1. BE guide - covers.qxp 2005-08-17 14:32 Page 3

Transcription

1. BE guide - covers.qxp
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1. FR guide - covers.qxp
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2. BE guide - introduction.qxd
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Welcome!
If you have just moved to Belgium, it's
likely you are feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Apart from a new culture and
language to cope with, in your first few
weeks here you will have to sort out a
host of practical things: somewhere to
live, your finances, permits and papers,
and maybe a school for your children
and a job for your partner.
This new edition of the Expat Survival
Guide will give you a starting point:
the basic information you need, plus
plenty of phone numbers for companies
and organisations that can help you
out.
This guide is published by Expatica—
news and information for expatriates
and the leading voice of expatriate
Europe. Expatica's website (www.expatica.com) will give you access to a whole
world of information and services that
will make your life in Belgium easier
and more enjoyable.
We hope you find this guide and
Expatica's other products useful
— and we wish you a fantastic
stay in Belgium!
Research: Gary Hills; Editor: Laura Martz; Sales:
David McGowan, Mike de Haan, David Davis
Cover pictures: Jon Arnold Images/Alamy;
allOver photography/Alamy; Expatica
To advertise in next year's guide, email
[email protected] or call David McGowan on
02 403 13 26.
Published July 2005
© Expatica Communications BV
Culliganlaan 1B, B-1831 Diegem, Belgium
[email protected]
www.expatica.com
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
RELOCATION
PAGE 6
Your first few days; Relocation and moving service
providers; Residence permits; Social security system; Marriage, partnerships and divorce
HOUSING
PAGE 14
The housing market; Renting a home; Buying a
home; Accommodation agencies; Where to live
MONEY
Banking; Taxation; Insurance
PAGE 23
EDUCATION
PAGE 30
Education system; How to choose a school; School
listings; Universities; Holidays; Language schools
JOBS
PAGE 42
How to find a job; Recruitment agencies
HEALTH
PAGE 44
Healthcare system; Hospital; Fitness clubs
SHOPPING
Shopping guide; Food from home
PAGE 52
WINING, DINING, GETTING OUT
PAGE 56
Brussels bars; Cinemas; Weekends away
SETTLING IN
PAGE 63
Utilities and telephoning; Television and Internet;
Libraries and post offices; Embassies
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT
Public transport; Driving and parking
PAGE 70
LISTINGS AND INDEX
PAGE 74
Expat groups and clubs; Religious services; Phone
book decoder; Weights and measures; Emergency
numbers; Advertisers’ index
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, or transmitted, in any form 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, Kruislaan 400, 1098 SM, Amsterdam,
Netherlands. 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 result from its use, and
make no warranty of claims as to the quality or competence
of businesses or professionals mentioned. Company names
highlighted in red have paid for advertising in the guide.
Users are advised to take care when selecting professional
services, and to use common sense in adjusting to life in a
new country.
BELGIUM EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE
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Introduction
What makes this country tick? What are the concerns of its people?
Where is it heading? Here is a brief introduction to Belgium in 2005.
THE HEART OF EUROPE
The compact country of Belgium lies at the
crossroads of western Europe, not just
geographically but politically and ideologically. In many ways, Belgium can be seen
as a microcosm of Europe; a multicultural,
multilingual, federal state which recognises autonomous regions within common
boundaries.
Belgium's cities are now recog“ nised
as some of Europe's finest,
home to fantastic architecture,
art, design and - in Brussels
- political institutions.
”
change of direction for Belgium. The country is making a concerted effort to be more
comfortable with itself and proud of its
potential as a political and cultural centre.
One of the country's major successes in
recent years has been the public relations
makeover it has given itself.
Tourism has skyrocketed as high-speed
trains have delivered visitors here from all
over Europe.
Belgium's major cities are now recognised
as some of Europe's finest, home to fantastic architecture, art, design and - in
Brussels - European political institution
BEGUILING BELGIUM
The accession of ten new member states to
For those who come to live in this endearing muddle of a country, first impressions
can be confusing. The complicated mix of
local, regional and federal government
takes a while to figure out, as do the politics of language and heritage.
continued on page 4
But finding your place in this welcoming
country is not difficult: Belgium has
always embraced newcomers through the
centuries.
THE COUNTRY TODAY
The year 2005 is a historic one for Belgium:
it is celebrating 175 years as an independent state.
The anniversary offers the country an
opportunity to look back on its achievements but is also a stepping stone to
future development, as Belgium continues
to establish itself as a serious player in
European politics and economics.
The young and dynamic prime minister,
Flemish liberal Guy Verhofstadt, leads a
coalition government (there is rarely any
other form) that has brought about a
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Introduction
continued from page 2
the EU in May 2004 was largely well
absorbed in Brussels. To the casual observer, nothing much seems to have changed
apart from a greater variety of languages
heard on the streets of the EU quarter.
The EU presence, though, has had the
effect of driving up property and rental
prices, leaving locals unable to find affordable housing in the city centre.
In general, though, accommodation
remains cheap compared to that in other
European countries.
“
The good news for anyone living
here is that this little country of
10.3 million people ranked as the
world's twelfth best for
quality of life in 2004.
”
ECONOMY
The good news for anyone living here is
that this little country of 10.3 million people ranked as the world's twelfth best for
quality of life in 2004.
resources, it must import most of its raw
materials and balance this with exports of
manufactured goods.
THE OUTLOOK
The Belgian economy continues to grow
slowly but surely. GDP growth in 2004
was 2.7%, above the eurozone average.
The Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts
that economic growth will slow to 1.4% in
2005, with a slight increase to 2% in 2006.
There will be an average inflation rate of
2.4% in 2005 and 1.8% in 2006.
Belgium remains a high-taxation country,
despite recent political manoeuvres that
have seen the tax burden fall slightly.
It also remains largely state-owned, with
competition and free-market principles
open but constrained; utility companies
are a case in point.
The country is heavily unionised, and
large public sector strikes are commonplace.
THE GOOD LIFE
Less than 4% of the population lives below
the poverty line. Belgian per capita Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) is among the
world's highest, at around EUR 25,000,
while the per capita income average for
2004 was around EUR 28,000.
Belgium in 2005 is a vibrant country that
offers continuing opportunities for an
international work force and safety and a
high standard of living for families.
Belgium has a highly developed market
economy with great depth and diversity.
The country's GDP is dominated by a
large service sector (70% of GDP), followed by manufacturing (25%) and agriculture (2%).
Exports account for more than 74% of the
GDP, making the country one of the highest per capita exporters in the world; 75%
of those exports go to EU member states.
Yet Belgium's economy is dependent on
world markets: with few natural
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Introduction
But the annoyances are balanced by a selfdisciplined, tolerant society that has a
strong laissez-faire attitude and, in general, an increasingly good feeling about
itself.
MORE INFORMATION
This is enhanced by excellent education
and health systems; the latter is seen as
among the finest in the world.
Society here is today pragmatic and egalitarian. There are few class distinctions and
a feeling that everyone has the right to the
best possible opportunities.
As an example of how welcome you will
be made to feel as an expatriate in
Belgium, the government now offers a
special service for newcomers, the
Brussels-Europe Liaison Office, which provides all the information you need to settle
in as a new resident.
The Brussels-Europe Liaison Office
63 avenue d'Auderghem
1040 Brussels
02 280 0080
www.blbe.irisnet.be/brussels/index_en.htm
Belgians are also intensely private and
averse to moralising about how others
should lead their lives.
Ironic, then, that the government still dictates things like the dates of shop sales
rather than leaving them to market forces.
moans about officialdom,
“ Everyone
driving, parking, dirty streets and
the sparring over language, but the
annoyances are balanced by a
self-disciplined, tolerant society.
”
SATISFACTION
Everyone who lives here, Belgian or not,
still moans about the way things are - the
Belgians have never taken to authority,
either civil or religious - but they accept
officialdom as a necessary part of life.
Then there are the driving, the parking,
the dirty downtown streets, the continuing
sparring over language.
For daily news and analysis — in English — of current
events in Belgium, read www.expatica.com/belgium
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Your first few days
When you first arrive, it’s tempting to just go out and explore. Do that, but
don’t forget there’s a whole pile of paperwork to do too. Here’s a guide.
DECIDE WHERE TO LIVE
RELOCATION
Deciding where to live is one of your
most important decisions and will dictate
the sort of lifestyle you lead.
holds for nurseries and childcare facilities.
See page 34
See page 20
FIND OUT ABOUT MEDICAL CARE
NOTIFY THE COMMUNE
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 and where the nearest hospital
is, and to learn the relevant emergency
numbers.
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.
See page 44
See page 10
FIND A JOB
CONTACT THE UTILITIES
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.
See page 63
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.
See page 42
OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT
LEARN THE LANGUAGE
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.
Buy yourself a good phrase book if
you're not too confident with the language or enroll on one of the many
courses available.
See page 40
See page 23
MEET PEOPLE
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
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.
See pages 56 & 74
Just arrived? You can meet people from all over the
world at Expat Night. Visit www.expatica.com/night
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Your N°1 Partner for your international career
We offer:
Ω General management courses covering all management domains
Ω Specialised courses offering in-depth knowledge in a specific
management domain (Master Classes)
Ω SME programmes
Visit our website for dates of upcoming info sessions:
www.vlerick.be/go/infosessions
Top Ranked by the Economist Business Intelligence Unit and the Financial Times
Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, Campus Ghent and Campus Leuven, Belgium
tel +32 (0)9 210 98 99, fax +32 (0)9 210 97 00, email [email protected] or go to www.vlerick.com
08/09/2005
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Relocation services
Relocation and moving companies can take the hassle out of starting a new
life in Belgium by taking care of everything from red tape to packing boxes.
0474 270 966
www.carolinedriesen.com
RELOCATION
am&pm
Bessenlaan 33
3110 Rotselaar
01 658 0790
www.am-pm.be
Andrews Roe Consult
Sterrebeeklaan 81
3080 Tervuren
02 767 2996
www.andrewsroe.com
Art of Living
Rue Ernest Solvay 59
1310 La Hulpe
02 634 3330
www.artofliving.be
Brussels Relocation
Bld Henri Rolin 3
1410 Waterloo
02 353 2101
Caroline Driesen
Avenue Victor Rousseau 33
1190 Brussels
Crown Relocations
Av Roger Vandendriessche 22
1150 Brussels
02 773 2750
EZ-Relocation BVBA
Zegeplein 5
2930 Brasschaat
0475 391 887/0475 276 764
www.ez-relocation.com
Foreign Relocation Service
Melkstraat 91A
1830 Machelen
02 253 2005
MAP Relocations
Brusselsesteenweg 410D
3090 Overijse
02 658 8089
www.map-relocations.com
Settler International
Relocation
Av Gustave Demey 72-74
1160 Brussels
02 663 1040
SIRVA
Bosdellestraat 120 Box 1
1933 Sterrebeek (Zaventem)
02 785 0985
XP relocation SPRL
Av de l'Ecuyer 46
1640 Rhode St Genèse
02 381 2652
www.XP-relocation.be
World Wide Relocation
Services
Vaartdijk 40
2100 Antwerp
03 360 5500
www.worldwide
relocationonline.com
Moving services
Allied Arthur Pierre N.V.
Brusselsesteenweg 328
3090 Overijse
02 689 2711
Belcrownlaan 23
2100 Deurne
03 360 5500
www.gosselin.be
Capital Worldwide
Avenue Louise 149/24
1050 Brussels
02 535 7430
Interdean Interconex
Jan Baptist Vinkstraat 9
3070 Kortenberg
02 757 9285
Gosselin World Wide
Moving NV
Ziegler Moving Division
Rue Dieudonné Lefèvre 160
1020 Brussels
02 422 2556
www.ziegler.be
STORAGE SERVICES
Shurgard Benelux
Oude Bareellei 9-11
2170 Merksem
03 640 0000
www.shurgard.be
Looking for a business or service in Belgium? Try the
Business Directory at www.expatica.com/belgium
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2005-08-17
People are a company’s
most valuable asset.
To relocate an executive
and his family costs time
and money.
ART OF LIVING
drastically reduces the costs
and hazards of “going” it alone.
ART OF LIVING
specialises in the relocation and
integration of the family as a whole.
ART OF LIVING
will provide you with a selection of homes
to choose from,help you find the correct
school for your children whilst
guiding and advising you to
the Art of Living in Belgium.
RELOCATION
SERVICES
Tel: 32.2.653.00.37
Fax: 32.2.653.24.41
[email protected]
www.artofliving.be
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Residence permits
RELOCATION
Making sure you have the right paperwork to stay in Belgium is one of the
expat’s first tasks. Here is how to cut through the kilometres of red tape.
To exceed a three-month stay in Belgium,
non-EU nationals must get a residence
permit. For this you need to complete a
visa application form (two copies) at the
Belgian consulate in your last country of
residence. EU residents do not require a
residence permit.
All residents within eight days (for EU,
EEA and Swiss nationals) or three days
(for non-EU nationals) of arrival must register at the town hall (maison communale/
gemeentehuis). In practice, most new
arrivals stretch this timeline a bit. The documentation you need varies depending on
the commune, your nationality, and,
frankly, the official’s mood. Take the following information as indicative, and
check before you go.
An EU, EEA or Swiss citizen will need a
valid passport, up to three passport-sized
photos, and proof of means of support
(usually a letter from your employer: attestation patronale/verklaring van de werkgever).
Some communes may require such things
as birth or marriage certificates. There are
restrictions for citizens of Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland,
Slovakia and Slovenia. There is a two-year
transition before free movement is fully
introduced for nationals from these new
EU countries; they must apply for work
permits and visas for long-term residence.
A non-EU citizen will need the above and
possibly also up to five photographs, a
medical certificate signed by a doctor
recognised by the Belgian Embassy, a
criminal history record issued by the
police in your last country of residence
(some, like the UK, do not supply this), a
legalised marriage license (if relevant) and
birth certificates for children. Some communes take your fingerprints. There is a
small fee, usually no more than EUR 15,
payable in cash. You may need to speak
the language of the commune when you
10
visit: if you don't, bring someone who
does. After the first visit you will get a
receipt, but no card.
The city then contacts the police, who visit
to check that your name is on the door at
your address. If it is, and you’re an EU citizen, you'll get a three-month card. This is
renewed for three more months if proof of
employment (or self-employment) and
registration with the relevant social security scheme has been, or later is, produced.
In due course yo get a five-year card (carte
de séjour/verblijfs-kaart). Non-EU citizens
eventually get an annually renewable
proof of registration (Certification
d'Inscription dans le Registre des
Étrangers/Bewijs van Inschrijving in het
Vreemdelingenregister).
Once you get your card, in theory you
must carry it everywhere, since the police
can ask for it. When you move you must
register with the local town hall within
two weeks. The EUcarte de séjour /verblijfskaart doesn’t carry the status of a Belgian
identity card and is not a substitute for a
passport, even within the EU.
MAJOR TOWN HALLS IN BRUSSELS
Auderghem
Brussels city
Etterbeek
Forest
Ixelles
Kraainem
Overijse
Rhode-Saint-Genese
Rixensart
Saint-Gilles
Tervuren
Uccle
Waterloo
Watermael-Boitsfort
Wezembeek-Oppem
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
02 676 48 11
02 279 22 11
02 627 21 11
02 370 22 11
02 515 61 11
02 719 20 40
02 687 60 40
02 380 20 40
02 634 21 21
02 536 02 11
02 769 20 11
02 348 65 11
02 352 98 11
02 674 74 11
02 783 12 11
02 761 27 11
02 773 05 11
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Social security
RELOCATION
Joining the Belgian Social Security system is bureaucratic, but it’s not difficult.
Here is a brief guide to everything — from contributions to payouts.
Joining the Belgian Social Security system
is bureaucratic, but not difficult. The first
thing to do is to visit www.socialsecurity.
fgov.be/brochure-index.htm for the 64page brochure 'Everything You Have
Always Wanted to Know about Social
Security'.
EMPLOYED OR SELF-EMPLOYED?
There are separate rules and separate institutions for the salaried and the selfemployed.
If you have a job, your employer may take
care of the formalities and deduct contributions from your wages.
are rules to ensure EU citizens
“ There
working in other EU countries are
entitled to national benefits. For
a short stay, it is often best
to take advantage of these.
”
Salaried people are covered for seven sectors: medical care, unemployment, pension, family, accident, work-related injury,
and holiday.
If you are self-employed, you start by paying a minimum quarterly contribution and
are covered for five sectors: medical care,
invalidity, family, pension and bankruptcy.
In any case, you must sign up with one of
a number of specialised organisations or a
health insurance company (mutuelle/mutualiteit), which act as collection agencies for
the national social security offices. For
information on how to do this, see
page 44.
Once you are registered with your chosen
company, it will mail you a Social Security
Identity Card (SIS) which you need to get
prescription drugs and medical services.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
The EU has rules designed to ensure EU
citizens working in other EU countries
are entitled to national benefits. For a
short stay, it is often best to take advantage of these, especially if you plan to
return to your home country directly
after your stay here. There are specialised
offices in each EU country for further
advice.
Belgium also has bilateral agreements on
social security with a dozen other countries, including the US and Canada.
SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICES
These are semi-autonomous parts of the
Ministry of Social Affairs. Salaried workers should contact ONSS/RSZ, the national social security office. Self-employed
people can get more information from
RSVZ-INASTI, the national institute for
social insurance for the self-employed.
ONSS/RSZ
bd Waterloo 76
1000 Bruxelles
02 509 3111
12
INASTI/RSVZ
Place Jan Jacobs 6
1000 Brussels
02 546 4211
Office for Overseas Social Security
(DOSZ - OSSOM)
Avenue Louise 194
1050 Brussels
02 642 0511
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Marriage and divorce
There is more than one way you can get hitched in Belgium. Here is a guide to
marriage, other forms of legally recognised partnerships — and divorce.
MARRIAGE
To marry in Belgium, one of the parties
must reside here. No specific period of residence is necessary, but the formalities
take several weeks.
You need a raft of papers to fulfil the legal
requirements: birth certificates, past wedding certificates, divorce papers, and
sometimes a statement from your embassy
confirming your civil status. If one of you
was previously married, you must furnish
either an authenticated copy of the divorce
papers or a deceased spouse’s death certificate. All these must be translated by an
accredited legal translator. If you come
from outside the EU, you may have to provide a certificate of law from your
embassy.
A separate contract is customarily drawn
up by a notary before the wedding legalising the holding of property by the two
parties. This must be presented at the marriage ceremony. In its absence, the couple
enters into a mariage à regime légal/huwelijk
onder wettelijk stelsel, meaning previously
held property and any inheritance are
owned individually, but other monies
received during marriage are held in common.
DIVORCE
Divorce is granted for mutual consent,
serious cause (such as adultery or cruelty),
or legal separation of five years. When you
divorce by mutual consent, the process can
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
Foreigners married abroad may divorce
here if the plaintiff is a Belgian national or
the matrimonial home or the defendant's
domicile is here. Two people of the same
foreign nationality may divorce according
to their country’s laws, subject to court
approval. If they are from two foreign
countries, the laws of their country of
domicile apply. If one is Belgian, Belgian
law applies. If you want to divorce, it's
worth checking with your home country
whether it recognises Belgian divorce law.
RELOCATION
State and church are separate entities, and
the civil wedding is the legally binding
one; any subsequent church ceremony is a
personal, religious affirmation. Marriages
are performed at the town hall and are
free of charge at certain times. Banns must
be published for at least ten days before
the wedding. Contact your commune for
full details.
be finalised within six months. Before the
process can begin, the couple must make a
notarised agreement concerning property
division and child custody arrangements,
and appear twice before the court.
PARTNERSHIPS
Unmarried partners may enter into a
cohabitation contract. This is signed in the
presence of a notary and entered in the
population register. Both become jointly
responsible for expenses, but each benefits
individually from earned income.
Inheritable property and other assets
acquired while the contract is in effect are
owned jointly. The contract can be terminated at any time by agreement or at the
initiative of either partner without any
legal proceedings, though magistrates can
intervene and have the right of jurisdiction
if there is a dispute over, say, property.
GAY MARRIAGE
In 2003, Belgium became the second country to legalise gay marriage. Married gays
and lesbians have similar rights to heterosexuals: most notably, inheritance rights to
a deceased partner’s property and tax and
social security breaks. Under a 2004 law
change, Belgian residents with a foreign
partner or two gay foreigners living in
Belgium may marry, even if their own
country does not recognise the union.
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The housing market
Many expats start off by renting — and there are good reasons for this. But
if you are going to be around for a few years, you might want to buy a home.
HOUSING
RENT OR BUY?
It is obviously quicker to find somewhere
to rent than to go through the formalities
of purchase. Unless you're lucky, finding a
suitable home to buy can take years. And
renting is more flexible - if you don't like
the property or area you can easily move.
The economics of buying, which involve a
high initial tax on the property price (typically 12.5%) together with legal and mortgage fees of 4.5%, mean it's a medium- to
long-term option: if the future of your job
is uncertain, renting is a better idea.
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 15 for more information.)
And it's irritating to throw away money
each month when it could be doing something for your future if it were going
toward a mortgage.
Property prices, stable for years, are rising
steadily at around 10%, and more in city
centres and wealthier suburban communes. Property looks like a decent
investment, and it’s still cheap in Brussels
and Antwerp compared to Paris,
Amsterdam and London. The conclusion?
If Belgium will be your home for a while,
take the plunge and buy.
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.
WALK THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Once you see an area you like, take time to
walk the streets armed with 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.
ADVERTISEMENTS
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 at www.expatica.com/housing.
WORD OF MOUTH
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.
AGENCIES
HOW TO FIND A HOME
Belgium has a large choice of real-estate
agents. But you'll have to do much of the
footwork yourself. After an initial flurry of
activity, you may soon drop off their radar.
Apartments are normally rented unfurnished, sometimes without essentials like
For more information on their services,
visit www.expatica.com/housing.
Want to get in contact with other expats? Try the
lively Discussion Forums at www.expatica.com
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Renting a home
Many expats choose to rent in Belgium when they arrive. Here are some tips
— and some pitfalls — concerning the lease, inventory and security deposit.
THE LEASE
Belgium has an odd system of a standard
nine-year flexible lease and a three-year
inflexible lease. At first sight the threeyear lease seems most attractive to a
newcomer whose length of stay is uncertain, but this is not necessarily so.
A ‘three-year’ lease can be for any agreed
period up to three years. It fixes the rent
amount for the duration and commits the
tenant to paying for the entire period. It
can include a diplomatic clause (indemnifying the tenant if he or she breaks the
lease because of leaving the country), but
these have been nullified by courts.
It's bad to have someone less
than disinterested assessing costs
against you; worse, you’re
asked to pay half their fee.
“
”
It is better to opt for a nine-year lease,
which you can break with three months'
notice. If you leave in the first, second or
third year, however, you will pay an
indemnity of three, two or one month's
rent respectively. From year four, there is
no penalty for leaving.
The landlord can give you notice only if
he or she intends to personally occupy
the property or needs to carry out major
works (according to a legal definition), or
- at the end of year three or year six with no reason but with compensation to
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the tenant of nine or six months' rent
respectively.
The monthly rent is fixed for nine years,
subject to the normal state-controlled
annual indexation.
For an apartment, you may have to pay a
fixed service charge on top of the rent.
Usually this is a prepayment (provision
pour charges/vooruitbetaling), and later
there is an annual assessment of common
costs you share in. If you want to negotiate a better price, try to bring down the
rent rate, not the service charge.
HOUSING
When you find a flat or house you want
to rent, you need a lease (bail/contract), an
inventory (etat des lieux/plaatsbeschrijving),
and a security deposit, and to get the
phone, electricity and gas connected.
There ‘s a bit of a catch-22 here: there are
certain orders you're expected to do
things in that seem mutually exclusive at
times.
If there are things you want the landlord
to correct before you move in, don't sign
the lease until they’re fixed.
THE INVENTORY
The inventory (etat des lieux/plaatsbeschrijving) is the source of more misery for
tenants than any other document. The
landlord's agent prepares a detailed list
of aspects of the property’s condition,
complete with photos. The tenant reads
and signs it.
At the end of the lease, the agent checks
the property against the list.
Some landlords insist you sign a document agreeing to pay for anything damaged or missing and accept the landlord's
agent in advance.
Don't do it. To avoid problems, simply
refuse to accept the landlord's agent and
select your own agent (expert immobilier/
expert) for check-in and check-out.
THE SECURITY DEPOSIT
You must pay up front one to two
months’ rent as a deposit against damages or ask your bank for a guarantee.
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Buying a home
HOUSING
The process of buying a home in Belgium is straightforward, if laboured.
Here is a guide to contracts, lawyers, the timeframe and mortgages.
Buying a house is a straightforward, if
laboured, process. Once you find a place,
you sign an agreement (compromis de
vente/verkoopcompromis) committing yourself to buy if the seller acts in good faith.
Four months later you sign a contract (acte
authentique/authentieke) once the paperwork and mortgage are sorted out. The
agreed-on price and the sum you hand
over are alarmingly different. For most
properties you pay 12.5% registration tax
(in Flanders it's a bit less). There are fixed
costs for notary services, roughly 1.6%. If
you get a mortgage, you pay tax on the
loan plus fees to the notary and mortgage
lender. All this adds 17% to the price.
THE ROLE OF THE NOTARY
All notaries charge the same fees, so select
one based on recommendation. Failing
that, look at www.notaire.be. Find one
before you find a house: he or she must act
the moment you do. The seller's notary
drafts the compromis de vente and sends it
to your notary, who amends it. Once the
text is agreed on, you sign and pay a
deposit (usually 10%). You have an agreed
period to find a mortgage. Your notary
does legal checks, and four months later,
all parties meet to sign the acte authentique
and hand over the remaining money (usually a cheque from the mortgage lender) in
exchange for the keys.
Structural surveys are usually independent, are not linked to the mortgage and
should be carried out before signing the
compromis. You must show serious defects
to escape without penalty once you've
signed. After signing, oddly, you become
liable for property insurance. If it burns
down, even with the seller still in it, you lose!
MORTGAGES
Mortgages are available from many
sources, including banks. They can be
fixed for the term of the loan, variable
annually, fixed every three years, and so
on. Talk over interest payment options
with the lender and ask for a printed tabular estimate for the period of the loan for
those that seem best. A loan can include
the 17% additional costs mentioned above.
Some lenders charge for a mortgage offer
you don't take up: check in advance, and
walk away if you find it inappropriate.
Some lenders try to link loans to their own
property and life insurance. Get any such
costs outlined and compare them with others' quotes. If you already have insurance,
there's no need to duplicate it at a higher
cost.
SELLING ALREADY?
If you sell within two years, you can claim
back around 44% of taxes and fees. But if
you sell within five years, you're liable for
capital gains tax. All expenses you incur
relating to the property value are
deductible, though, so keep those receipts.
DO IT YOURSELF
If you buy a house to fix up, you can get a
special 6% VAT rate on materials if it’s
older than 15 years. Some communes give
assistance for some renovations. But afterward, the property may be re-assessed for
the revenue cadastral/kadastral inkomen.
Your property taxes could rise, and in the
long run, the commune might get its
money back.
Looking to rent in Belgium? Find listings of quality
apartments and houses at www.expatica.com/housing
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Accommodation agencies
RENTAL AND ESTATE
AGENCIES
HOUSING
Most of the following agencies (agence immobiliers/
makelaar) deal in both sales
and rentals. For more
addresses, see
www.expatica.com/housing
LIÈGE
Optimum - Trevi
Rue Louvrex 98
4000 Liège
04 221 4875
www.trevipartner.com
ANTWERP
Eurorent
Rue Buchholtz 24
1050 Ixelles
02 646 2686
www.eurorent.com
Engetrim - Trevi
Grote Hondstraat 44
2018 Antwerp
03 218 6304
Groupe Trevi
Rue J Hazard 35
1180 Brussels
02 343 2240
Sidimex Antwerpen
Frankrijklei 94
2000 Antwerp
023 203 0202
www.sidimex.be
Housing Service IGC
Boulevard Saint-Michel 51
1040 Brussels
02 732 9920
www.housing-service.be
Belimmo
Leopold de Waelstraat 37
2000 Antwerpen
03 238 0357
www.belimmo.be
Victoires Properties
Avenue de Tervueren 418
1150 Brussels
02 771 1240
www.victoire.be
Groep Cauwe - Trevi
Elisabethlaan 223
8301 Knooke-Heist
050 621 920
BRUSSELS
OUTSIDE BRUSSELS
FURNISHED APARTMENTS
Macnash Associates
Darwinstraat 65
1050 Brussels
02 347 1147
www.macnash.com
Immo 2002
Ringelberglaan 21
3090 Overijse
02 687 2779
www.immo2002.be
Brussels Business Flats
0496 160 797
www.bbf.be
NOA Real Estate
Ch de Waterloo 631
1050 Brussels
02 344 4422
www.noa-realestate.be
GHENT
IBP
Av d'Auderghem 277
1040 Brussels (Etterbeek)
02 743 0388
www.ibp.be
18
Eurohouse
Bd de Souverain 254
1160 Brussels
02 672 0555
www.eurohouse.be
Nelde - Trevi
Vlaanderenstraat 11
9000 Ghent
09 233 1347
Century21
Chaussée de Kerkhovelaan 187
9000 Ghent
09 233 6320
www.century21.be
Century 21
Boulevard d'Avroy 55
4000 Liège
04 223 3825
www.century21.be
NAMUR
Legrand GSI - Trevi
Rue Sergent Vrithoff 131-133
5000 Namur
081 72 3650
BELGIAN COASTLINE
Montgomery Hotel Brussels
Av de Tervuren, 134
1150 Brussels
02 741 85 11
www.montgomery.be
FURNITURE RENTAL
Homepost Furniture Rental
IJzerenweglei 17
2640 Mortsel
03 449 89 35
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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.
HOUSING
ANTWERP
There is a good-sized population of
British and American families here, and
consequently an international school and
a good selection of English-speaking
clubs and societies. And most Flemish
speakers speak English, so Antwerp is an
attractive place to settle. Some Brussels
workers even make the 40-minute commute.
Many families live in the green suburbs.
Those working in industries such as pharmaceuticals or at the port favour northern
pockets such as Schoten and Schilde.
The urban set favours apartments in St
Andries, between Nationalestraat and the
river and, increasingly, the lofts in the old
warehouses around the Napoleon docks.
expatriates are looking to the suburbs, in
places like Heverlee, or seeking available
bargains in the lofts around the canal area.
MECHELEN
Mechelen, midway between Antwerp and
Brussels, has been undergoing a major
facelift in recent years. and as a result has
attracted young professionals as well as
expatriate families. The latter tend to
favour the areas north of the river - the
begijnhoven and the mansion area around
the St. Janskerk.
Loft living for singles and couples can be
found along the River Dijle, while families
prefer the residential villas around the
Vrijbroekpark and near the village of
Bonheiden.
TERVUREN
GHENT
In the centre, expats favour Muinparkwijk,
with its affordable houses and gardens,
and Coupure, full of old houses and with
a delightful river running through its
midst.
Many families choose to live outside the
city limits in the surrounding villages,
where they can enjoy a rural lifestyle with
outdoor space for the kids and easy access
to the city.
Houses here are expensive, but big, with
acres of land and a real sense of owning
your own patch. You really need a car to
live here, but it's also 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.
LEUVEN
WATERLOO
The university town of Leuven is only 20
minutes by train from Brussels, but it's
another world. In recent years, the old centre has scrubbed up a treat, and expatriates have started to make the most of its
relatively relaxed lifestyle. This despite a
rocking nightlife mainly populated by students.
Waterloo is popular for its self-containment - you don't have 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 a cluster of big shopping centres.
Central living has become expensive, so
20
This is real country living at the edge of
Brussels, with a great park surrounding
the Africa Museum and the British School
at its heart.
It has become particularly popular with
Americans and Scandinavians. Houses
tend to be big, with ample land.
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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.
HOUSING
BRUSSELS CITY
If living in the thick of it all is irresistible,
downtown is the place for you. In recent
years, previously run-down parts have
become a magnet for young professionals,
with major renovations and industrial
spaces coming up for rent or sale. Much
sought after are St Géry, Ste Catherine,
and the area around the rue Antoine
Dansaert leading to the canal. The Sablon
and Louise are fabulously upmarket. Upand-coming are the streets around the
main boulevard leading down to Gare du
Midi/Zuid, with many old townhouses
ripe for development and still well priced.
While some parts remain run-down and
neglected, many boast sweeping avenues
of grand houses, particularly near the Parc
Josaphat. Fabulously restored townhouses
are fetching high prices.
ST-GILLES/SINT-GILLIS
A favourite among expats who like to live
as locals. From the top end, with its grand
art nouveau houses, down to the earthy
Gare du Midi/Zuid, it’s packed with
quirky restaurants, shops and a buzzing
nightlife. It is one of Brussels' most
dynamic areas.
UCCLE/UKKEL
ETTERBEEK
Best known for the area at the top end of
the Parc du Cinquantenaire, Etterbeek is
filled with attractive streets of early 20thcentury townhouses. It is home to many
of the European institutions and has fantastic public transport facilities. There are
still some bargains to be had here, in both
houses and apartments.
IXELLES/ELSENE
Wildly popular with expatriates, this massive commune has character and style. It
has distinct areas: trendy Châtelain with
its café culture and the leafy ponds and
abbey area leading down to the Bois de la
Cambre; buzzy chaussée d'Ixelles, with
the Matongé, the African quarter; and the
area around the cemetery, with its bars
and students. Through it all runs Avenue
Louise, with its upmarket shops and
restaurants. Housing is townhouses and
sympathetic conversions - you'll pay for
their charm.
SCHAERBEEK/SCHAARBEEK
This commune has gone through huge
transformations, and not before time.
22
A beautiful and calm commune of huge
houses and upmarket apartment blocks.
Popular with expat families, it is well
located for shops and schools. It is probably Brussels' leafiest commune, with the
Forest of Soignes and housing surrounded
by large gardens. The international community is huge and mostly well-heeled.
WATERMAEL-BOITSFORT/
WATERMAAL-BOSVOORDE
A green commune with a series of village-like squares. Homes are mostly comfortably suburban, with plenty of 1950s
housing punctuated with 19th-century
villas. Good transport links (trains and
the 94 tram) and the International School
of Brussels make it convenient for families.
WOLUWE-SAINT-PIERRE/SINT-PIETERSWOLUWE
Often the choice of people employed in
the European institutions, for its proximity to work and affordable housing. It's
almost self-contained, with a massive
park, a sports centre and other amenities,
including easy transport access.
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Your money
The currency in Belgium is the euro, but there are many ways of paying
other than in cash. Here is a guide to the most common methods.
CURRENCY
banks are open after hours, but not 24/7,
and many are only for customers.
Coins: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20
cents, 50 cents, EUR 1, EUR 2
Notes: EUR 5, EUR 10, EUR 20, EUR 50,
EUR 100, EUR 200, EUR 500
On one side of each coin is a European
Union emblem showing a map of the zone
surrounded by 12 stars representing the
union. On the other is a design specific to
the country where it was minted. There is
already talk of abolishing the lower-value
cent coins for convenience's sake.
All euro notes look the same, regardless of
which country they come from, and feature symbols representing cooperation,
openness, dynamism and harmony.
PAYING FOR GOODS AND SERVICES
Credit and Debit Cards
Most credit cards are widely accepted. If
you get a Visa or Eurocard/MasterCard
from a local bank, the standard option is
for it to operate like a debit card, with the
full amount due automatically taken out
of your account monthly. A full-service
credit option is available on request.
Diners Club, American Express and other
major international cards can also be
obtained and used in Belgium.
MONEY
Belgium sits blissfully in the eurozone,
sharing its currency with Austria, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal and the
Netherlands. Of the other longtime EU
countries, Sweden, Denmark and the UK
are the outsiders, and many of the 10
newest plan to adopt the euro eventually,
but not for a few years yet. Euros issued
by any of the 12 eurozone countries may
be used in any of the others.
The most common card is the Mister CashBancontact card, linked to your current
account and accepted in stores, supermarkets, petrol stations and shops. It's handy
to have, as many places still don't accept
alternatives. You’ll get a card and PIN
number on opening a bank account.
Proton
Belgium is a pioneer of the cashless society. The Proton card is actually a chip
embedded in your Bancontact card and
works like a rechargeable electronic purse.
It’s meant for everyday items such as
newspapers, sandwiches and orders at the
baker's. You can even use it for parking
meters and petrol pumps.
Cash
Cash dispensers can be found wherever
there are banks, and all take Bancontact
cards (issued by local banks), but you might
have to search for one that takes Visa,
MasterCard or another credit or debit card.
There’s an irritating scarcity of machines in
central Brussels. Dispenser lobbies inside
Load it with credit at a cash dispenser,
using your usual PIN code. When you
shop, the shopkeeper enters the amount
due into a terminal, and you insert your
card. The amount due appears on the
screen, you press 'OK', and payment is
made. A lost card is like lost cash, so
choose the amount you load wisely.
For detailed information on managing your finances
as an expat, visit www.expatica.com/belgium
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Banking
Most Belgian banks have departments especially for expatriates.
Here is a brief introduction to the main aspects of the banking system.
OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT
MONEY
To open a current or checking account
(compte à vue/zichtrekening), you must present a passport or Belgian ID card. Once the
account is open, the bank sends you a
Mister Cash/Bancontact debit card. A PIN
number is sent separately.
If you want a savings account (compte d'épargne/spaarrekening), the bank can advise
you on the different kinds.
INTERNET AND TELEPHONE
BANKING
Most big banks offer phone and Internet
banking services. The latter, based on free,
proprietary software, allows account management and bill payment throughout the
eurozone. Fees for standardised transfers
below a certain level are reduced if the
payer and payee agree to share them.
TRANSFER SLIPS
For those who don't bank online, virement/overschrijving is the most common
CHEQUES
Cheques are still available, but are fading
fast and may incur penal service charges.
DIRECT DEBIT
Domiciliation/domiciliering is the most efficient way to pay bills to those you trust,
and saves you the worry of forgetting.
Since late payments incur small penalty
charges, direct debit is often used for paying utility companies.
STANDING ORDERS
An ordre permanent/bestendige opdracht can
be set up for regular payments of a fixed
amount, such as rent and mortgage payments. You can also use it as a way of saving a fixed amount regularly by making an
automatic transfer from your current
account to a savings account.
MAJOR BANKS
TAX OFFICES
LOCAL TAX OFFICES
Fortis Bank
078 05 05 05
www.fortisbank.be/expats
Ministère des Finances/
Ministerie van Financien
Central Administration of
Direct Contributions
CAE Tour des Finances Boîte 32
Boulevard du Jardin
Botanique 50
1000 Brussels
02 210 2211
www.minfin.fgov.be
Information office (for
anywhere in Belgium):
02 210 2453
johannes.secelle@minfin.
fgov.be
In Brussels, Antwerp and
Liège, taxes depend on the
commune you live in. You
can find a local number in
the white pages - look first
under Ministères/
Ministeries, then under
Finances/Financien, then
Contributions Directes/
Directe Belastingen, and you
should find a listing for
your communal office.
ING
02 464 6664
www.ing.be/expats
KBC Bank
0475 53 80 94
www.kbc.be/expats
Citibank
02 774 5555
www.citibank.be
24
means of payment. An orange-and-white
payment slip is found at the bottom of
most bills. Fill it in, sign it and hand it in
at your bank.
For Ghent: 09 267 07
75/71/88
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Taxation
MONEY
Belgian citizens and expatriates within the system suffer from one of the
highest taxation rates in the EU. Here is a summary of the main taxes.
Taxpayers in Belgium suffer from some of
the EU’s highest rates. With social security
and other deductions, the total can be
more than half your salary. Tax reform is
under way, but slowly. Expatriates are
usually liable for Belgian income tax.
Property tax and gift and succession
duties may also apply. There’s usually no
capital gains tax or wealth tax for individuals.
Residents of Belgium pay personal income
tax on total income from all sources on a
sliding scale. The basic exemption for 2005
is €5,660 for a single person, with further
exemptions for dependent children and
spouses. For 2005, marginal income tax
starts at 25%, moves to 30% for incomes
over €6,950, and rises to 50% over €30,210.
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, figured as salary minus compulsory social
security contributions (paid in Belgium or
abroad). Professional expenses can be
deducted directly, with supporting documentation, or (more usually) on a lumpsum basis depending on salary. The 2005
rate for this standard professional deduction is a maximum of €3,050.
The tax year for personal income tax runs
from 1 January to 31 December. You will
typically receive a tax return (déclaration/
aangifte) in April for the previous year's
income. You must return it in June (the
exact date is on the return). If you don't
get one, request it from the Ministry of
Finance before 1 June or risk a penalty.
Tax on spouses’ respective earnings is usually calculated separately. If only one partner earns, a notional transfer of 30% of
26
earnings to the other is allowed, so that
each gets a basic minimum deduction.
OTHER TAXES
Homeowners pay a local property tax (précompte immobilier/onroerende voorheffing)
calculated from the rental value the authorities attribute to the property (revenue cadastral/kadastraal inkomen). The tax varies
according to the commune but is generally
20 to 50 percent of the revenue cadastral.
SPECIAL EXPATRIATE STATUS
Some expatriates fall under a special tax
regime and pay tax only on income from
professional duties carried out here.
Foreign executives assigned here temporarily may qualify, but conditions are
tough. Employment must be temporary,
and with an international group or in scientific research, and Belgium cannot be
your centre of personal and economic
interest. To determine this, the authorities look at ownership of real estate, personal property or securities abroad; life
assurance contracts written abroad;
whether or not your lease has a diplomatic clause; affiliation to a group pension scheme abroad; renewal of credit
cards issued by banks abroad; affiliation
to a social security scheme abroad; and
whether you act as an officer of a foreign
company.
If you qualify, you can get benefits and
deductions, which vary depending on
your income, circumstances and home
country. Expert advice is recommended.
VAT
Most goods and services are taxed at
21%; a 6% rate applies to necessities like
food and transport, and for the time
being, to certain home renovations.
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Insurance
It is important that you take out the appropriate level of insurance cover
while living in Belgium. Here are some of the main policies available.
MONEY
HEALTH INSURANCE
Health insurance is part of the social security system; to benefit you must join a fund
(mutuelle or mutualité/ziekenfonds or mutualiteit). If you’re employed by a Belgian
company, the ONSS (National Office for
Social Security) deducts your and your
employer's contributions from your salary.
You must sign on with an insurance fund,
which will reimburse medical costs. It will
require a certification of employment signed
by the employer.
You can choose any insurance company you
like. Most are affiliated with religious or
political institutions, but you’ll notice little
difference; reimbursement rates are fixed by
the government. They don’t cover 100 percent of bills: you may get back half or threequarters of a typical doctor’s fee. Check
with your doctor that prescribed medications are refundable; pharmacies maintain a
state-advised list. Many people buy additional private insurance (complémentaire).
Once insured, you get a standardised SIS
card, which you must show in pharmacies
and hospitals. You also get a sheet of stickers (vignettes) which you must attach to a
doctor's bill to get a refund.
The social security department has a useful
online guide to the system, available in
English at www.socialsecurity.fgov.be.
CAR INSURANCE
Car insurance is expensive, and insures the
car rather than the driver. This means anyone can drive your car, but insurance for
injury to the driver requires extra coverage.
Not all companies provide it; shop around.
The minimum insurance required by law is
third-party liability, covering death, bodily
injury or physical damage caused to another person. Fully comprehensive cover pro
28
vides for eventualities like fire, theft and
collision damage. For each claim, the
insured pays a deductible. Low-cost comprehensive policies are available but only
cover you if the accident is not your fault,
and proving this may be difficult.
After you choose a policy, the company
issues a green card; keep it in your car, as
the police can demand to see it. You will
also receive an accident report form to keep
in your car. Ask for copies in French, Dutch
and your native language. If you have an
accident, ask for the other driver's green
card as proof of insurance; take the names
and addresses of witnesses before they
leave the scene; fill in the report, stating the
facts but saying nothing about liability; and
sign it and get the other party to sign as
well.
Not all insurers will recognise claim-free
driving experience accumulated in other
countries. Those that do, though, offer a discount for a good driving record.
HOME INSURANCE
Whether you own or rent, you need property insurance. Mostleases require you to take
it out within 30 days of signing, as required
by the Belgian Civil Code, which holds you
responsible for damage unless there’s proof
it wasn’t your fault. Take your lease along
when you arrange insurance. You must also
buy cover against third-party liability. The
owner must cover the property against
lightning, fire and such. If you rent furnished housing. you need insurance against
damage to the furniture. Homeowners can
get a policy linked to the mortgage, but it’s
not obligatory. If you employ a cleaner or
nanny, you need special low-cost liability
insurance. Home buyers are responsible
for insurance after signing the compromis
de vente — before moving in. Contents
insurance is also advisable.
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Education system
The schooling system can seem a minefield to newcomers trying to make a
choice for their children. Here is a beginner’s lesson in Belgian education.
EDUCATION
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 choices
for their children.
The first decision is whether to integrate
the children into the local system or to
take advantage of one of the many international schools, which will enable them to
follow a system they know. This will naturally depend on whether you are in
Belgium on a short contract or plan to
adopt it as your home country.
The international route allows your children to continue in the same educational
system when they return to their home
country. There are also decisions to be
made regarding a school's language, religion and methodology.
BELGIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM
While the state sets the laws regarding
education, responsibility for schools lies
with the language communities: Dutch in
Flanders, French in Wallonia, and both in
Brussels and in some surrounding communes.
Besides state schools, there are subsidised
'free' and independent schools, many run
on religious lines, but with curricula and
certification 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
secular approach.
The compulsory school age in Belgium is
from 6 to 18 years, though pupils above 16
may study part time. Education is free,
though at secondary level parents may be
expected to contribute to the cost of some
textbooks. All schools are coeducational.
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-a-half years. Priority is
given to those with mothers in full-time
work. Kindergarten then takes over until
the child reaches school age.
“
Homework is set from early on,
and there is a strong tradition of
parental participation.
”
Kindergartens are often attached to local
primary schools. Children stay in primary
school for six years, during which they
study a wide 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 two categories:
Type I and Type II. Type I is freer and
more informal, while Type II is more traditional, with a greater degree of specialisation in subjects chosen at age 12. Both
types of school offer a general curriculum
in the early years, but then channel students into general, vocational, technical or
artistic streams, depending on individual
choice and ability.
Assessment is ongoing and rigidly
enforced. Certificates awarded include the
Certificate of Lower Secondary Education
and the Certificate of Higher Education.
Most schools operate for half a day on
continued on page 32
For more information on bringing up an expat child,
visit the education channel at www.expatica.com
30
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Education system
METHOD SCHOOLS
Wednesday, though the afternoon is sometimes given over to sport or cultural activities. These may also happen on Saturday
mornings.
Some schools adopt the methods of specific educational philosophies. Children often
learn through discovery and the liberal
arts, with traditional subjects taught by
direct experience rather than in a formal
setting. The Celstin Freinet system follows
this approach. The Decroly schools separate academic and creative skills. Steiner
schools emphasise the arts. The relaxed,
self-developmental Montessori method is
also well represented in Belgium.
Childcare facilities are available before or
after school for kids of working parents,
but there’s usually a fee.
EDUCATION
Childcare will also be available on
Wednesday afternoons.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
These are the choice of parents who prefer
a familiar system and language for their
kids and continuity once they go home.
With its burgeoning international community, Belgium - especially Brussels - has a
raft of international schools following
British, American, French and Dutch education systems, among others. They offer
the whole range of education, from nursery to school leaving certificates.
As they are all private, they all charge
fees, though many companies pay these
as part of overseas benefits packages.
European Schools
The European schools offer educational
streams in all the EU languages, but they
are notoriously difficult to get into unless
a parent works for an EU institution.
Education is in the child’s mother tongue;
a second language is introduced at primary level and a third in the second year
of secondary school.
Courses lead to the European
Baccalaureate, recognised for university
entrance throughout the EU.
The first decision
parents must
make is whether
to integrate their
children into the
local system or to
take advantage of
one of the many
international
schools
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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.
EDUCATION
There are three basic aspects that determine what the best choice of school will
be for your international child: how old
the child is; how long you will be abroad;
and whether this is an isolated move or
one in an expected series of moves.
If your child is young, a local school could
be the best and most convenient choice for
your whole family. This is especially true
if you plan to be abroad for only a few
years as a one-off experience, or conversely, if you plan to live long-term in your
new country.
Your child will make friends close to
home and learn the language and culture,,
to the whole family’s benefit. 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
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Are there any other expat kids at the
school?
What is the social life like for the average
child at the school?
What is the curriculum?
How will your child's progress be
assessed?
Which diplomas does the school offer?
To what extent are parents encouraged to
get involved with the school and decisions regarding its policies, etc.?
34
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 with
an international (English) stream. Most
importantly, such children should attend a
school whose system (curriculum, testing,
etc.) is compatible with future needs.
offer different diplomas
“ Schools
and qualifications. The most
common and widely accepted
are GCSE and IGCSE and the
International Baccalaureate (IB).
”
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 at left for a list of
important questions to ask when you
visit.
Most people will tell you that the headmaster's (principal's) attitude and management style will be the single most
important factors in making a school successful.
Steer clear of any school that does not
encourage or accept the fact that you do
not speak the local language at home.
That indicates they do not have a clear
idea of the realities and needs of the multilingual, multicultural child.
Although not all children are natural-born
relocators, it helps to know that most children are more adaptable than we usually
give them credit for and, with support,
will make a success of this new opportunity.
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EDUCATION
School listings
ANTWERP
Primary and Secondary
Antwerp International School
Veltwijcklaan 180
2180 Ekeren, Antwerp
03 543 9300
www.ais-antwerp.be
AC Montessori
Route de Renipont 4
1380 Ohain
02 633 6652
www.acmontessorikids.com
Da Vinci International School
Verbondstraat 67
2000 Antwerp
03 216 1232
www.da-vinci.be
AC Montessori NIDO
Boulevard de la Cense 41
1410 Waterloo
023518676
www.acmontessorikids.com
Antwerp British School
Korte Altaarstraat 19
2018 Antwerp
03 271 0943
British School of Brussels
Leuvensesteenweg 19
3080 Tervuren
02 766 0430
www.britishschool.be
BRUSSELS AND SURROUNDS
Primary
British International
School of Brussels
Avenue Emile Max 163
1030 Brussels
02 736 8981
www.bisb.org
British Junior Academy
of Brussels
Boulevard Saint Michel 83
1040 Brussels
02 732 5376
Brussels English Primary
School (BEPS)
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 23
1050 Brussels
02 648 4311
BEPS 2
Chaussée de Waterloo 280
1640 Rhode Saint Genèse
02 358 5606
British Primary School
Stationsstraat 3
3080 Vossem-Tervuren
02 767 3098
www.britishprimary.be
36
International Montessori
Children's Centre
79 Mechelsesteenweg
1933 Sterrebeek
www.internationalmontessori.org
02 784 2784
School
Rotselaerlaan, 1
3080 Tervuren
02 767 6360
School
Berges straat, 4
3080 Tervuren
02 767 6360
Montessori House
Belgium
Rue Pergère 117
1420 Braine l'Alleud
02 385 1503
www.montessorihouse.net
St John's International School
Drève Richelle 146
1410 Waterloo
02 352 0610
www.stjohns.be
Brussels American School
John F Kennedylaan 12
1933 Sterrebeek
02 731 5625
City International School
Boulevard Louis Schmidt
101-103
1040 Brussels
02 734 4413
European School of Brussels I
Avenue du Vert Chasseur 46
1180 Brussels
02 373 8611
European School of Brussels II
Avenue Oscar Jespers 75
1200 Brussels
02 774 2211
European School of Brussels III
Boulevard du Triomphe 135
1050 Brussels
02 627 4700
International School
of Brussels
Kattenberg 19
1170 Brussels
02 661 4211
Japanese School of Brussels
Avenue des Meuniers 133
1160 Brussels
02 672 1038
World International School
Chaussée de Waterloo 280
1640 Rhode-Saint-Genese
02 358 5606
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Universities
Higher education in Belgium is provided in both universities and
non-university institutions, called Hautes Ecoles. Here is a brief guide.
Universities are state-supported and free; private
colleges charge fees. Most
classes are in French or
Dutch, with a few in
English, mostly for master's
degrees.
EDUCATION
HIGHER EDUCATION IN ENGLISH
Boston University
Blvd du Triomphe 39
1160 Brussels
02 640 7474
www.bostonu.be
Open University
Av Emile Duray 38
1050 Brussels
02 644 3373
www.oubs.open.ac.uk
United Business Institutes
Av Marnix 20
1000 Brussels
02 548 0480
www.ubi.edu
Euro*MBA Desk Open
Universiteit Nederland
Valkenburgerweg 177
P.O. Box 2960 Heerlen
Netherlands
045 576 2985
www.euromba.org
Vlerick Leuven Gent
Management School
Ghent Campus
Reep 1
9000 Gent
Leuven Campus
Philipssite 5, bus 8
3001 Leuven
09 210 98 99 (English)
www.vlerick.be
Holidays
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
SCHOOL CALENDAR
2005
1 Jan New Year's Day
27 March Easter Monday
1 May Labour Day
5 May Ascension Day
16 May Whit Monday
21 Jul Independence Day
15 Aug Assumption Day
1 Nov All Saints' Day
11 Nov Armistice Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
2005
Easter/Half-term
28 March - 8 April
Summer
30 June - 31 August
Half-term
31 October - 4 November
Christmas
26 December - 6 January
2006
1 Jan New Year's Day
16 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labour Day
25 May Ascension Day
5 June Whit Monday
2006
Carnival
27 February-3 March
Easter / Half-term
3 - 17 April
Summer
1 July - 31 August
Studying in Belgium? For more information on
education, check out www.expatica.com/belgium
38
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Language schools
Learning French or Dutch is likely to be one of your first tasks. Here
are some language schools in Belgium that might be able to help you.
ANTWERP
AAA Europa Language
School
02 347 4411
Berlitz
03 237 1750
Amira Language School
02 640 6850
Call International
03 248 6564
EDUCATION
Euro Business Languages
03 827 1500
Eurospeak Antwerp
03 230 1727
Alliance Française
02 732 1592
Berlitz
02 649 6175
Call International
02 644 9595
Inlingua
03 231 9114
STLB (City of Antwerp)
03 233 3790
Inlingua
09 232 5050
WIAMS (children's courses)
09 223 8492
LIÈGE
Berlitz
04 223 6624
Forma Lingua
04 349 1868
CCL Centre de Langues
02 771 1320
Institut Supérieur des
Langues Vivantes
04 366 5517
CPAB
02 511 0109
RESIDENTIAL COURSES
Ceran Lingua International
Avenue du Château 16
4900 Spa
087 79 1178
www.ceran.com
Eurospeak Brussels
02 511 8912
Languages Unlimited
02 534 7684
Language Studies
International
02 217 2373
Dialogue
087 793 010
GHENT
De Rand
Kaasmaarkt, 75
1780 Wemmel
02 456 97 80
www.derand.be
ALS Training
09 269 0211
Berlitz
09 233 0474
Fondation 9
485 Avenue Louise
1050 Brussels
02 627 52 52
www.fondation9.be
TELEPHONE COURSES
Phone Languages
02 647 4020
ELCS
09 244 6464
Eurospeak Gent
09 222 1952
Get inside Belgium! Read Expatica’s in-depth analysis
of life in Brussels and beyond at www.expatica.com
40
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How to find a job
If you are an expat, it seems there are a handful of suitable jobs and an awful
lot of job-seekers. But it can be done. A guide to finding work in Belgium.
LANGUAGES
In this multilingual country, finding
work depends very much on your language abilities. If you’re competing in
the national market, you may need both
French and Dutch, with other languages
being a bonus or a job requirement. In
the international arena, you will need
English; other languages will be a bonus.
JOBS
WHERE TO LOOK
If you are happy to work in French or
Dutch (in Brussels, both are even better),
then the national newspapers Le Soir
and Het Laatse Nieuws are excellent
places to start.
For English speakers, Expatica (www.
expatica.com/jobs) and the weekly publications 'The European Voice' and 'The
Bulletin' advertise international secretarial and managerial positions in fields
such as public affairs and teaching.
There is also a range of recruitment
agencies aimed at expatriates which offer
jobs at various levels. Headhunting agencies are common in Belgium but tend to
specialise in executive positions.
PERMITS FOR NON-EU
NATIONALS
Type B: This type, the most common, is
valid for work with one specific employer for a period of one year and is renewable. If you change jobs your permit
becomes invalid. To get you this type of
work permit, your potential employer
must apply for an employment 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.
Type A: This permit is valid for an unlim-
42
ited time and allows you to work for any
employer. To apply for it, you must either
have resided legally in Belgium for a continuous period of five years or have lived
and worked here for at least four years
and already hold a type B.
STARTING WORK
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 a year for whitecollar workers, depending on salary.
Typically, those earning less than EUR
32,261 a year will be taken on for a trial
period of up to six months, while those
who earn more can be on trial for as
much as a year. During this period either
side can terminate the employment with
seven days' notice.
The average working week is 38.5 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 in lieu or compensation
for working overtime.
In Belgium, you must work for a full
year before any holiday entitlement is
paid. The amount will then - oddly - be
calculated on the basis of how many
months you were in the job during the
preceding calendar year. If you worked
the full previous calendar year, however,
you will be entitled to a minimum of
twenty days.
There are also ten legal holidays in
Belgium, many religious days. If one
falls at the weekend, you are entitled to a
day off in lieu. Along with paid holiday
leave, you get a holiday allowance (double pécule de vacances/vakantiegeld), which
varies according to the type of job you
have.
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Recruitment agencies
ANTWERP
De Witte & Morel
Joe Englishstraat 54
2140 Antwerp
03 270 1232
Hays
E. van Dijckkaai 15-17
2000 Antwerp
03 231 2311
Kelly Services
Frankrijklei 92
2000 Antwerp
03 203 0303
BRUSSELS
De Witte & Morel
Avenue Marcel Thiry 75
1200 Brussels
02 610 2700
Hays
Louizalaan 145
1050 Brussels
02 541 1655
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Randstad Belgium
Buro & Design Center B. 71
Esplanade du Heizel
1020 Brussels
Randstad Belgium
Avenue Louise 222
1050 Brussels
02 509 4545
Adecco België
Noordkustlaan 8
1702 Groot-Bijgaarden
02 583 9111
Unique
Luchthavenlaan 10
1800 Vilvoorde
02 600 7000
www.unique.be
GHENT
Hays
Oudenaardsesteenweg 13-15
9000 Ghent
09 233 1183
De Witte & Morel
Moutstraat 56
9000 Ghent
09 222 2695
Kelly Services
Kortrijksesteenweg 132
9000 Ghent
09 221 0304
OTHER USEFUL ADDRESSES
JOBS
Randstad Belgium
Uitbreidingstraat 84, Box 3
2600 Antwerp
03 218 2300
Kelly Services
Bd Adolphe Maxlaan 63
1000 Brussels
02 219 0909
Community Help Service
Rue Saint-Georges 102
1050 Brussels
02 647 6780
www.chsbelgium.org
Focus Career Services
Rue Lesbroussart 23
1050 Brussels.
02 646 6530
www.focusbelgium.org
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Healthcare system
Belgium is regarded as having one of Europe’s best healthcare systems. Here’s
a quick guide to doctors, dentists, pharmacies and emergency treatment.
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
In Belgium, as in most countries, the system is divided into state and private services, but fees are payable in both; you need
to ensure that you are adequately covered
through state and/or private insurance.
HEALTH
An advantage of Belgium's state
mutuelle/mutualiteit scheme is that you can
choose any doctor, clinic or hospital you
like, in any location and without a referral,
according to your needs, in much the same
way as you can with private insurance.
For more information on insurance, see
page 26.
DOCTORS
General practitioners can be found in private practices and attached to clinics and
hospitals, and you can consult or register
with any doctor you like. The same is true
of specialist consultants.
a handing over of money, and very few
doctors accept any card paymente.
If you have state social security, the reimbursement rate is calculated and you pay
the difference; if you’re on a private
scheme or are uninsured, you pay the lot
there and then. It's always worth checking
fees before you book an appointment.
DENTISTS
Most dentists work privately, though some
accept partial payment by state insurance.
Make it a priority to ask about this before
you register - fee differentials can be huge.
For specialist work like crowns and
bridges, the dentist may ask how you will
pay and base the quotation on that. To
qualify for insurance reimbursement you
must see a dentist at least once a year. In
big cities - Brussels in particular - there are
international practices, though they can be
considerably more expensive.
HOSPITALS
You might choose based on location, language or recommendation. It's always
worth asking neighbours or colleagues
when you arrive; everyone knows of a
doctor with a good reputation. Embassies
usually keep lists of doctors who work in
your language, but most doctors in
Belgium speak good English.
When you first phone a doctor, check
whether he or she is registered with the
national health service or privately. Some
are both, perhaps working at a hospital as
well as in private practice.
When you go to a doctor remember to
bring cash. Consultations usually end with
You can see a specialist or GP of your
choice at any clinic or hospital. You can
also walk into an emergency outpatient
clinic for immediate treatment, though this
isn’t a GP substitute. It’s easiest if you have
an insurance card or other identifiable
means of payment with you, but you
won’t be refused treatment if you don't.
PHARMACIES
Chemists, with the green cross sign, are
ubiquitous in Belgium. There is a rota system for chemists open outside normal
hours. Lists are available from any pharmacy and in the newspapers.
Sign up for Expatica’s weekly email newsletter to stay
in touch with life in Belgium. Visit www.expatica.com.
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Hospitals
ANTWERP
Algemeen Centrum
Ziekenhuis Antwerpen Campus St-Elisabeth
Leopoldstraat 26
03 234 4111
www.zna.be
HEALTH
ACZA - Campus St-Erasmus
Luitenant Lippenslaan
(Borgerhout)
03 270 8011
www.zna.be
Algemeen Ziekenhuis
Middelheim
Lindendreef 1
03 280 3111
www.zna.be
AZ St. Augustinus St. Bavo - St. Augustinus
Oosterveldlaan 24
03 443 3011
www.gvagroup.be
Koningin Paola
Kinderziekenhuis
(children's hospital)
Lindendreef 1
03 280 2000
www.zna.be
BRUSSELS
Centre Hospitalier
Universitaire Brugmann
Site Victor Horta
Place Van Gehuchten 4
02 477 2111
www.chu-brugmann.be
Centre Hospitalier
Universitaire Saint-Pierre
Rue Haute 322
02 535 3111
www.stpierre-bru.be
46
Centre Hospitalier
Etterbeek-Ixelles
Iris Sud
Rue Jean Paquot 63
02 641 4111
www.iris-hopitaux.be
Clinique du Parc Leopold
CHIREC
Rue Froissart 38
02 287 5111
www.chirec.be
Institut Médical Edith Cavell
CHIREC
Rue Edith Cavell 32
02 340 4040
www.cavell.be
AZVUB
Laarbeeklaan 101
02 477 4111
www.azvub.be
Cliniques Universitaires
St Luc UCL
Avenue Hippocrate 10
02 764 1111
www.saintluc.be
Cliniques de l'Europe St Elisabeth
Avenue De Fré 206
02 373 1611
www.cliniquesdeleurope.be
Cliniques de l'Europe St Michel
Rue de Linthout 150
02 737 8000
www.cliniquesdeleurope.be
Hôpital Erasme ULB
Route de Lennik 808
02 555 3111
www.ulb.ac/erasme
Hôpital Universitaire
des Enfants Reine Fabiola
(children's hospital)
Rue J. J. Crocq 15
02 477 3311
www.huderf.be
Medical Centre Etterbeek
Av. d'Auderghem 239
1040 Brussels
0476 262 406
GHENT
Algemeen Ziekenhuis
Maria Middelares Sint-Jozef Campus
Kliniekstraat 27-29
(Gentbrugge)
09 239 3111
www.azmmsj.be
AZ Sint-Lucas
Groenebriel 1
09 224 6111
www.azstlucas.be
AZ Jan Palfijn
Koningin Fabiolalaan 57
09 240 9811
www.janpalfijn.be
University Hospital of Ghent
De Pintelaan 185
09 240 2111
www.uzgent.be
LIÈGE
Centre Hospitalier Régional
de la Citadelle
Boulevard du Douzième de
Ligne, 1
04 225 6111
Groupe Hospitalier SaintJoseph-Espérance
Rue de Hesbaye 75
04 224 8111
Centre Hospitalière
Universitaire de Liège
Domaine du Sart-Tilman,
bât B 35
04 366 7111
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Fitness clubs
There has been a surge of new health clubs opening in Brussels recently,
mostly at the top end of the market. But there are other options, too.
HEALTH
Luxe fitness clubs abound
in Brussels. Before you part
with a stash of cash,
though, make sure you
check out what your local
commune has to offer, as
well as the smaller independent gyms and fitness
centres in your neighbourhood.
Ashtanga Yoga Institutes
Chaussée d'Alsemberg 610
Uccle
02 340 6781
Ashtanga gives a good
workout as well as increasing suppleness, and this
centre offers courses at all
levels - mainly in French,
but in English on request.
Aspria
Rue de l'Industrie 26
02 508 0800
A recent addition to the
Brussels health-club scene,
Aspria is both exclusive
and expensive (around
EUR 690 for six months).
Its centrepiece is a 21-metre
swimming pool, and it
offers the expected gym,
health spa and beauty
treatments next door. Its
location makes clear that it
is aimed at the EU and
executive crowd.
Champneys
Avenue Louise 71B
02 542 4666
If you've got around EUR
2,000 a year to spare, it will
be well spent at this club in
the posh Conrad Hotel, the
ultimate pampering spot.
Everything here is five-star:
the pool, the gym, the fitness rooms and the beauty
treatments. You can get a
day membership for a oneoff treat.
Corpus Pilates
Rue de Vergnies 30
0477 733 337
www.corpuspilates.com
Kelly McKinnon started
Corpus in 2000 and offers
Pilates mat work and
equipment as well as yoga
in group, private and semiprivate classes. Training is
given by fully qualified UK
and US instructors in
English, French and
Spanish.
David Lloyd Uccle
Dreve de Lorraine 41
Uccle
02 534 9000
The Lloyds chain is
From fitness...
to finances
For products and
services, try the
Expatica Business
Directory at
www.expatica.com
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HEALTH
already well established
in the UK, so it's no surprise that it chose to
enter the lucrative
health-club market in
Brussels. This one is in
the suburbs, in beautiful
grounds, so it's no good
for quickie lunchtime
workouts. It's a magnificent complex, though,
with eleven tennis
courts, two swimming
pools, squash courts and
fitness rooms.
Waou Club Med Gym
Avenue de la Toison d'Or 56
02 534 1462
This strangely named
place has no pool, but
it's quite luxurious
nonetheless, with an
impressive gym and fitness and dance rooms.
The good news is that
you can take out day
memberships for EUR
40, just in case you break
your New Year's resolution.
Physical Golden Club
Place du Chatelain 33
02 538 1906
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This place's claim to
fame is that it's where
Jean-Claude van Damme
started work on those
famous Brussels muscles. It's a serious gym
for those interested in
serious workouts, so
don't expect the luxury
of some of the capital's
more pampering health
clubs. Fees are reasonable at EUR 618 for a
year's membership.
Sportcity
Avenue Salomé 2
Woluwe St Pierre
02 773 1820
For EUR 3 admission,
you can enjoy an
Olympic-sized swimming pool and tennis
and squash courts, as
well as saunas, baths
and steam rooms.
European Parliament
Sports Centre
Bladerunner
-1G 341 ASP
Rue Wiertz 60
1047 Brussels
Personal Trainer Belgium
0495 113 567
www.personaltrainer
belgium.com
Wellness Paladins
070 233 907
www.wellness-paladins.be
John Harris Fitness Center
Rue du Fossé-aux-Loups 47
1000 Brussels
02 219 8254
www.johnharrisfitness.com
John Harris Fitness Center
Avenue du Lac 87
1332 Genval
02 655 7466
www.johnharrisfitness.com
Passage Fitness First
Many addresses, see
website
Avenue du Boulevard 21
1210 Brussels
02 274 2920
www.passage.be
World Class Fitness Centre
Renaissance Hotel
rue du Parnasse, 19
02 551 59 90
www.worldclassfitness.net
HEALTH INSURANCE
Euromut
Louis Mettewielaan 74/76
1080 Bruxelles
02.44.44.345
www.euromut.be
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
CAR PURCHASE
BUSINESS CENTRE
GOLF CLUB
SAAB Beherman European
03 890 99 11
Industrieweg 4
2881 Bornem
www.saab.be
NCI Business Center
Avenue Louise 149/24
1050 Brussels
02 535 75 11
www.nci.be
Golf Club Pierpont
Chemin du grand Pierpont 1
6210 Les Bons Villers
071 88.08.30
www.pierpont.be
CAR RENTAL
Hertz
www.hertz.be/expats
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Shopping guide
Shopping in Belgium can be either wonderfully fulfilling or desperately
frustrating. Here’s an introduction to the main types of stores.
In general, Belgian shops offer reasonable
prices and a range of goods. At times,
though, you may find it hard to buy a specific item youcan get everywhere at home.
SHOPPING
For food, at least, you can't go wrong.
There are two main supermarket chains,
Delhaize and GB. They carry everything
you'd expect, and many branches have foreign-food sections. Both chains sell an
excellent range of wines at keen prices.
They’re usually open Monday to Saturday
from 8am to 8pm, and until 9pm on
Friday. In Brussels, a wonderful specialist
supermarket is the famous Rob.
Carrefour owns Brico, Belgium's largest
DIY and gardening chain. You can get
anything for the home here, but the halfdead plants leave a lot to be desired. For
healthier ones, go to the markets or out-oftown garden centres. The gigantic Leroy
Merlin at Erasmus is a good day out.
thing you'll never go
“ One
short of is good bookstores.
”
For Internet shopping and home delivery,
Delhaize’s site has the edge. Caddyhome
stocks most of what you’d find in the
supermarket. Wineworld delivers an
impressive selection of world wines to
your door.
Household goods are where frustration
sets in. Most big furniture, textile, kitchen
and bathroom shops are outside the city
centres, with poor transport links. The rest
are either reasonably priced, styleless ones
or bank-breaking ones that sell top designer
goods, with little in between (except
Habitat in Brussels and Antwerp). IKEA
has five stores in Belgium.
For electrical and white goods, the two
main competitors are Vanden Borre and
Krefel - similar but worth comparing for
special offers. For computers, television
and stereos, there’s Photo Hall, ubiquitous
and with excellent offers. FNAC (Brussels,
Antwerp, Ghent and Liège) has a stylish
electrical department. InBrussels’s Inno
department store, German megastore
Media Markt has taken over the fifth floor.
Dutch chain Hema has modern, lowpriced household items like bedding,
lighting, curtain rails and kitchen equipment. Casa and Blokker sell small household items, garden furniture and crockery.
For antiques, go to the Sablon in Brussels
for the gaspingly expensive, the rues
Haute and Blaes for bric-a-brac, or the flea
market on Place du Jeu de Balle for the
decidedly downmarket. Antwerp’s StAndries, between Nationalestraat and the
river, is full of quirky brocante shops.
For department stores, there’s only the
soulless Inno. From perfumes and clothing
to toys and household items, it’s got everything but charm. Sales are good, though.
One thing you'll never go short of is good
bookstores. Brussels has a Waterstone's,
with a massive stock of English books,
magazines and newspapers. Sterling
Books is an excellent independent shop.
FNAC has a well stocked English section.
The Press Shops sell magazines and newspapers in English.
OPENING TIMES
Shops are generally open Monday to
Saturday, mostly from 10am. Unusually,
they are open on the respective Sundays
52
before Christmas and New Year's Day.
Sales take place in January and July; the
dates are strictly government-controlled.
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Food from home
ANTWERP
Chinese
Chinese
Kam Yuen
Rue de laVierge Noire 2-4
02 512 5833
Sun Wah Supermarket
Van Wesenbekestraat 16-18
03 226 04 59
Jewish
SHOPPING
Hoffy's
Lange Kievitstraat 52
03 234 3535
Mediterranean
French
Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe
Avenue Louis Lepoutre 6
02 346 1759
Mediterranean
Oliviers & Co
Rue au Beurre 28
02 502 7211
Foreigner's Market
Oude Vaartplaats
Saturday 8am-4pm
Rob
Boulevard de la Woluwe 28
02 771 2060
Midi Market
Around Gare du Midi
Sunday 8am-1pm
Irish
Scandinavian/Nordic
Jack O'Shea's
Rue le Titien 30
02 732 5351
Italian
BRUSSELS
Casa Italia
Rue Archimède 39
02 733 4070
American
Japanese
Cosmopolis Press & Gifts
Drève Richelle 159
Waterloo
02 351 4803
Miyuki
Chaussée d'Ixelles 347
02 640 5682
British
Tagawa
Chaussée de Vleurgat 119
02 648 5911
Stonemanor
Steenhofstraat 28
Everberg
02 759 4979
Gourmet Food and Gifts
Rue Stevin 186
02 735 1138
54
Yama Food
Chaussée de Charleroi
24-26
02 538 99 50
Branches of IKEA
www.ikea.be
Nordica
Rue Belliard 220
02 230 1305
Scan-shop
Chaussée de Tervuren 138
Waterloo
02 351 1275
Spanish
ABC Poisonnerie
Rue Ste. Catherine 46
02 512 7547
Economato Marisol
Place de la Constitution 23
02 521 4736
España Calidade
Avenue de la Porte de Hal
63
02 537 2387
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DEDICATED
TO GASTRONOMY
Rob captures the spirit of the
market. It's a place where professionals come together to share
endless flavours and tastes and
exquisite gastronomy with you.
Each department has its own
professional: a butcher, a fishmonger, a cook, a delicatessen
butcher, a greengrocer, a bread
and pastry baker. They are all
totally committed to providing
quality products and pay full
attention to the freshness and
origin of these products. That's
why Rob is unique in Belgium.
Alain Bergen
Chef
Boulevard de la Woluwe 28 - Woluwe-Saint-Pierre - Tel. 02-771 20 60 - www.robfinefood.be - Home delivery
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Bars and restaurants
It was a hard job, but somebody had to do it. Here’s our pick of the Belgian
capital’s best drinking spots — we guarantee there’s something for everyone.
ANTWERP
WINING AND DINING
Den Engel
Grote Markt 5
Slap in the centre of town,
this is the bar that typifies
Antwerp at its local best.
This dusty pub is an
unmissable institution frequented by councillors
from the town hall, weary
shoppers, ancient
Antwerpenaars and the
odd bemused tourist.
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 a
note about your favourite
in the visitors' book. Tiny
and cosy, it's used by locals
and visitors alike.
De Pelikaan
Melkmarkt 14
In the shadow of the cathedral, the Pelikaan makes no
effort to get you to love it.
Take it or leave it, it's celebrating its 50th birthday
and continues to draw
musicians, writers and
boozers through its door. A
drinking hole, no more, no
less.
De Vagant
Reyndersstraat 25
This is where to come for a
good glass of jenever; the
56
barman will happily advise
you on the best for your
palate. The 200 types on
offer can be helped down
with little plates of cheese
and meat snacks. Upstairs
is a restaurant with a jenever-inspired menu.
BRUGES
Brugs Beertje
Kemelstraat 5
Beertje's is like a Dutch
brown café - dark, moody
and atmospheric. The beer
menu is a ray of light,
though, listing 300 brews.
You'll have to ask the owners Jan and Daisy what to
order, depending on what
you fancy.
BRUSSELS
À la Mort Subite
Rue des Montagnes aux
Herbes Potagères 7
This cavernous, loud and
brash bar is a slice of
Brussels life. With its long
rows of tables, yellowing
walls and crowds of mostly
young types, it's the perfect
place for a cherry beer on
draught. Not for those with
a smoking phobia.
L'Atelier
Rue Elise (Ixelles)
A serious little bar for serious lovers of beer. Behind
the counter is a massive
glass-fronted fridge full of
chilled bottles, their names
scrawled on the door with
a pink marker. There are
also beers on draught
rarely seen anywhere else,
such as the deeply wilful
Chouffe.
Le Bier Circus
Rue de l'Enseignement 89
As the name implies, this
rough, basic beer emporium stocks around 200 varieties. The staff have been
trained to know a lot about
everything on the menu, so
service can be slowed
down if there's an earnestly
inquisitive tourist ahead of
you.
Chez Moeder Lambic
Rue de la Savoie (St Gilles)
Sitting in the shadow of
the St Gilles town hall,
this tiny wooden tavern,
furnished with benches
and scrubbed tables,
racks of comic books and
Scrabble sets with half
the letters missing,
stocks over 1,000 beers.
Some of the rarer bottles
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Brussels bars
cost as much as vintage
wines.
WINING AND DINING
Cirio
Rue de la Bourse 18-20
A minute from the
Grand'Place, you take a
step back into the 19th century in this antique bar
with its original wallpaper,
light fixtures and toilets. A
thorough selection of mostly bottled beers is supplemented by the famous halfen-half, a glass of mixed
still and sparkling wine.
Le Falstaff
19-25 rue Henri Maus
This is, without a doubt,
the most stunning art nouveau bar-café in the centre
of Brussels. A great meeting
place, a good beer stop and
a perfect place to wind up
an evening - it's open till
3am each and every night.
La Fleur en Papier Doré
Rue des Alexiens 55
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.
Hardly changed since the
days of Magritte and Co., it
attracts a few determined
tourists and a clique of arty
locals.
L'Imaige de Nostre Dame
Rue du Marché aux Herbes
8
A dark little alleyway takes
you down to this cosy bar
with its two sitting rooms
and a set of locals sitting at
the tiny counter joking with
the landlord. There's a very
good beer menu - order at
the bar and mine host will
serve you at table
La Lunette
Place de la Monnaie 3
A modern two-storey bar
near the opera house and
the shopping street rue
Neuve. There are eight
beers on draught, but it's to
the Lunette that you should
turn your attention. A specially made bucket-sized
glass of it should keep you
pondering life for an hour
or so.
Le Roy d'Espagne
Grand'Place 1
We had to mention one on
the Grand'Place, and this is
the biggest and most
labyrinthine. The waiters,
dressed as Trappist monks,
deal with hordes of people,
so service can be slow. Try
to get one of the coveted
tables on the first floor with
views over the square.
GHENT
De Dulle Griet
Vrijdagsmarkt 50
The Griet took a leap of
faith many years ago and
became the first Ghent bar
to specialise in Flemish
beers. Because of that, it
gets its fair share of
tourists, but it's also used
by locals, who indulge in
the quaint tradition of
exchanging a beer for a
shoe. The item of footwear
then gets hauled into the
air in a basket. Whatever.
OTHER BARS AND RESTAURANTS
Havana Bar/Restaurant
025021224
Rue de l'epee 4
1000 Brussels
www.havana-brussels.com
Soul Resto
Rue de la Samaritaine 20
1000 Brussels
02 513 52 13
www.soulresto.com
58
Kitty O Sheas
Boulevard Charlemagne 42
1040 Brussels
032 2 230 78 75
Le Living Room
Chaussée de charleroi 50
1060 Brussels
02 539 2111
www.lelivingroom.be
The Snug Irish Pub
Chaussée de Tervuren 129
1410 Waterloo
Mig's World Wines
Chaussée de Charleroi 43
(near place Stéphanie)
1060 Saint-Gilles
02 534 7703
www.migsworldwines.be
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Brussels cinemas
Like the city itself, Brussels’ collection of independent movie houses is elegant,
international and diverse. Here is a guide to their strengths and quirks.
GETTING OUT
The UGC and Kinepolis
megachains dominate
the cinema scene in
Brussels, with multiscreen complexes that
show mainstream films,
mostly in their original
languages.
But the capital also has
an important art-house
circuit showing Belgian
and world cinema. These
listings concentrate on
the independents.
Actors Studio
16 petite rue des Bouchers
02 512 1696
The Actors Studio is one of
Brussels' best-loved cinemas. It's hidden by the
lobby of a hotel, so you'll
need to seek it out - just follow the posters.
Typical fare here is schlock
horror from around the
world and independent
European films, often
shown in their original languages with both French
and Dutch subtitles, so
check if your only language
is English.
Arenberg Galeries
26 galerie de la Reine
02 512 8063
Located in a glamorous
covered gallery, this stylish
cinema put on Belgium's
first public film screening
in 1895. It's still going
strong despite periodic
threats of closure.
It's big and draughty and
shows a range of world
film, mostly the sort of
stuff that comes with a
message.
It shows mostly European
films, including British, and
is a great supporter of contemporary Belgian and
French directors. Every
summer the Ecran Total
festival shows over 90 films
in 900 screenings.
Nova
3 rue d'Arenberg
02 511 2477
Flagey
Place Flagey
02 641 1020
A tiny but stylish cinema in
the wonderful art deco
Flagey arts complex. In its
short life it has already
gained a reputation as a
true world cinema.
It displays programmers'
penchant for film noir and
Hollywood classics such as
'Sunset Boulevard' and
'Casablanca'.
Movy Club
21 rue des Moines
02 537 6954
A rarity - a truly local cinema for local people that's
still well worth a trip from
further afield if you want to
experience a lovely old art
deco cinema.
The Nova is internationally
known for its lively, inventive programme. For many
years it has been run as a
cooperative against all
financial and bureaucratic
odds.
It shows anything that's got
social context and an edgy
underground feel.
Sometimes there are short
themed seasons, and there
are monthly 'Open Screens'
when wannabe directors
can showcase their
attempts.
Styx
72 rue de l'Arbre
02 512 2102
The tiny Styx is now 35
years old. Its fleapit look
and feel belie the quality of
its programme, which
ranges from Martin
Scorcese-themed seasons to
modern Belgian films. It
also runs impressive retrospective seasons featuring
classic European films.
For the pick of entertainment in Brussels and beyond,
see the What’s On channel at www.expatica.com
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Weekend breaks
Nowhere in Belgium is too far from anywhere else. Here are just
a few ideas for getting away from it all and breaking free of the city.
Enjoy life in the city, but don’t forget to
sample the joys of the rest of the country.
Be careful if you drive on a public holiday, though - snarl-ups are common,
especially on coast roads in summer. The
railways offer reduced fares at weekends,
as well as group and family specials.
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Let the original Spa ease the stresses of
modern life. The eponymous town in the
heart of the Ardennes is around two
hours from Brussels by train.
Thermes de Spa
Colline d'Annette et Lubin
4900 Spa
087 772 560
www.thermesdespa.com
DIPPING YOUR TOES
The Belgian coastline is only 64km 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. Leopold II
built a fair number of villas there, and
even Queen Victoria crossed the channel
to visit and take a paddle.
Much of Ostend was bombed in the war,
but what’s left of the old is impressive.
The Fort Napoleon, built in 1812, is the
only intact Napoleonic fortress left in
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
The crowning glory of the postwar period
is the Ostend Casino, built in 1953 and
the fourth gaming hall on this spot. The
gaming room is decorated with frescoes
by Paul Delvaux, though you have to take
a place at one of the tables to see them.
Knokke-Heist is a much more upmarket
resort, where the wealthy keep swanky
seaside homes and everything in the
shops, restaurants and clubs is designer.
A short way north, close to the Dutch border, is Zwin, a protected area of natural
beauty. The windblown dunes offer sanctuary to birds and other wildlife.
GETTING OUT
Its sulphurous waters were discovered by
the Romans, although it was five centuries before it became famous as a resort.
After falling into 19th-century disrepair
and disregard, in 2004 Spa was made
back into a magnificent therapy and
relaxation centre worthy of a new millennium. Go to relax, be pampered, take the
waters, and enjoy the town and the surrounding forest.
Europe. At the western end of the promenade is Leopold's 390m gallery of Tuscan
columns, with a belle-époque pavilion as
a finial. His former villa is now a luxurious hotel.
A great way to explore is the Kusttram, a
tram running the length of the shore,
from De Panne to Knokke. It calls at 70
stops in all 16 towns. You can hop on and
off with a EUR 5 day ticket, or be silly
and do the whole trip in two hours and
20 minutes.
Ostend
www.ostend.be
Knokke-Heist
www.knokke-heist.be
Zwin Nature Reserve
www.zwin.be
Kusttram
www.dekusttram.be
RAMBLING IN THE ARDENNES
The Ardennes, in the south, cover Namur,
Luxembourg and Liège provinces and
offer outstanding beauty. The gentle but
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Weekend breaks
rugged countryside is full of heritage, history and charm. It can get touristy in
summer, but there’s always somewhere to
escape to, especially if you have a car.
If you go by rail, you'll have to choose a
base and travel out from there, but bear
in mind that the area is still rural.
GETTING OUT
Dinant is a good place for a day trip by
rail from Brussels. Overlooked by a hilltop citadel, it's a pretty location, though
there's not enough to do to stay too long.
Instrument inventor Adolphe Sax was
born here, and his house can still be seen.
St-Hubert also has a train station and is a
perfect base for cycling or walking outings. It’s the centre of hunt land, and the
restaurants specialise in game. The town
is surrounded by glorious countryside.
In the winter, parts of the Ardennes
become a ski resort. Belgium's highest
point, the 652m Baraque de Fraiture,
offers three alpine pistes. There are 11 in
the Ardennes, plus 62 pistes for ski de
fond.
Ardennes Region
www.catpw.be
Dinant
www.dinant-tourisme.be
mostly in small Walloon towns. The most
famous is in Binche, near Charleroi. It's
not the riotous explosion of music and
dance you'd see in Rio or New Orleans.
It’s based on centuries-old tradition and
strict rules. Only men born in Binche can
don the Gilles costume, which is are
beautifully outrageous and bears secret
symbols.
The festivities run for three days, each
with a different parade. The Gilles wear
different headdresses and masks. It all
culminates in a parade with boys throwing oranges into the crowd (these are not
missiles but gifts: don’t throw them
back!). The Binche carnival is recognised
as one of the world’s best - if not weirdest.
At the Malmédy carnival, men in plumed
black hats grab at onlookers with tonglike hape-tchâr (flesh snatchers). They
won't let go until you say ‘Sorry’.
Stavelot's carnival is renowned for its
participants dressed in white monks'
robes and hoods - the Blancs-Moussis. It’s
a bit more riotous than others, with confetti cannons, pigs' bladders and long
brooms - we'll leave the rest to your
imagination.
CARNIVAL TIME
Carnivals in Flanders tend to follow
German tradition. In Geraardsbergen on
the first Sunday of Lent is the
Tonnekensbrand. A procession of people
in white passes through town, and the
oldest citizen and the mayor are presented with a glass of wine swarming with
small live fish. Each drinks a mouthful
and swallows a fish. It's a funny old
world.
Carnival, an important part of Belgian
cultural heritage, takes place every Lent,
Binche carnival
www.carnivaldebinche.be
St-Hubert
www.sthubert.be
Ski info line
084 41 19 82
Really get ‘inside’ Belgium. Read Expatica’s articles in
the Life in Belgium channel at www.expatica.com
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Utilities and telephones
For utility connections, you’ll need a
Belgian ID, or a passport if you’ve just
arrived. Electricity and gas companies are
open to competition, but the Electrabel
and Sibelgaz monopolies remain the chief
providers, with subsidiaries providing
services in different regions. Water is sup-
plied regionally. Rubbish collection is
organised by the city and communes, and
usually done twice a week. Recycling is
getting more common, and there are special sacks for paper and other items.
Brussels has a mandatory white bag for
general household waste.
ANTWERP
BRUSSELS
GHENT
Electricity
IMEA
0800 65065
Electricity and gas
Sibelgaz
02 549 4100
Electricity and gas
IMEWO 0800 65 065
Gas
IGAO
0800 65065
Power failure
02 274 4066
Waste disposal
03 220 8211
Water
AWW
0800 57 089
Waste disposal
0800 98181
Water
IBDE/BIWM
02 518 8111
Power failure
078 353 500
Gas
ALG 04 254 4600
InterMosane
04 340 2792
Gas leaks
0800 65065
Power failure
078 78 78 00
Waste disposal
09 240 8111
Gas leaks
0800 87087
Water
TMVW 09 240 0211
Waste disposal
04 222 4422
LIÈGE
Water
SWDE 078 151 617
SETTLING IN
Gas Leaks
0800 65065
Gas leaks
02 274 4044
InterMosane
04 340 2792
Electricity
ALE 0800 57089
TELEPHONES
Belgacom
Special expatriate services
0800 32 005
General information (English)
0800 55 800
Fault reporting
0800 55 700
Billing
0800 55 900
X-BO
101 Avenue Lambeau
1200 Brussels
0800 95 575
www.x-bo.com
Telenet
015 33 30 00
www.telenet.be
Tele2
0800 16 026
www.tele2.be
Mobistar
0495 95 95 00
www.mobistar.be
Proximus
02 205 4000
www.proximus.be
COMPUTER SERVICES
Apoyar Networks UK Ltd
Bernadette Van Laer
PO BOX 100 01
3060 Bertem
Belgium
MOBILE PHONES
Base
0484 006 200
www.base.be
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Television and Internet
Around 95 percent of Belgian households
have cable television, which typically
offers more than 40 channels. If you want
more, there’s satellite TV. Though there are
30 cable operators in Belgium, many enjoy
monopolies in particular regions.
The choice of channels also varies by
region. The Dutch-speaking channels
transmit anglophone films, documentaries,
series, and sitcoms in their original language.
SETTLING IN
A television licence is required in Belgium;
you will receive a notice once your television service is installed.
Most cable TV companies also offer
Internet service via the same cable used
for your TV. You can connect to other
Internet service providers by phone using
either a slow modem or a fast ADSL connection.
MAJOR CABLE TV
AND INTERNET PROVIDERS
Brutélé
TV 02 500 991
Internet 0800 80025
www.brutele.be
Belgian
Kanaal 2
Ketnet/Canvas
VTM
VT4
VRT-TV1
Dutch
Nederland 1
Nederland 2
Nederland 3
International
BBC 1 and 2
BBC World
CNN International
CNBC
EuroNews
Eurosport
MTV Europe
Canal+ (requires a decoder; see
www.canalplus.be)
UPC
02 240 0800
www.upcbelgium.be
X-BO
0800 95 575
www.x-bo.com
SATELLITE TV PROVIDERS
Coditel
02 702 2030
www.coditel.be
Electrabel
078 78 0123
www.tvcablenet.be
Telenet
015 333 000
www.telenet.be
CHANNELS WITH
PROGRAMMES IN ENGLISH
Astra
+352 710 725 650
www.astra.lu
DIAL-UP AND ASDL
INTERNET PROVIDERS
Easynet
02 402 3700
www.easynet.be
Freeworld
071 81 6202
www.freeworld.be
Skynet Belgacom
0800 23 451
www.skynet.be
X-BO (UK Sky Digital)
0800 95 575
www.x-bo.com
Just arrived? You can meet people from all over the
world at Expat Night. Visit www.expatica.com/night
64
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
10. BE guide - settling_in.qxp
2005-08-18
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08/09/2005
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Libraries
Public libraries charge a small annual fee
(children join for free). Some have English
book sections and/or videos and DVDs.
Hoofdstedelijke Openbare Bibliotheek
Place de la Monnaie 6
02 229 1840
ANTWERP
Children's English Library
rue aux Bois 11
02 771 8359
02 548 2610
Antwerpen-Stedelijke Openbare Bibliotheken
Lange Nieuwstraat 105
03 204 7011
GHENT
BRUSSELS
Brussels Main Library (French and Dutch)
Rue des Riches-Claires 24
02 548 2610
Centrale Openbare Bibliotheek
Graaf Zan Vlaanderenplein 40
09 266 7000
LIÈGE
SETTLING IN
French Community Libraries
02 413 2234
www.cfwb.be
Post offices
Main post offices are generally open
Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, with
some open half the day on Saturdays. The
branch at Brussels' southern station (Gare
du Midi/Brussel-Zuid) is open 24 hours a
day.
The post office experience can be gruelling: branches are understaffed and
overly bureaucratic, and it can take an
age to reach one of the few open windows. Unfortunately, there are few other
places to buy stamps, though the main
post offices now have shops where you
can buy them without the queues.
When posting a letter, particularly overseas, be aware of its size and weight: it
should be within the strict limits for each
postal tariff, and also the priority system
(first class) for domestic and international
posting. Information, including details
about prices, sizes and weights, is on the
post office website (in English):
http://pv.en.bpg.post.be.
66
Bibliothèque Centrale Chiroux-Croisiers
rue des Croisiers 15
4000 Liège, 04 232 8686
MAJOR POST OFFICES
ANTWERP
Antwerpen 14
Pelikaanstraat 16
03 229 0380
BRUSSELS
Bruxelles 1
Boulevard Anspach 1
02 226 9700
GHENT
Ghent 2
Lange Kruisstraat 55
09 269 2750
LIÈGE
Liège 20
Rue de la Régence 26
04 223 4084
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10. BE guide - settling_in.qxp
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08/09/2005
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SETTLING IN
Embassies
68
ARGENTINA
FRANCE
NEW ZEALAND
02 647 7812
02 548 8711
02 512 1040
AUSTRALIA
GERMANY
NORWAY
02 286 0500
02 774 1911
02 646 0780
AUSTRIA (TRADE)
GREECE
POLAND
02 289 0700
02 648 3302
02 771 6815
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
HUNGARY
PORTUGAL
02 644 2008
02 343 6790
02 533 0700
BRAZIL
IRELAND
ROMANIA
02 640 2015
02 230 5337
02 345 2680
BULGARIA
INDIA
RUSSIA
02 374 5963
02 640 9140
02 374 6886
CANADA
INDONESIA
SLOVAKIA
02 741 0611
02 771 2014
02 346 4342
CHILE
ISRAEL
SLOVENIA
02 280 1620
02 373 5500
02 646 8444
CHINA
ITALY
SOUTH AFRICA
02 771 3309
02 643 3850
02 285 4400
CROATIA
JAPAN
SPAIN
02 644 6510
02 511 2307
02 230 0340
CYPRUS
LATVIA
SWEDEN
02 735 3510
02 344 1682
02 289 5760
CZECH REPUBLIC
LITHUANIA
SWITZERLAND
02 641 8930
02 772 2750
02 285 4350
CYPRUS
LUXEMBOURG
TURKEY
02 735 3510
02 737 5700
02 513 4095
DENMARK
MACEDONIA
UKRAINE
02 233 0900
02 732 9108
02 379 2100
EGYPT
MALTA
UNITED KINGDOM
02 663 5800
02 343 0195
02 287 6343/6231
ESTONIA
MEXICO
UNITED STATES
02 779 0755
02 629 0777
02 508 2111
FINLAND
THE NETHERLANDS
02 287 1212
02 679 1711
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
p69.qxp
2005-09-14
22:51
Page 59
Need an office?
move in today !
Instant offices
Meeting rooms
• Fully-equipped offices
• Prime locations
• State-of-the-art IT
High speed access to our high-tech
network and to the internet
Protection of your valuable data
(daily backup, firewall…)
Customized headquarter access
(leased lines, VPN, ISDN…)
• Multilingual support staff
• Flexible terms
• Fully-equipped meeting
rooms with audio visual
equipment
Virtual offices
NCI Business Center
Park Léopold
(European Parliament)
NCI Business Center
(Louise Tower)
Locations
Brussels
• Avenue Louise 149 (Louise Tower)
• Rue Wiertz 50
(European Parliament)
Brussels Airport
• Culliganlaan 1b (Diegem)
South of Brussels (Wavre - LLN)
• Avenue Pasteur 6 (Collines de Wavre)
• Business addresses
• Personalized answering services
NCI Business Center
Twin Squares
(Diegem)
NCI Business Center
(Collines de Wavre)
www.nci.be
TM
Member of the Belgian Office Business Centers
Association and the Locartis network
The world is your office
Tel.: +32 (0)2 535 75 11
Fax: +32 (0)2 535 75 75
e-mail: [email protected]
Brussels matters
For an independent view of the EU read European Voice
The leading newspaper for:
the best EU jobs
top EU-related courses
seventh annual EU Studies Fair (Brussels, 18 February 2006)
EV Subscriptions: www.europeanvoice.com/subscribe
EU Jobs: www.europeanvoice.com/eujobs
EU Studies: www.europeanvoice.com/eustudies
11. BE guide - transport.qxd
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Public transport
Belgium has a reasonably good public transport system. Here is a basic guide
to local transport, national and international trains, airports and taxis.
ANTWERP
The public transport system, run by De
Lijn, is made up of trams and buses, with
an underground tram line running
through the city and under the Schelde.
Multiple-ride and season tickets can be
bought at De Lijn booths, some
newsagents, banks and train stations.
Single tickets can be bought from the tram
or bus driver, though they’re more expensive.
BRUSSELS
Transport in the city is run by MIVB/STIB;
outside the centre, buses are managed by
De Lijn in Flanders and TEC in Wallonia.
Tickets are not interchangeable.
In central Brussels, buy multiple-ride and
season tickets from MIVB/STIB offices at
the metro station and special booths
around the city. Only single tickets can be
bought from bus and tram drivers.
Multiple-ride tickets can be bought for five
or 10 journeys, and like single tickets, they
must be time-stamped in the orange
DOMESTIC TRAINS
The dense train network in Belgium is
state-owned and operated by
SNCB/NMBS. For the most part it is efficient and inexpensive.
Booking is best done before boarding or
on the Internet; it is possible to buy a ticket from the conductor, but they charge full
price. There are various ways of reducing
costs, such as the B-rail pass, and making
return trips at weekends, which is much
cheaper.
Some main lines will soon introduce ticket
machines on trains to ease the burden at
the oft-understaffed ticket offices. The
website is an excellent resource and has
information in English.
ANTWERP
GHENT
INTERNATIONAL TRAINS
De Lijn Antwerpen
070 220 200
www.delijn.be
De Lijn (Oost-Vlaanderen)
070 220 200
www.delijn.be
SNCB/NMBS International
02 528 2828
www.b-rail.be
BRUSSELS
LIÈGE
MIVB/STIB
02 515 2000
www.stib.irisnet.be
TEC Liège
04 361 9444
www.tec-liege-verviers.be
Eurostar
02 528 2828
www.eurostar.com
De Lijn
070 220 200
www.delijn.be
DOMESTIC TRAINS
TGV
02 528 2828
www.tgv.com
SNCB/NMBS Domestic
02 555 2555
www.b-rail.be
Thalys
02 528 2828
www.thalys.com
TEC
04 361 9444
70
machines on board. You can then travel
anywhere within the hour, on bus, tram or
metro, but you must stamp again each
time you change.
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
11. BE guide - transport.qxp
2005-09-14
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Page 71
As from:
per day
Special rates for expats
with Hertz
As an expatriate you don’t always have a car at your disposal.
Well, why not consider renting a car?
For expats, Hertz has special price offers
(www.hertz.be/expats) as of € 20 per day for a
cat. A (similar to Ford Fiesta). The car shown is
a cat S (Chrysler Voyager Stow'n Go) available
as from € 78.50 per day. You don’t have to worry
about anything: Hertz can satisfy nearly all your
wishes: do you want a car with automatic gears?
Do you want 4 or 7 seats or 4 seats and a lot of
storage capacity? Or do you prefer to have a
GPS system, so that you don’t lose your way in
your new hometown? Even child seats are at
your disposal, and of course, air conditioning.
For information and Reservation
Website: www.hertz.be/expats - Phone: 02 / 717 32 01
Simply quote: CDP 618521
08/09/2005
15:44
Page 72
Public transport
Brussels
INTERNATIONAL TRAINS
Public transport from Brussels Airport consists of trains and buses. The Airport
Express train runs four times an hour at
peak times, dropping to twice hourly on
Sundays and bank holidays. A number 12
express bus runs every 30 minutes between
the airport and Rond-Point Schuman. A taxi
ride into town is reasonably quick but
expensive at around EUR 40.
Belgium is the rail crossroads of Europe,
with trains coming into Brussels from all
directions.
The Gare du Midi/Zuid is the terminus for
Eurostar trains coming from London and
Lille, French TGV trains, and the
Belgian/Dutch jointly owned Thalys, which
connects France, Holland and Germany.
You can also take conventional EuroCity
trains to most European cities. Bookings for
the high-speed train services can be made
on the Belgian railways website.
If you want to drive to England, it's a short
trip to Calais for the Eurostar shuttle.
AIRPORTS
The country's main international airport is
Brussels Airport Zaventem. Charleroi, also
known as Brussels South, is used mainly
by Ryanair.
There are small provincial airports in
Antwerp and Liège, used mostly by cityhopper planes.
Antwerp
Antwerp International Airport
03 285 6500
www.antwerpairport.be
From Brussels South Charleroi, Ryanair
offers a bus into Brussels for each of its
flights, which takes around an hour to get
into town. The dropoff point is Gare du
Midi/Zuid. Taxis are an expensive option at
around EUR 80. Be aware that parking
restrictions are currently in place while a
new terminal is being built.
Brussels Airport Zaventem
02 753 3913
Flight information 0900 70000
www.brusselsairport.be
Brussels South Charleroi Airport
071 25 1211
www.charleroi-airport.com
Liège
Liège Airport
04 234 8411
www.liegeairport.com
TAXIS
In general, you cannot hail a taxi on the
street in Belgium: instead, they wait at
special ranks, or you can phone one to
come and get you. All taxis are metered
and have different tariffs for the city centre and outskirts. All information, including the driver number, should be clearly
displayed inside the taxi, often hanging
on the back of the front passenger seat.
Tips are included in the meter price.
72
Brussels Region Taxi Information
02 204 1404
Antwerp Taxi
03 238 3838
V-Tax NV (Ghent )
09 225 2525
Noveltax (Liège)
04 252 5252
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Driving and parking
Driving in Belgium can be an experience, to say the least. Here’s a quick
trip through licences, taxes, speed limits, traffic information and parking.
DRIVING LICENCE
Citizens of EU member countries do not
need to obtain Belgian licences. Other foreigners residing here permanently can use
an international driving licence at first but
should apply for a Belgian one on receiving an identity card. A Belgian licence will
be given automatically to anyone holding
one from any EU member state, Israel,
Japan, Malta, Norway, Pakistan,
Philippines, Switzerland or the USA.
vendor but the Administration des
Contributions Directes.
ROAD TAX
How much road tax you pay annually is
also based on the power of your engine as
well as whether your car is used to transport passengers or merchandise.
INSURANCE
For information about insurance, see p. 26.
SPEED LIMITS
Speed limits are 30/50kph in built-up
areas, 70/90kph out of town, and 120kph
on motorways and four-lane roads.
REGISTRATION TAX
As you enter any town or village, the
speed limit comes into effect as you pass
the white sign bearing the place's name.
This costs EUR 62 for a number plate,
which stays with you, not the car. You get
the rear plate in the post and must go to a
shop to have the front one made!
Radar speed traps are common, particularly on the motorways.
An application must be made at the local
town hall, usually at the same time as you
register for residency. You must bring your
current driver's licence, two passport-type
photographs and a residence permit.
Expect several weeks' delay before receiving the Belgian licence.
TRAFFIC INFORMATION
CIRCULATION TAX
This is a one-off payment made when you
buy a car; the amount is based on the
power of the engine. You do not pay the
The number for all of Belgium is 0900 10
280. The line is open seven days a week
from 6am to 11pm with information on
conditions all over Belgium and abroad.
PARKING
Pay for parking in town centres by using
a meter or - in 'blue zones' -a disc showing your time of arrival, which you can
buy from the police, garages and tobacconists. To use a meter, buy a ticket from
a machine and place it on the dashboard
so the hours of validity are visible.
On some roads parking is on one side of
the road or the other only, depending on
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
the day. Also watch for temporary signs
indicating that a certain road needs to be
kept clear for road works or the like. If
you disobey, your car will be towed.
Certain busy streets are marked with a
red triangle (‘Axe Rouge/Ax Rode’),
meaning parking is not allowed from 7am
to 9.30am and from 4pm to 6pm. A yellow
line on the kerb indicates no parking at
any time.
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Groups and clubs
Groups, clubs and societies are a great way to meet other expats.
Here is a selection of just a few in Belgium that you could try out.
ARTS AND THEATRE
Antwerp Decorative &
Fine Arts Society
http://home.tiscali.be/adfas
Trudy Debise 03 646 0717
British American
Theatrical Society (BATS)
www.bats-antwerp.org
[email protected]
LISTINGS AND INDEX
American Theatre
Company
http://atc-brussels.com
[email protected]
Art Perspectives
International
www.artperspectives.org
[email protected]
Bridfas, England's National
Decorative & Fine Arts
Society
[email protected]
02 725 7851
Brussels Historical
Association
010 84 4370
Brussels Shakespeare
Society
www.shaksoc.com
[email protected]
English Theatre Brussels
(comedy club)
http://users.skynet.be/am26
9035/ecc
[email protected]
Irish Theatre Group
www.irishtheatregroup.be
[email protected]
74
EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS:
AMERICAN
American Belgian
Association
[email protected]
03 232 9216
American Women's Club of
Antwerp
www.awcantwerp.org
membership@awcantwerp.
org
American-Belgian
Association
03 226 4936
American Club of Brussels
www.americanclubbrussels.org
[email protected]
American Women's Club of
Brussels
www.awcb.org/club/awcb
[email protected]
02 358 4753
EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS:
BRITISH
Antwerp British
Community Association
http://members.lycos.co.uk/
ABCA
[email protected]
Antwerp British Women
www.antwerpbritishwomen.org
[email protected]
Royal British Legion
02 767 9090
British & Commonwealth
Women's Club
www.bcwcb.org
[email protected]
British Charitable Fund
[email protected]
02 767 7103
Brussels British
Community Association
www.britishinbrussels.com
Royal Belgo British Union
02 672 1809
Welsh Society of Brussels
[email protected]
02 299 5822
EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS:
OTHER
Antwerp Indian
Association
03 232 1910
Antwerp International
Christian Women's Club
03 685 3194
Antwerpse Kring voor
Scandinavië
http://users.belgacom.net/
aks
[email protected]
International Women's
Contact Antwerp
[email protected]
0479 227 417
Irish Club of Belgium
www.irishclub.be
[email protected]
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Groups and clubs
Israelitische Gemeente van
Antwerpen
[email protected]
03 232 0187
Australia Society
www.aussieworld.com/
ausoc
[email protected]
Canadian Women's Club of
Belgium
02 741 0611
Cercle Ben Gourion
[email protected]
02 648 1859
International Christian
Fellowship
www.brussels-vineyard.net
[email protected]
02 734 9444
Professional Women
International
www.pwi.be
[email protected]
Suomi-Klubi asbl
(Finnish club)
www.suomi-klubi.com
Svenska Klubben
(Swedish club)
www.svenskaklubben.be
Women's International
Club Brussels
www.wicbrussels.com
Friends International
www.friends.easynet.be
[email protected]
MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE
Lions Club of Belgium
www.lions.be
[email protected]
The Swinging Posse &
Clover Leaf Clogging Club
(square dancing)
03 238 6885
Brussels Choral Society
www.brusselschoralsociety.com
[email protected]
Rotary International
www.rotary.belux.org
[email protected]
02 420 3500
Rotary Club Liege
04 222 1810
Brussels Light Opera
Company
www.bloc-brussels.be
[email protected]
TRAVEL AND RECREATION
Brussels Madrigal Singers
www.brusselsmadrigals.be
02 772 3715
ARMED SERVICES
International Chorale of
Brussels
02 653 6411
SOCIAL
Brussels Contact
(international singles'
social group)
010 22 9149
Brussels Hash House
Harriers
www.bmph3.com
0497 57 06 96
Caledonian Society
www.calsoc.be
02 653 1135
Eurotravel Club
Ray Walker 02 285 7799
Royal Naval Association
[email protected]
04 370 1383
YOUTH
Belgian Scouts
www.lesscouts.be
02 508 1200
LISTINGS AND INDEX
English-Speaking Union of
Belgium
www.esu.org
02 375 1432
[email protected]
015 715 767
Boy Scouts of America
http://tac-bsa.org
British Guides Association
02 657 7845
Brussels Youth Theatre
Society
[email protected]
02 675 5464
First Brussels British Scouts
www.firstbrussels.be
For a complete list of expat groups and clubs
in Belgium, visit www.expatica.com/belgium
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
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08/09/2005
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Religious services
ANTWERP
Antwerp International
Protestant Church
03 644 2046
Church of England &
Episcopalian Anglican
Church of St Boniface
03 239 3339
LISTINGS AND INDEX
International Baptist
Church of Antwerp
03 232 8047
International Baptist
Church
www.ibcbrussels.org
02 731 9900
International Christian
Fellowship
02 734 9444
International Protestant
Church
www.ipcbrussels.org
02 673 0581
Our Lady of Mercy Parish
www.acl.be/Localinfo/
Useful/parish.htm
02 354 5343
All Saints Episcopal
Church
www.episcopalchurch.org/
europe/waterloo
02 384 3556
Sacre Coeur Roman
Catholic Church
02 720 1970
Beth Hillel Synagogue
02 332 2528
Cornerstone International
Church
www.cornerstone.be
02 657 2253
East Brussels Church of
God (Protestant)
02 767 9129
Holy Trinity Anglican
Church
www.htbrussels.com
02 511 7183
First Church of Christ
Scientist Brussels
02 647 6456
GHENT
St John's Anglican Church
09 222 3659
LIÈGE
English Speaking Church
of Liège
085 844 482
For updates to this list.
please see
www.expatica.com/belgium
St Andrew's Church of
Scotland
http://www.churchofscotland.be/index.html
02 672 4056
St Anthony's Roman
Catholic Parish
02 720 1970
St Nicholas Roman
Catholic Church
02 511 8178
St Paul's Tervuren
Anglican Church
www.stpaulstervuren.be
02 767 3435
Synagogue de Bruxelles
02 512 4334
Want to meet other expats? Try Expatica’s popular
Expat Nights. See www.expatica.com/night
76
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Phone book decoder
Looking for a product or service? Here is a translation, in French and Dutch, of
the most common Yellow Pages subject headings an expat might come across.
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
GARDEN CENTRE
Comptable
Boekhouder
Hôpital pour enfants
Kinderziekenhuis
Centre de Jardinage
Tuincentrum
AIRLINE
DENTIST
HAIRDRESSER
Compagnie Aérienne
Luchtvaartmaatschappij
Dentiste
Tandarts
Salon de Coiffure
Kapper
BABY GOODS
DEPARTMENT STORE
HEALTH CLUB
Articles pour Bébés
Baby artikelen
Grand Magasin
Warenhuis
Centre de Fitnesse
Fitness Centrum
BEAUTICIAN
DO-IT-YOURSELF
HOUSEWARES
Institut de Beauté
Schoonheidsspecialist
Bricolage
Doe-het-zelf
Articles de Ménage et de
Cuisine, Bazars
Huishoud Artikelen
BOOKSHOP
DOCTOR
Librairie
Boekhandel
Médecin
Huisarts/arts specialist
BUILDER
DRUGSTORE
Entrepreneur - Bâtiment
Aannemer
Droguerie
Drogisterij
CAR DEALER
DRY CLEANER
Concessionaire-Auto
Auto-Dealer
Nettoyage à sec
Stomerij
CAR RENTALS
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Location-Auto
Auto Verhuur
Electroménager
Huishoud Apparaten en
Artikelen
MOVING COMPANIES
EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
REALTOR
Bureau de Placement
Arbeidsbureau (government)
Intérimaire
Uitzendbureau (private)
Agences Immobilières
Makelaar
INSURANCE
Assurance
Verzekering
LANGUAGE SCHOOL
Ecole de Langues
Talenonderwijs
LAWYER
Avocat/Notaire
Advocaat
LISTINGS AND INDEX
ACCOUNTANT
Déménagement
Verhuizingen
CAR REPAIR
Garage
Garage
CHEMIST (PRESCRIPTIVE)
Pharmacie
Apotheek
CHEMIST (OTHER ITEMS)
Droguerie
Drogisterij
CHILDREN'S CLOTHING
Vêtements pour enfants
Kinderkleding
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
TAX CONSULTANT
EYE DOCTOR
Conseils fiscaux
Belastingadviseur
Optometriste
Oogarts
TRAVEL AGENT
FURNITURE
Agence de Voyage
Reisburo
Meubles
Meubelen
77
08/09/2005
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LISTINGS AND INDEX
Weights and measures
WOMEN’S CLOTHING
MEN’S SHIRTS
US
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
US
14½
15
15½
16
16½
17
17½
UK
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BE
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
UK
14½
15
15½
16
16½
17
17½
WOMEN’S SHOES
MEN’S SHOES
US
5½
6
6½
7
7½
8
US
8
8½
9
9½
10
UK
3½
4
4½
5
5½
6
BE
36.5
37
37.5
38
38.5
39
UK
7½
8
8½
9
9½
BE
37
38
39
41
42
43
44
BE
40
42
43
44
45
MEN’S CLOTHING
MEN’S SWEATERS
US
36
38
40
42
44
US
small
medium
large
x-large
UK
36
38
40
42
44
BE
46
48
50
52
54
UK
34
36-38
40
42-44
BE
44
46-48
50
52-54
LINEAR MEASURES
1 centimetre
2.54 centimetres
30.05 centimetres
91.4 centimetres
1 meter
1 kilometer (1000 m)
1.609344 kilometers
LIQUID MEASURES
DRY MEASURES
0.39 inch
1 inch
1 foot
1 yard
39.37 inches
0.62137 miles
1 mile
g
30
115
170
225
450
ml
fl oz
30
60
150
240
300
450
900
1000
1
2
5
8
10
15
32
34
oz
1
4
6
8
16 (1lb)
OVEN TEMPERATURES
OVEN
C
very cool
cool
warm
moderate
fairly hot
hot
130
150
170
180
200
220+
THERMOMETER
F
GAS MARK
260
300
325
350
380
460
0.5-1
2
3
5
5-6
7-8
BODY TEMPERATURE
C
F
C
F
25
23
20
18
15
13
10
8
5
3
0
-5
-10
-15
77
73
68
64
59
55
50
46
41
37
32
23
14
5
36.0
36.5
37.0
37.5
38.0
38.5
39.0
39.5
40.0
40.5
41.0
96.8
97.7
98.6
99.5
100.4
101.3
102.2
103.1
104.0
104.9
105.8
Keep up to date with the Belgian news every
weekday — in English! Visit www.expatica.com
78
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
08/09/2005
16:01
Page 79
Emergency numbers
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
EU-wide emergency line,
all services
112
Fire or ambulance
100
Red Cross ambulance
105
Police
101
HELPLINES
110
Télé-Accueil
(counselling - French)
107
Tele - Onthaal
(counselling - Flemish)
106
Infor-Drogues
02 227 5252
Suicide counselling
(French)
0800 32123
Suicide counselling
(Flemish)
02 649 9555
MEDICAL SERVICES
Anti-poison centre
070 245 245
Chemists (on duty)
0900 10 500
Doctors (on duty)
Brussels
Rest of Belgium
02 479 1818
100
Dentists (on duty)
Brussels
Rest of Belgium
02 426 10 26
100
Vets (on duty)
Brussels
02 479 9990
Animal ambulance
02 427 4275
LISTINGS AND INDEX
Child Focus
(abuse and missing)
OTHER SERVICES
Bank card lost or stolen
070 344 344
English-speaking Community Help
Service in Brussels
A volunteer counselling service for
emotional problems and a daytime
advice service..
Help Line
www.chsbelgium.org
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
02 648 4014
79
14/09/2005
15:46
Page 80
Advertisers index
A
M
AC Montessori
Antwerp International School
Apoyar Networks
Art of Living
31
35
51
9
MaasMechelen Village
Macnash Associates
MAP Relocations
7
35
31
17
N
B
Boston University Brussels
British International School of Brussels
British School of Brussels
Brussels Business Flats
C
11
Inside Back Cover
19
49
D
DaVinci International School
De Rand
LISTINGS AND INDEX
Montessori House Belgium
Montgomery Hotel Brussels
33
21
NCI Business Center
NOA Real Estate
69
17
O
Caroline Driesen
Ceran Lingua International
Citadines
Corpus Pilates
35
41
Open University
O’Reillys
39
57
P
Personal Trainer Belgium
Pierpont Golf Club
PPP Healthcare
49
67
45
R
E
Euro*MBA Desk Open Universiteit Nederland
Euromut
European Parliament Sports Centre
European Voice
EZ-Relocation
41
47
49
69
9
F
Fondation 9
Fortis
41
3
H
Rob
55
S
SAAB Beherman European
St John's International School Waterloo
Soul Resto
Back Cover
37
57
U
United Business Institutes
39
V
Hertz
Homepost Furniture Rental
71
19
Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School
7
W
I
Immo 2002
ING
International Montessori School
17
25
33
Wellness Paradise
29
59
51
X
X-BO
XP Relocation
K
KBC
Kitty O Sheas
53
Inside Front Cover
11
65
Inside Front Cover
Z
Ziegler
9
L
Le Living Room
59
To advertise in next year’s guide, please contact
David McGowan at [email protected]
80
WWW.EXPATICA.COM
2005-09-14
17:12
Page 2
2005-08-17
15:28
Page 5

1. BE guide - covers.qxp 2005-08-17 14:32 Page 3

Transcription

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