The Best Countries to Live In For You : Top Expatriate Destinations : Living in Belgium

Living in Belgium

Living in Belgium is a popular choice for many expats. It is a relatively small but densely populated country with an estimated population of just over 10 million people. The country consists of three separate and almost autonomous regions each of which have different languages;

• Flanders is situated in the North of the country and is the location of the majority of Belgium’s industrial resources. People here predominantly speak Dutch/Flemish. Approximately 58% of the population resides here.
• Wallonia is the southern French-speaking region of the country and approximately 11% of the countries inhabitants can be found here.
• Brussels, the capital and home of the European Union, is official recognized as bilingual.

Belgium is rich in history as evidenced by beautiful buildings and works of art. It is also famed for its cuisine and many expats enjoy sampling the chocolate, waffles and delicious moules frites. A perfect accompa niment to these delicacies is Belgium beer with literally hundreds of different types being available throughout Belgium's major cities.

The majority of people living in Belgium practice Roman Catholicism (75%) with the remaining 25% being Protestant or following other religions.

Belgium as an expatriate destination

The high standards of living in Belgium coupled with excellent health care, education and public facilities have made Belgium a popular destination for expats. The community of expats living in Belgium is currently estimated at approximately 750,000, almost a tenth of the population.

Belgium does experience difficulties with illegal immigrants and for this reason immigration laws have been tightened in recent years. EU citizens are able to enter and reside in the country without any difficulties but non-EU citizens may face significant challenges basing themselves here as an expatriate.

Cost of living in Belgium

Although the standard of living in Belgium is very hight, this is accompanied with a relatively high cost of living. In the 2011 Mercer cost of living Brussels did not feature in the top 50 most expensive cities in the world. For expatriates relocating from Europe it may offer a cheaper alternative than their home country and the fact that the currency of Belgium is the Euro entails that expats living in the country can benefit from the strength of the Euro when traveling throughout Europe and abroad. For full details of the cost of living in Belgium, please see our international relocation guides. They contain detailed information about living costs across different types of lifestyles and living options and because our guides are written by expats who live and work in the cities, you can be assured that the information is accurate.

Language

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French).

Climate

People living in Belgium can expect temperate conditions with mild winters and cool summers that are rainy, humid and cloudy.

Expat job and career opportunities

Nationals of the European Union have the right to live and work in Belgium with the only requirement being to register for a residence permit once a job has been located.

Unfortunately it is much more difficult for non-EU nationals to find work as potential employers are required to gain the approval of the local labor office before they can hire someone from abroad.

Belgium is a good destination for those looking for work in public affairs or social policy. However, many people in the country are bilingual and if you are only able to speak one language you may not be able to compete with other applicants. Opportunities also exist in high skill areas such as engineering and computing where labor shortages still exist, but again, you will be expected to be fluent in at least two languages.

Key facts every expat should know about Belgium

1. Many employers pay a 13th month ‘bonus’ to their employee, which is usually awarded at the end of the financial year.
2. Many rental properties in Belgium are not “equipped”. If you lease one of these you will be required to provide your own appliances and, in some cases, even cupboards.
3. Leases in Belgium must be registered with the local office of the Receiver of Registrations, Ministry of Finance within four months of being signed. If the registration is late you will be fined.
4. In Belgium you are required to have all foreign documents legalized. You will be expected to get a numbered and dated certificate that is known as an Apostille whenever you submit any form of official paperwork that originated outside Belgium.
5. All residents of Belgium over the age of 12 are required to carry their identity cards with them at all times. If you are asked to produce your card and are unable to do so you can be placed under administrative arrest for up to 12 hours.

Living in Belgium: Brussels City Guide

Expat Info Desk currently has a city guide available for living in Brussels. This exhaustive guide contains everything you need to know about relocating to this Belgian city and will assist you to:

• relocate efficiently and effectively with minimum stress.
• settle in to your new life quickly and easily and find the help and assistance you need, when you need it.
• identify areas to live in that suit your lifestyle and budget.
• find the right places to meet like-minded people.
• find schools that are suitable for your children and their learning needs.
• ensure that your family get the most of their experiences abroad.
• prepare for the new culture in advance and avoid any cultural traps.
• deal with any transition challenges.
• cut through red tape and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.

Unlike a book, the guides are regularly reviewed and updated in order to ensure that the information is accurate and reliable and because the guides are written by real expats who live and work in Brussels, you can be assured that you are accessing the information that you need as written by people who really are in the know.

Your only expat guide to living in Belgium; Feel at home abroad – Fast!