Our guide was written by Brighton Watambwa and last published on Wednesday 27th June 2012.
Given the number of European institutes, NATO, NGOs, lobby groups and countless other international organizations in Brussels, it is no wonder there are so many expats living in Brussels, Belgium. Home to one of the highest concentrations of embassies and consulates in the world, Brussels is a city that expats find addictive. Most come on assignment and placements while others come to further their careers, many of them never leave. Inevitably they meet and make great friends, both local and other, and always keep Brussels, and the Belgian culture, in their hearts.
In many ways the spirit and resilience of the people of Brussels is mirrored in their seemingly reserved nature. Once you are able to break through the tough exterior, however, you will be pleasantly surprised by a people with an enchanting fascination with the world of comics, fine food and beer. More importantly, they appreciate a truly high standard of living with strong family bonds and an appreciation of the fine things in life. The fact that the single, most photographed item in Belgium is a statue/fountain of a naked little boy's public indiscretion (Mannekin Pis) goes a long way to explaining the sense of humor and love of art that typifies Brussels and Belgium in general.
The international relocation guide to Brussels contains practical information on all of the aspects of living in Brussels, from the move itself to the endless paperwork that typifies living in the bureaucratic capital of Europe. In addition to the particulars of planning the relocation and settling in, there is invaluable information on settling into your new life, from finding the best international schools for your children through to where to spend your weekends.
The expat guide to Brussels covers a wide range of topics that are useful to anyone emigrating to, or living in, Brussels-
The relocation guide to Brussels contains detailed information about the type of visa you will require, what type of work it will allow you to engage in and how to navigate the application and renewal processes. We’ll give you the knowledge you need to cut through the bureaucracy and remain stress free when moving overseas.
The Expat Info Desk expat guide to living in Brussels contains detailed information about popular living areas in and around Brussels. We identify popular expat living venues to suit your lifestyle and budget and present detailed information about the surrounding infrastructure, schools, educational facilities and other local amenities.
Expats can find Brussels a little schizophrenic at first. From the confusing scatter of different languages from around Europe and the world, spoken at any time around the city to the often weird traffic rules and the dual language (French/Dutch) names of most neighbourhoods, street-signs, squares and train stations -- just about everything, including the extremely variable weather, is bewildering. Our relocation guide can make everything just that little bit simpler, so that you can navigate the infrastructure with confidence.
Brussels is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, which enjoys unrivalled opportunities for leisure and entertainment. The Expat Info Desk expat guide to Brussels contains everything you need to know about popular places to eat, drink and be entertained. We point you in the right direction for meeting like-minded people and help you to ensure that you get the most from your experiences when living in Brussels.
Moving to a country with which you are unfamiliar can be very daunting. We provide you with practical information about how you can stay safe and avoid any potential dangers. We also provide in-depth listings and contact details for all major health service providers and hospitals, thus ensuring that you have all the information you need at your fingertips.
Making yourself truly at home means understanding and fitting in with the locals. We provide an in-depth view of languages, traditions and cultural customs of the people of Belgium and Brussels. Let us help you to prepare for life in Brussels and avoid any cultural traps that may offend.
Our relocation guide to living in Brussels is written by an expatriate who has first hand experience of everything Brussels has to offer. The most effective way to make the most of living in Brussels is to be prepared and our international relocation guide can help you to do just that by offering real information and facts. We anticipate that the Expat Info Desk guide to Brussels will become an indispensable resource from the beginning of your journey through all the stops along the way.
Our guide was written by Brighton Watambwa and last published on Wednesday 27th June 2012.
| 01 | Learn French or Dutch, especially if you are coming long-term. If you have children this is even more important and will assist them to integrate. |
| 02 | Learn the Belgian rules of the road as they are a little different to other places and can be complicated. |
| 03 | Join expat groups by all means but remember that Belgians do exist too, and many expats make the mistake of never getting to know them properly. |
| 04 | Make the most of summer. Winters are wet, cold and gloomy and involve largely indoor activities. |
| 05 | Bring as many personal documents as possible (birth, driving, examination certificates), they will help in many different bureaucratic situations. |
Brussels is the location for 40,000 EU employees, 4,000 NATO employees and hosts about 300 permanent representations: lobby groups, embassies and press corporations.
