: telephone, internet and television. Belgacom TV entered the market recently but does not carry the BBC channels. Most of the TV cable companies also offer Internet connection via the cable, so it’s worth shopping around – though you may find you fall foul of a monopoly by one company and feel frustrated that your choice is not available in your area.
TELEVISION WITH ENGLISH PROGRAMMING Belgian channels: 2BE (formerly Kanaal 2), Ketnet/Canvas, VTM, VT4, VRT-TV1 Dutch channels: Holland 1, Holland 2, Holland 3
International: BBC 1 and 2, BBC World, CNN International, CNBC, Euro News, Euro Sport, MTV Europe, BeTV requires a decoder, see www.betv.be
MAJOR CABLE TELEVISION AND INTERNET PROVIDERS Brutélé | TV 02 500 991 www.brutele.be Numéricable | 02 226 52 00 www.numericable.be Electrabel | 078 78 0123 www.tvcablenet.be Telenet | 0800 668 01 www.telenet.be X-BO | 02 649 68 69 www.x-bo.com
DIGITAL TV PROVIDERS Telenet www.telenet.be Belgacom www.belgacom.be
SATELLITE TV PROVIDERS Tv From Home | 0485 38 74 02 http://tvfromhome.be/ Sky TV in Belgium | + 44 207 100 91 http://storesatellite.com/sky-tv-belgium.php
DIAL-UP AND ASDL INTERNET PROVIDERS Belgacom ADSL www.belgacom.be/adsl Clearwire (no telephone connection required) www.clearwire.be Cybernet www.cybernet.be Freeworld www.freeworld.be Scarlet www.scarlet.be Skynet | 0800 23 451 www.skynet.be
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•• SETTLING IN ••
Libraries
Post offices
Some libraries have a small English-language section and also videos and DVDs in their original languages.
The main Belgian Post Offices are generally open Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm with some opening for a half day on Saturday. The post office at Brussels South Station (Gare du Midi) is open earlier than most, weekdays at 07h00. The post office experience can be a gruelling one; understaffed and with over-bureaucratic systems, it can take an age to reach one of the few windows that are open. Unfortunately there are few other places where you can buy stamps, though the main post offices now have a shop attached where you can buy them in strips of ten without the queues. When posting a letter, particularly overseas, be aware of the size and weight of your letter; it should be within the strict limits for each postal tariff, and also the prior system (1st class) for both domestic and international posting. www.post.be/
ANTWERP Antwerpen-Stedelijke Openbare Bibliotheken 0800 992 93 (free number) Lange Nieuwstraat 105 2000 Antwerp
BRUSSELS Brussels Main Library (French and Dutch) 02 548 2610 Rue des Riches-Claires 24 1000 Brussels French Community libraries (Information and locations) | 0800 20 000 www.cfwb.be Muntpunt Bib (Flemish Community) 02 229 1840 Muntplein (Prinsenstraat 8) 1000 Brussel www.muntpunt.be/bib Children’s English Library | 02 770 9812 Centre Communautaire Crousse rue aux Bois 11 1150 Brussels
GENT Centrale Openbare Bibliotheek 09 266 7000 Graaf Zan Vlaanderenplein 40 9000 Gent
Major Post Offices ANTWERP Antwerpen 14 | Pelikaanstraat 16 2018 Antwerp
03 229 0380
BRUSSELS Bruxelles 1 | 02 226 9700 Boulevard Anspach 1 1000 Brussels
GENT Gent 2 | 09 269 2750 Lange Kruisstraat 55 9000 Gent
LIÈGE Liège 20 | 04 223 4084 Rue de la Régence 26 4000 Liège
LIEGE Bibliothèque Centrale Chiroux-Croisiers 04 232 8686 rue des Croisiers 15 4000 Liège
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•• SETTLING IN ••
Embassies and consulates
Italy |
Argentina |
Lithuania |
Australia |
02 647 7812 02 286 0500
Austria (trade) |
02 645 16 50
Bosnia Herzegovina | Brazil |
02 502 0188
02 640 2015
Bulgaria |
02 374 5963
Canada |
02 741 0611
Chile |
02 280 1620
China |
02 771 1497
Croatia |
02 639 2036
Cyprus |
02 650 0610
Czech Republic | Denmark | Egypt |
02 641 8930
02 233 0900 02 663 5800
Estonia |
02 779 0755
Finland |
02 287 1212
France |
02 229 8500
Germany | Greece |
02 787 18 00
02 543 1550
Japan |
02 513 2340
Latvia |
02 344 1682 02 772 2750
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg | Malta |
02 343 0195
Mexico |
02 644 1300
Morocco |
02 732 6545
The Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway | Poland |
02 512 1040
02 238 7400 02 739 0100 02 533 0700
Romania |
02 343 6935 02 374 6886
Slovakia |
02 346 4045
Slovenia |
02 646 9099
South Africa | Spain | Sweden |
02 285 4400
02 230 0340 02 510 1111
Switzerland |
02 285 4350
02 545 5500 Turkey |
Hungary |
02 513 4095
02 348 1800 Ukraine |
Ireland |
02 379 2100
02 238 5000 United Kingdom |
India |
02 679 1711
Portugal |
Russia |
02 287 6211
02 640 9140 United States of America |
Indonesia | Israel | 66
02 737 5700
02 508 2111
02 771 2014
02 373 5511
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•• TRANSPORT ••
Transport Belgium has an excellent public transport network which is cheap and efficient. One if its strengths is its integrated train, tram, metro and bus system which makes it easy to make connections.
TEC | 04 361 9444 www.infotec.be
GENT De Lijn (Oost-Vlaanderen) | www.delijn.be
070 220 200
LIÈGE TEC Liège | 04 361 9444 www.infotec.be
Trains DOMESTIC TRAINS The dense train network in Belgium is stateowned and operated by SNCB/NMBS.
ANTWERP The public transport system in Antwerp is run by De Lijn and is based on trams and buses, with an underground tram line running through the city and under the river Schelde. Multiple-ride or season tickets can be bought at De Lijn booths, in some newsagents, banks and at railway stations. Single tickets can be bought from the driver, though this is the most expensive way of travelling. De Lijn Antwerpen | www.delijn.be
070 220 200
BRUSSELS The Brussels city public transport is run by STIB/ MIVB, whilst bus transport outside the centre is run by De Lijn in Flanders and TEC in Wallonia. Tickets are not interchangeable between the companies. In Brussels centre, you can buy multiple ride or season tickets from STIB/ MIVB ticket offices at the metro station or from special booths around the city. Single tickets only can be bought from bus or tram drivers. Multiple-ride tickets can be bought for five or 10 journeys, and like single-journey tickets, must be time stamped in the orange boxes. Once stamped, you can travel anywhere within an hour, on bus, tram or metro, but remember to stamp your ticket at each change. STIB/ MIVB | 070 23 2000 www.stib.irisnet.be De Lijn | 070 220 200 www.delijn.be
For the most part it is efficient and inexpensive. Booking is best done before boarding; it is possible to buy a ticket from the guard but they are at full-price. Be aware that ticket offices are often busy so give yourself plenty of time. Alternatively, you can now print your own ticket from the web site. Make sure you get all the details correct as they are not transferable and must be supported by showing ID to the guard. There are various ways of reducing costs such as a B-rail pass, and return travel at the weekend is much cheaper. SNCB/NMBS Domestic | www.b-rail.be
02 528 28 28
INTERNATIONAL TRAINS Belgium is truly the railway crossroads of Europe, with trains coming into Brussels from all over Europe. Brussels Gare du Midi is the terminus for the Eurostar coming from London and Lille, French TGV trains and the joint Belgian-Dutchowned Thalys, which between them connect France, Holland and Germany. Alternatively, you can take conventional EuroCity trains to most European cities. Bookings for the high-speed train services can be made online at the Belgian railway web site. If you want to drive to England, it’s just a short journey to Calais for the Eurostar shuttle service. SNCB/NMBS International Local | 02 528 28 51 www.b-rail.be
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• • •T•R A HN OS UPS O I NRG T ••
LIÈGE
Eurostar | 02 528 2828 www.eurostar.com TGV | 02 528 2828 www.tgv.com
Liège Airport mainly offers holiday destination flights. By public transport you can reach the airport by train (Liège Guillemins) and then taxi, or by TEC bus 53 or 85
Thalys | 02 528 2828 www.thalys.com
Liège Airport | 04 234 8411 www.liegeairport.com
Airports
Taxis
The country’s main international airport is Brussels Airport, Zaventum. Charleroi, also known as Brussels South, is used mainly by Ryanair. There are small provincial airports in Antwerp and Liège used mostly by city-hopper planes.
In general, you cannot hail a taxi on the street. They wait at special ranks or can be called by phone to come and get you. All taxis are metered and have different tariffs according to whether you are in the city centre or the outskirts. All information, including the driver number, should be clearly displayed inside the taxi and often hangs at the back of the front passenger seat. Tips are included in the meter price.
ANTWERP Antwerp airport is just 2 km from the city centre and is close to Antwerp Berchem rail station. There are daily flights to London, Manchester, Rotterdam, Jersey and Milan. Antwerp International Airport | www.antwerpairport.be
03 285 6500
BRUSSELS Brussels Region Taxi Information 02 204 1404 Taxi Verts and Taxi Orange | www.taxisverts.be
BRUSSELS Public transport from Brussels Airport is either by train or bus. The Airport Express runs four times an hour at peak times, dropping to twicehourly on Sundays and bank holidays. A taxi ride in to town is reasonably quick, but expensive at around EUR 40. A number 12 express bus runs every 30 minutes between the airport and Rond Point Schuman.
Taxis Bleus | 02 268 0000 www.taxisbleus.be
ANTWERP Antwerp Taxi |
03 238 3838
GENT V-Tax N.V. |
From Brussels South Charleroi, Ryanair has a bus for each flight which takes around an hour to get to Brussels. Drop-off point is Gare du Midi. Alternatively you can travel to Charleroi by train and use the shuttle bus service to the airport. Taxis are an expensive option, costing around EUR 80.
02 349 4949
09 222 22 22
LIÈGE Noveltax |
04 252 5252
Brussels Airport, Zaventem | 02 753 7753 Flight information | 0900 70000 www.brusselsairport.be Brussels South Charleroi Airport 071 25 1211 www.charleroi-airport.com
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BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
•• TRANSPORT ••
ROAD TAX
Driving and parking
Your road tax is also based on the power of your engine and whether your car is used to transport passengers or merchandise. It is payable annually. The road tax becomes costlier on a second car.
DRIVING LICENCE If you are a citizen of an EU member country you do not need to obtain a Belgian licence. Other foreigners permanently residing in Belgium and driving in the country may use an International Driving licence initially, but should apply for a valid Belgian driving licence on being issued an identity card. An application must be made at the local town hall, usually at the same time as residence registration. It is required that you provide an existing driver’s licence, two passport-type photographs and a residence permit. Expect several weeks’ delay before receiving the Belgian licence. A Belgian driving licence will be given automatically to some nationals including Switzerland and Norway. Other nationals may need to take a Belgian driving test to qualify. Non-EU nationals can check the government web site for licence validity: www.mobilit.fgov.be It is important to note that the minimum driving age in Belgium is 18. Even if you’re 17 and have been issued a licence in your home country, you cannot drive here.
REGISTRATION TAX
Speed limits are 30/50kph in built-up areas, 70/90kph out of town and 120kph on motorways and four-lane roads. On entering any town or village, the speed limit comes into effect at the white background signboard bearing the community’s name. Radar speed traps are common, particularly on the highway.
TRAFFIC INFORMATION The telephone number for all of Belgium is 0900 10 280, seven days a week from 6am to 11pm. It carries information on traffic conditions anywhere in Belgium and also abroad.
PARKING Parking in town centres is controlled by parking meters or, in a so-called blue zone, by using a special disc (showing the time of arrival) which can be bought from garages or tobacconists. If using meters, a ticket must be bought from a machine and should be placed clearly on the dashboard, showing the hours of validity. Sometimes a system of alternate side of the road parking is used.
The registration tax is for your number plate which stays with you and not with the car. You will get the rear number plate in the post and have to go to a Mister Minute type shop to have the front one made up!
Also watch out for temporary signs left by the commune to indicate that the road needs to be kept clear for road works or the like. Ignore these at your peril as your car will be towed. Never park closer than 15m to a tram or bus stop.
CIRCULATION TAX
Certain very busy streets are marked with a red triangle stating Axe Rouge/Ax Rode, meaning that no parking is permitted from 7am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6pm. A yellow line on the curb indicates no parking.
Circulation tax (taxe de mise en circulation/ belasting op inverkeerstelling) is a one-off payment made upon the purchase of a new or used car, based on the power of the engine. This is designed to curb the use of fuel-heavy cars, so make sure you check the tax bracket you fall into.
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SPEED LIMITS
BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
•• LISTING AND INDEX ••
Club listings Want to meet likeminded expats? Here is a selection of just some of the groups and clubs in Belgium. Check the full list on www.expatica.com ARTS AND THEATRE
Antwerp British and International Women www.abiw.org membership@abiw.org Royal British Legion www.britishlegion.be (Brussels) www.rblantwerp.be (Antwerp) British & Commonwealth Women’s Club of Brussels http://bcwcb.weebly.com
Antwerp Decorative & Fine Arts Society www.adfas.org
Brussels British Community Association www.britishinbrussels.com
British American Theatrical Society (BATS) www.batsantwerp.be
Welsh Society of Brussels http://cymdeithas.nireblog.com
American Theatre Company http://atc-brussels.com
EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS: OTHER
Brussels Shakespeare Society www.shaksoc.com English Theatre Brussels (Comedy Club) http://theatreinbrussels.com/ecc Irish Theatre Group www.irishtheatregroup.com Viewfinders English-Speaking Photography Club www.viewfinders.be
EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS: AMERICAN
Antwerp Indian Association 92 Pelikaanstraat Bus 19 - 2018 Antwerp Irish Club of Belgium www.irishclub.be Jewish Community of Antwerp www.shomre-hadas.be Australia Society www.aussieworld.com/ausoc Professional Women International www.pwi.be
American Club of Brussels www.americanclubbrussels.org
Women’s International Club Brussels www.wicbrussels.com
American Women’s Club of Antwerp www.awcantwerp.org
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE
American Women’s Club of Brussels www.awcb.org/awcb
Brussels Choral Society www.brusselschoralsociety.com
EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS: BRITISH
Brussels Light Opera Company www.bloc-brussels.be
Anglo-Belgian Society www.anglo-belgiansoc.com
Brussels Madrigal Singers www.brusselsmadrigals.be
Antwerp British Community Association http://members.multimania.co.uk/ABCA
International Chorale of Brussels www.internationalchorale.com
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•• LISTING AND INDEX ••
CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL
Holy Trinity Anglican Church www.htbrussels.com | 02 511 7183
Europe’s Children Our Concern 02.613.2703 www.ecoc.be
First Church of Christ Scientist Brussels 02 647 6456
A Club Brussels http://aclubbrussels.hostrocket.com
International Baptist Church | www.ibcbrussels.org
Brussels Hash House Harriers www.bmph3.com
International Protestant Church 02 673 0581 www.ipcbrussels.org
Caledonian Society www.calsoc.be
Our Lady of Mercy Parish |
Lions Club of Belgium www.lions.be www.lionsheraldic.net
Spouses Trailing Under Duress Successfully (STUDS) www.belgiumstuds.com
RELIGIOUS SERVICES ANTWERP Antwerp International Protestant Church 03 644 2046 www.aipchurch.org 03 239 3339
St Andrew’s Church of Scotland 02 672 4056 www.churchofscotland.be St Anthony’s Roman Catholic Parish www.saint-anthony.be 02 720 1970 St Nicholas Roman Catholic Church 02 511 8178 St Paul’s Tervuren Anglican Church 02 767 3435 www.stpaulstervuren.be Synagogue de Bruxelles |
International Baptist Church of Antwerp 03 290 5262 www.ministryserver.com/ibcofantwerp.htm BRUSSELS AND SURROUNDS Beth Hillel Synagogue (non orthodox) 02 332 2528 www.beth-hillel.org Cornerstone International Church 0495 36 78 41 www.cornerstone.be 72
02 354 5343
Sacre Coeur Roman Catholic Church 19, Rue de la Corrège, Brussels 1000
Rotary International www.rotary.belux.org
St Boniface Anglican Church | www.boniface.be
02 731 9900
02 512 4334
GENT St John’s Anglican Church http://users.telenet.be/stjohns LIÈGE English Speaking Church of Liège 085 84 44 82 http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch00654 Oostende The English Church
02 771 7969
BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE | WWW.EXPATICA.COM
•• LISTING AND INDEX ••
Emergency numbers and helplines EU common emergency line all services . . . 112 Fire or Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Red Cross ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Anti-poison centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 070 245 245
GARDEN CENTRE Centre de Jardinage Tuincentrum HAIRDRESSER Salon de Coiffure Kapper HEALTH CLUB Centre de Fitnesse Fitness Centrum
Pharmacists (on duty) 0900 10 500 (€0,45/Min) . . . www.pharmacie.be
HOUSEWARES Articles de Ménage et de Cuisine, Bazars Huishoud Artikelen
Doctors (on duty) Brussels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 479 1818 Rest of Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
INSURANCE Assurance Verzekering
Dentists (on duty) Brussels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 426 1026 Rest of Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
LANGUAGE SCHOOL Ecole de Langues Talenonderwijs
Vets (on duty) Brussels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 479 9990
LAWYER Avocat/Notaire Advocaat
Bank card lost or stolen
. . . . . . . . . . . 070
344 3 44
English-speaking Community Help Service in Brussels. A volunteer counselling service for emotional problems and a day-time advice service. Help Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02 648 4014 www.chsbelgium.org EMPLOYMENT OFFICES Bureau de Placement Arbeidsbureau (government) Intérimaire Uitzendbureau (private) EYE DOCTOR Optometriste Oogarts
MOVING COMPANIES Déménagement Verhuizingen REALTOR Agences Immobilières Makelaar TAX CONSULTANT Conseils fiscaux Belastingadviseur TRAVEL AGENT Agence de Voyage Reisburo
FURNITURE Meubles Meubelen
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•• LISTING AND INDEX ••
O
Advertisers index
Ortel Mobile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
P Partena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Property Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
B Boston University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 British School of Brussels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Brussels Business Flats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Brussels-Europe Liaison Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Bupa International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
R99 Wine Consulting
..........................
24
S Solvay Brussels School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 St Johns International School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
C Citadines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Community Help Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Corpus Studios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
T
D
V
DKV Globality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back page
E Euromut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Europe’s Children Our Concern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
G GMC relocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
H Homepost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
I ING Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
J Joker Brussels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
K KPN Group Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
M Maasmechelen Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Map Relocations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
N Norfolkline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
74
R
TV From Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School . . . . . .2
Z Ziegler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
NEED MORE GUIDES? The Expat Survival Guide will be distributed this year to over 20,000 expats in Belgium through embassies, international companies and organisations, expat clubs and expat housing and relocation companies. If you are involved in managing expats (maybe you are an international HR Manager) or through your company or organisation come into frequent contact with expats who would find this guide useful, please contact Chalks Corriette at chalks.corriette@expatica.com to order the guides. You can order as many guides you feel necessary, for free, and delivery is also free within Brussels (otherwise we ask that you simply cover the postage costs). If you run a bookshop, cafe, bar or restaurant popular with expats and would like to distribute the free Expat Survival Guide to your customers, please email chalks.corriette@expatica.com for details.
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All you need to know about banking services on arriving in Belgium
Take advantage of our ING Expat Convenience Services +32 2 464 66 64 - expat@ing.be - www.ing.be Many banking services are available to expatriates living in Belgium but there is nothing you need to know about making such arrangements. That’s a task for the ING Convenience Services experts.
Your bank accounts and cards can be ready for you the moment you arrive in Belgium. ING’s Expat Services have 40 years of experience to help make your stay in Belgium as financially smooth as possible.
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