Recently moved to Brussels, Belgium

[MCovert]

Hello! Stumbled across this website while looking around the internet for expat information. I recently moved from the United States to Brussels to work for one year. I don't speak French or Dutch (...yet) only English.

This is my first time living abroad and I am just looking to meet other expats for conversation or to get some advice, tips, etc, about living abroad. I guess I'm finding the whole experience slightly overwhelming and I am just looking for other Americans (or other English speakers) who can tell me about the city and give me some advice on how life works in Brussels. If you have any questions feel free to ask me! Thanks!

[Bevdeforges]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

If you're looking for English language companions, you can always try the American Women's Club in Brussels (Welcome to AWCB) - even if you aren't female, they sometimes will take "associate members" or can put you onto other expat groups in the area. They do have lots of information to help get you settled in and they publish a book in English for newcomers to Brussels.

So what are you doing in Brussels? Working for a private company or are you one of those "international civil servants" (of which there are loads in the Brussels area)?
Cheers,
Bev

[MCovert]

Thanks for the information Bevdeforges, I will have to look into that. I moved to Belgium to work for Euroclear which is a securities depository, so for a private financial company. I have been here for a week now (living in a hotel while I find an apartment, bleh!) and it has been very nice. However it is rather isolating, if you know what I mean. Not really speaking the language, having my own place, and moving so far from all that is familiar and whatnot.

Thank you very much for the information! That should definitely help ease my transition into life here!

[synthia]

There is a timeline for the new expat experience, and a lot of other new experiences in life. The first three weeks are the honeymoon period, and it is all exciting and new. At the end of three weeks, a downward trend begins, bottoming out when you have been there about three months. At this point you have uncovered most of the problems in your new situation, but have not yet developed coping skills. Never make any decisions at this point. Then, imperceptibly, things will start improving and when you have been there about six months, you will be doing some mundane thing like shopping, and realize that you are feeling comfortable and have pretty much adapted.

It helps to know that this will happen, and that everyone goes through it to some extent, and that there is an end to it.

[MCovert]

Thanks synthia. It will be helpful knowing what is coming to a certain extent so that I can try to manage it better. Since I am currently living out of a hotel while I find an apartment I feel like that has caused me to skip the "honeymoon" phase and go right into sort of a panic mode. It feels very strange to being living in a hotel and rather uncomfortable to be honest.

Either way, thank you very much for the information and I will try to always keep it in mind when I feel like things are getting rough.

[synthia]

My other standard advice is that, at first, accept all invitations. It's a lot easier and more natural to gradually narrow a circle of social contacts than it is to widen it. At first you are a new and maybe exotic creature, and people will go out of their way to include you in things, then over time, the novelty wears off. And if you have been saying no to the drinks after work and going bowling or whatever, the invitations will quickly fade away.

[gerrit]

I was just browsing about any topics about my native country, quite surprised that the most recent topic was several months old especially when Brussels is full of expats (and the other cities as well to other extent)

If you have any questions about life in Belgium, please do ask. Brussels is a nice city, it is very openminded and liberal compared to the rest of Belgium and that is of course partially thanks to its cosmopolitan character. It is the only real international city in Belgium, by that I mean the only really cosmopolitan city that also thinks and lives a cosmopolitan way. If you have any questions, please do ask, I'd be happy to help.

[dewyn]

I am thinkin of moving to Belgium. Perhaps You Gerrit and MCovert could help me out also. MCovert more as he's done the actuall transaction from Canada to Belgium. I'm just wondering what kind of work, places to live, expenses and other such things to worry about when moving abroad. I am only 20 but am looking for something new. I've visited there when younger and can fluently speak french. I also have family that lives there and heritage (grandparents were born in Belgium). So I really want to move there since well Canada isn't for me really.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[gerrit]

Originally Posted by dewyn

I am thinkin of moving to Belgium. Perhaps You Gerrit and MCovert could help me out also. MCovert more as he's done the actuall transaction from Canada to Belgium. I'm just wondering what kind of work, places to live, expenses and other such things to worry about when moving abroad. I am only 20 but am looking for something new. I've visited there when younger and can fluently speak french. I also have family that lives there and heritage (grandparents were born in Belgium). So I really want to move there since well Canada isn't for me really.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Well, I have left Belgium 4.5 years ago so things may have changed somewhat but generally some advice...

If you speak French I think your best bet is to search in Brussels. Lots of multinational companies who need French and English speakers. Also, Brussels is the most cosmopolitan and most liberal city of the country so it's a good place to live also. It can be expensive depending where in the city you live, but some areas of Brussels are very affordable and not bad to live in (don't let yourself be scared by all the stories about how unsafe it is - I walked around so often alone in the night in Brussels and never had any issue, and that's while I look quite eccentric. The crimes happen but to say Brussels is very unsafe?? Unless it changed a lot in the last few years I'd highly disagree with it)

Other great places to live:
- my native Ghent: full of canals and medieval architecture in the city, a very nice city. It is also very vibrant due to many students, and it is very cosmopolitan and liberal. Bruges also has the canals and medieval housing, but it doesn't have the many events and vibrant city life because it lacks the university and multicultural aspect of Ghent.
- Antwerp: bit the same as Ghent minus the lot of canals and medieval buildings. But employment wise a good place to look, the port of the city is big and this attracts many big companies.
- Leuven: full of students from around the world so very vibrant and cosy. Maybe more difficult to find a job but Brussels is less than half an hour by train.
- Liege: as you speak French, you may find a job here and in the Walloon side of the country Liege is by far the best and most vibrant city (although Namur is also far from bad)

Avoid smaller cities, they can be very conservative, stick to the bigger cities who are more pleasant to live in and also offer better employment opportunities (since I left the country several years ago, others may be better placed to advise on how the economical situation is there right now. I didn't follow it well since I am not planning to return anytime soon - I mainly read the political news from Belgium but on economics some other members may be better placed to help you)



Now if you will enjoy Belgium depends a lot on what you are looking for. If you want to discover beautiful cities with amazing buildings, lot of events going on, and being close to many other big European cities (Paris and Amsterdam and London are only a few hours train away) then you will like it.

Personally I don't want to return to Belgium just because I grew up there and have seen practically every town in the country. For a foreigner though who wishes to see Europe, it may be a good place, I just needed a change and like it better abroad. But then, depending on what you like you may like Belgium.

I must be honest on one thing though: the country is in very serious political problems with xenophobic and racist parties scoring very well. It makes me quite ashamed even though, as I live abroad, it doesn't directly affect me. If you are not political it probably won't bother you. If you are, you'll be surprised how conservative some parts of the country (minus the 3 big cities) can be and how much racism is going on in Belgium (dito for Holland by the way). I hate to say it, but that's the sad truth. Hopefully this will change soon again. Right now, society is going through a very tough time, but honestly Belgium was always more conservative than our Dutch neighbours. The big cities are relatively progressive though.

[dewyn]

Thank you Gerrit for all the information. Greatly appreciated.


My grandparents did come from Namur. You see I want a "new start" I don't like life here in canada. Its boring, weather sucks, schools are poor and I love speaking French way more than English and it's lets say not the most tolerated thing here. I'm really unsatisfied here. It's april... we still have 3 feet of snow. It's just depressing. Im from winnipeg, manitoba. Worst palce. I've visited europe and have been through many sites. I know Belgium is hard to get a working/student Visa but I know eventually i'll be able to get it.

Anything about the night life? Lots of people there? Are the people tolerate of someone from a foreign country? Will they accept me?


The political part.. I dont want anything to do with it lol.


Thanks again Garrit