Newcomer1201_sampler

BRUSSELSBELGIUMEUROPE5 euro

HOME FAMILY LEISURE WORK

. Find the right neighbourhood

. Move in and settle down

. Tie the knot and start a family

. Send your kids to the perfect school

. Learn the local languages

. Enjoy the culture and lifestyle

. Manage your career and money

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THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO ENJOYING LIFE AND WORK IN BELGIUM

NewcomerSPRING 2012 SPECIALWelcome

home

* conditions apply. For more information call 0800 800 25, go to one of our retailers or to www.voo.be

Call VOO and keep in touch with home.

Lost in Belgium?

For an expatriate, there is nothing worse than the feeling of being cut o� from your family and country, unable to make contact by telephone or over the Internet.

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Call 0800 800 25 or go to www.voo.be We take care of the rest !


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JOY KNOWS NO BOrDerS.As a member of the Corps Diplomatique, a European institution or an international organization, you know that things can be quite different from one country to another. One thing we want to keep unchanged, is your joy of driving a BMW. Our dedicated team perfectly understands the constraints of your mission and is used to finding the best solutions in the shortest laps of time and providing you with a full service. This includes delivery of your personalized car anywhere in the world while respecting local specifications. And in addition, we offer you particularly attractive sales conditions. Because we just love to push back frontiers.

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BMW Brussels Quartier LouiseBranch of BMW BeluxBoulevard de Waterloo 23-241000 BrusselsTel. 02 641 57 [email protected]

Jean-Michel Martin eastRue François Desmedt 961150 BrusselsTel. 02 772 08 20info.woluwe@jmmartin. net.bmw.bewww.jmmartin.bmw.be

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BMW12502_275x205_Diplomatic Sales_UK_BE.indd 1 12/01/12 15:58

1. MovingThe Belgian regions 6Countdown to departure 15Getting legal 16The Belgians have a word for it 18Making the move 20Finding a home 21Country living 23Renting and buying property 25Switching on 26Making your move 29Channel hopping 30Sorting out the waste 32

2. LivingHealth matters 40A sense of belonging 43Getting married 44Starting a family 47The crèche conundrum 49Divorce 51

3. WorkingLabour laws 56Belgium: high-tax hell or tax haven? 59Your pension rights 60The right bank 62Setting up as a freelancer 64

4. Getting around Getting from A to B 70Car facts 74Weathering the elements 77All about the bike 78Getting your wheels 79Will I survive on Belgian roads? 80

5. EducationA guide to schools 84The next step 96Talk like a native 101

6. Culture & LifestyleArt attack 108The spirit of Magritte 111Meet the world in Brussels 112Secret gardens 115Happy hours 116Reading matter 117Brussels is really boring, isn’t it? 118Quiz + Dates 119

7. BRUSSELS A-ZKnow your Brussels 121

ContentContributing Editors:

Marie Dumont, Robyn Boyle, Emma Davis, Tamara Gausi, Kimberly Trathen,

Pierre-Michel Doutreligne, Philip Cur-ran, Thomas Buytaert

Art Director: Patricia Brossel, Gunther Bernaerts

(www nadruk be) Photographs by Corbis & Shutterstock,

unless indicated otherwise

Founder Monique Ackroyd OBE

Editeur responsable/

Verantwoordelijk uitgever/

Publisher John Stuyck

Managing Publisher Joske Plas

Advertising Helena Vreedenburgh,

Sabine Vermeiren (Sales Executive), Evelyne Frégonèse (Account Executive),

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Accounts Patricia Banza

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UK representatives Stuart Smith, SSM Global Media Ltd,

First floor, SSM House, 1 Cobden Court, Wimpole Close, Bromley, Kent BR2 9JF, tel 0044/208 464 55 77 or email stuart

smith@ssm co uk

Subscriptions subscriptions@ackroyd be

Belgium 1 year €90 / 2 years €165 You can pay by bank transfer

(ING 310-0883533-46 or KBC 432-2012231-12), or by sending a cheque or

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Contact us for details.Ackroyd Publications,

A Gossetlaan 30, 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden,

fax 02 375 98 22

SPRING 2012 SPECIAL ı 3

> A competitive region Transport and logistics, aeronautics and

aerospace, agribusiness, mechanical engineering, life sciences, environmental technologies: 6 competitiveness clusters and several other high-tech clusters put Wallonia at the forefront of progress.

> A culture of partnership Wallonia’s excellence draws on an extensive

network of highly skilled workforce and R&D units dedicated to innovation

> The assets for growth Financial incentives for exports and investment,

lower business taxes, easy access to capital – all boosting growth in Wallonia.

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Excellence at the heart of Europe

Create > Exchange > Grow

Getting settled

Nobody likes red tape. But when moving to another country it’s unavoidable, and Belgium is certainly no exception. Between gathering the right paperwork (and all the stamps, translations and notarisations that may or may not go with it) and spending a lot of time queuing up at your local commune, getting settled can seem like a real daunting and tedious process. Add to that the complexity that comes from living in a country with three official languages, and you’re in for a ride. We’re here to help you through it, though, with loads of information on preparing for the move and surviving those first few months.

1. MovinG

Belgium is a federal state consisting of three regions: the officially bilingual Brussels Capital Region, the Flemish Region, where Dutch is the main language, and the WalloonRegion, where French and some German are spoken.The three regions have acquired increasing autonomy: each is responsible for its own economic policy, trade, employment, hous-ing, agriculture, environment, energy and transport, while the federal state takes care of foreign affairs, defence, justice, health and social security. Education, welfare and

culture are the responsibility of the language communities.Belgium’s borders are a 65km-stretch of North Sea coast; to the north we cross into the Netherlands, in the east is Germany and the southern borders reach Luxembourg and France. In the middle lies Brussels, the capital, within easy reach of London, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. Brussels’ inter-national airport in Zaventem is a growing hub of European air travel, while Liège and Charleroi are major bases for freight and low-cost airlines.

Belgium’s central position has made it a sort of mini-Europe: the Dutch-speaking north, in many respects, resembles northern Eu-rope, while the French-speaking south has a touch of southern Europe to it. In Belgium, 23 percent of the population are of non-Belgian de scent. In Brussels, that figure is almost double, at 40 percent, making it an ideal location for the European in stitutions and Nato, whose headquarters are split between Brussels and Mons.

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Brussels-Capital region bwww.brussels.irisnet.be

The Brussels-Capital Region was created in 1989. It is made up of 19 communes, one of which is also named Brussels. Brussels is the capital of Flanders and officially bi-lingual, although French is the language that is used most. Six Flemish communes on the outskirts of Brussels offer flexible linguistic arrangements to the non-Dutch-speakers who make up the majority of their residents. These communes à facilités/faci-liteitengemeenten are Wemmel, Kraainem, Wezembeek- Oppem, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Linkebeek and Drogenbos.

Culture and education

Brussels boasts many cultural centres, in-cluding Bozar and Flagey, which host mul-tilingual exhibitions, concerts and films in historic buildings. Opera can be seen at La Monnaie/De Munt, while the National Thea-tre offers primarily French-language produc-tions. Passa Porta organises literary seminars and authors’ evenings, and Kaaitheater and KVS are the best known theatres offering Dutch-language productions. Tourism hub Visit Brussels provides com-prehensive information on what to see and do in the city, including nightlife, food and drink, museums and galleries. The Uit in Brussel website gives a good introduction to the cultural programmes on offer in Brus-sels, and it is available in English and French as well as Dutch. The Muntpunt building, which will open in 2012, will represent Flanders in Brussels and Brussels in Flanders. A lively meeting place with a modern library, it will provide multilingual information about what goes on in Brussels, although its focus will be Dutch -language culture.

| www.visitbrussels.be

| www.lamonnaie.be

| www.theatrenational.be

| www.flagey.be

| www.muntpunt.be

| www.uitinbrussel.be

| www.passaporta.be

| www.bozar.be

An introduction to the political and cultural history of the Flemish in Brussels can be found at www.brussels.info, which is available in English.There are five universities in Brussels: the Dutch-language Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Hogeschool Universiteit Brussel, and three French-language institutions, Univer-sité Libre de Bruxelles, Saint-Louis and the medical faculties of Université Catholique

de Louvain. All offer courses in English. Ambitious economics students can apply for the prestigious francophone Solvay Brus-sels School in Economics and Management, while a number of English-language univer-sities also have a base in Brussels, including Boston University, the University of Kent and the Open University.

Doing business

The political importance of Brussels as ‘the capital of Europe’ attracts a large number of lobbying firms, and many international companies have chosen Brussels as their European headquarters. It is a major meet-ing place for international conferences, and was rated the fourth most attractive business location after London, Paris and Frankfurt by the biggest European companies.The Brussels employment agency is Ac-tiris, which offers retraining courses and chances for people to brush up their language skills. Employers can advertise jobs there and jobseekers are helped to sharpen their techniques to find employment. The agency can also help you set up shop as a freelancer, in cooperation with the Brussels Enterprise Agency.

| www.actiris.be

| www.abe-bao.be

one country, several languages, three very distinct areas

The Belgian regions

The European Parliament in Brussels

Brussels’ airport at Zaventem is an international hub

6 ı SPRING 2012 SPECIAL newcomer ThE dEfINITIvE GuIdE To ENjoyING LIfE ANd woRk IN BELGIum SPRING 2012 SPECIAL ı 7

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Flanders b

Both communities offer languages courses, conversation tables, conferences and help desks for translation. Around 10 percent of the 350,000 people living in Brussels’ Flem-ish suburbs are non-Belgian, but in some com munes, such as Kraainem and Wezem-beek-Oppem, that goes up to a third. The non-profit Flemish organisation de Rand is in charge of cultural programming and is geared towards newcomers in the communes surrounding the Brussels-Capital Region. By organising coffee mornings at commu-nity centres for young parents with babies, de Rand tries to create meet ing places for both the foreign community and locals.

| www.derand.be (also in English)

Karl Musschoot, Head of the Communica-tion Division of the Flemish Authorities, describes what makes Flanders special. He says: “Flanders is a region of creators; hands -on, determined, sustainable, professional and helpful peo ple who have been passionate about knowledge and expertise for centuries.

It is a story of cutting-edge craftsmanship – in the past and present, as well as in the future.“Situated within 500 km of the major Eu-ropean capitals, Flanders is the gateway to Europe. It shares its own capital with the EU, Nato and numerous other international insti-tutions and companies. Its renowned sea-ports, its dense railway and road network, its productive and highly-educated population, its excellent healthcare and R&D-friendly climate, combine to make Flanders a unique place in Europe. It is also a front-runner in the international cultural scene, from fashion and design to architecture, fine-arts, film, theatre and music.”

Famous names

Flanders is known for its dynamic design and fashion industry. Some of the greatest names in Belgian art and performance are from Flanders, such as painter Luc Tuymans, art polymath Jan Fabre, choreographer Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, not to forget fashion designers Dries van Noten, Martin Margiela and Ann Demeulemeester.

| www.artsflanders.be

Flanders has a lot to offer in the field of educa-tion. Visit www.studyinflanders.be for an over-view, while general education information can be found at the site below. The National Academic Recognition and Information Cen-tre in Flanders is responsible for recognising the equivalence of foreign certificates with a corresponding Flemish degree.

| www.ond.vlaanderen.be/english

Flanders is also home to some prestigious educational centres. Vlerick Leuven Gent, for example, is a top-rated management school, which also organises events and programmes for expats.

| www.vlerick.com/expats

Innovation

Plenty of innovative businesses are based here, too. Thanks to Eyetronics, a spin-off of the University of Leuven, the James Bond and Star Trek franchises have been provided with credible visual effects. The hi-tech com-pany also designs computer games with a 3D dimension.Flanders DC, the organisation for entrepre-neurial creativity, houses a centre for creativ-ity and innovation in Flanders. The Flanders Fashion Institute is part of this and promotes Flemish fashion on a global stage.

| www.flandersdc.be (also in English)

For investors, the Brussels Investment Agency may be of help. There is also a yearly weekend event organised where start-ups and investors can get together.

| www.investinbrussels.com

| www.brussels.startupweekend.org

| www.brussels.angloinfo.com

The National Employment Office (Onem or RVA) is respon sible for unemployment benefits, the system of cheques for buying household services and retraining schemes. The website is also in English.

| www.onem.be

Settling in

The region has an elaborate welcome structure for newcomers and information in English for most ser vices. The Brussels-Europe Liaison office is a gen eral source of information but also a useful facilitator if you encounter problems such as disagreements with your landlord. The office works closely with the welcome offices of the European institutions.

| www.blbe.be

In this city of a little over 1.8 million peo-ple, more than 180 languages are spoken. Multilingual families feel at home, and both language communities are keen for new-comers to learn their respective languages. The official window of the French-speaking Community is Maison de la Francité, next to the metro stop Arts-Loi.The Flemish counterpart in Brussels is Huis van het Nederlands, which also has offices in Jette and Ixelles and can advise on where to find Dutch language courses. The gov-ernment of Flanders also edits a brochure called BRU Brussels For You, which offers tips on how to make the most of your life in Brussels. It can be ordered from [email protected].

| www.maisondelafrancite.be

| www.huisnederlandsbrussel.be

The Port of Antwerp is one of Europe’s largest sea harbours

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Bed in Brussels

Need to spend some time in Brussels but can’t face the anonymity of a hotel room? You might like to check out this online ac-commodation booker, which lists hundreds of rooms in private homes. From simple bed-sits near the South Station to regal suites in Uccle and Woluwe, the system is a perfect way to meet locals. It also works out much cheaper than hotels: prices start at €34 per night for a single, and discounts are avail-able for children and long stays.

| www.bnb-brussels.be

Home Dating

Buying a house or apartment takes time – you often need to read hundreds of ads and visit dozens of places before finding one you like One solution is to ask these house hunters to do that for you: tell them what your budget is and which area you covet and they’ll leave no stone unturned to help you locate your dream home. They can also push the price down for you, which makes investing in their services a win-win.

| www.homedating.be

In-Lease

You’ve found the flat and signed the lease. Before you rush to Ikea to buy the obligatory wardrobe and sofa, you may want to check out what this furniture rental company has to offer: tables, beds, televisions, lamps, even crockery and bedlinen are available for rent in a wide range of prices and styles. A savvy solution if you’re only planning to stay in the country for a few months, or while you wait for your things to be shipped from overseas

| www.in-lease.com

our tips b our tips b

Daily life

When it comes to finding a home, the Flemish Social Housing Company can help you find affordable housing (to rent or buy), or a loan to cover the costs. Preferential loans are avail-able to households with at least one child.

| www.vmsw.be (in English)

| www.vlaamswoningfonds.be (not in English)

Flanders also offers a variety of leisure ac-tivities and cultural events. The sites www.cultuurnet.be and www.uit invlaanderen.be (only in Dutch) provide a complete leisure agenda, while www.sweetflanders.eu focuses on food and drink. Tourists from all over the world make use of the site www.visitflanders.com.Flanders’ historical and cultural heritage, modern art initia tives, rich food culture and dynamic fashion scene illustrate the crafts-manship burgeoning in its cities. With a bik-ing network across its green regions, it is a pioneer in open ing up biking and walking routes and paths. The Flemish coastal region is distinguished from neighbouring coastal areas by its promotion of events and festivals, museums, heritage treasures and authentic regional dishes, and the numerous small lodgings are reputed for their hospitality.

The future

In 2009, organisations of entrepreneurs, politicians and civil society signed a pact as part of an ambitious plan for what Flanders

should aim for in 2020. It is parallel to the EU 2020 strategy to generate smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU but reaches further in its aims to develop Flanders into a more friendly, humane and liveable region. Their goal is for Flanders to become one of the top five regions in Europe by 2020.

The pact lists 20 goals including better air quality and healthcare, cutting poverty and developing infrastructure that avoids con-gestion. It aims to create an edge to Flan ders’ economy, by aggressively concentrating on innova tion and knowledge-based industries.

| www.flandersinaction.be

Where else but in cycling-obsessed Flanders would a com pany come up with the idea of creating a carpet made en tirely from used bicycle inner tubes? Associated Weavers is one of Europe’s major carpet producers, with production sites in Ronse and Kuurne (as well as in France and the Czech Republic), 1,200 employees and a turnover of €270 mil-lion. Their Cyclo carpet won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for 2011.

Welcome to Flanders

There are eight welcome offices in Flanders, which offer integration programmes for for-eigners. Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels and the five provinces each have their own office.See the website below for a comprehensive introduction to the integration policies.

| www.inburgering.be/inburgering/en

For families, Kind&Gezin is the institu-tion that provides services and guidance throughout pregnancy and early childhood.

| www.kindengezin.be

Two non-profit organisations, VOKA and UNIZO, support entrepreneurs, while the Flemish employment agency, VDAB, has information in English on its website. Enter-prise Europe Network is the contact for start-ups for everything a company needs where it comes into contact with the government.

| www.vlao.be

| www.iwt.be/english/welcome

| www.unizo.be

| http://english.voka.be/english

| www.vdab.be

Many of the country’s big industries are based in Flanders. The biggest employer is the business services sector, followed by the health and education sectors. The website of Flanders Investment and Trade is an efficient tool if you are considering investment, offer-ing English-language consultation.

| www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com

| www.investinflanders.com

Public transport in Flanders is operated by De Lijn, and their online route planner is available in English. Antwerp is one of Europe’s biggest ports, with the docks reaching far into the river Schelde. The port connects the North Sea with Europe’s inland waterway network and has even opened a rail connection with China for freight trains. With a freight volume of 187 million tonnes in 2011, Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It is the European market leader for handling steel, project cargoes, fruit, forest products, coffee and tobacco.

| www.delijn.be

| www.portofantwerp.com

| www.flandersportarea.be (only in Dutch)


MovinG MovinG

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Wallonia b

www.wallonie.be

The capital of Wallonia is Namur, and the region prides itself on its strategic location and expanding transport network. Wallonia has two international airports: Charleroi (Brussels South), specialising in low-cost passenger traffic, and Liège, which is grow-ing into a leading cargo hub. It has excellent road, rail and waterway connections with the neighbouring countries of the Nether-lands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. The region is also home to a small but very active German-speaking community on the German border.

New image

Wallonia Investment Agency has offices in Brussels and Namur, and is working hard to shed the region’s image of old, uncompetitive industries. The agency strives to portray the region’s industrial heritage – ‘the cradleof the industrial revolution’ – as its strength, revamped by high technologies. Wallonia is the base for a large number of international corporations active in various sectors, in-cluding pharmaceutical, aeronautics, logis-tics, distribution and chemistry. SMEs are the main employers.

` page 14Picturesque Dinant stretches along the Meuse

Brussels Card

Whether you’re just visiting Brussels or are planning to take a couple of days off to show relatives around your city of adoption, this all-inclusive card could be for you. Costing €24 for 24 hours, €34 for 48 hours and only €40 for 72, it gives free access to STIB metros, trams and busses and some museums, as well as discounts in many shops, bars and restaurants. Buy it online or from the Brus-sels Info Place on Place Royale. Tourist of-fices, some museums and Fnac stores also sell it.

| www.brusselscard.be

our tips b

12 ı SPRING 2012 SPECIAL newcomer

MovinG

6 months before departure

Begin collecting income tax records. These may be useful when filing your first Belgian tax return, particularly if you have worked part of the current tax year in another coun-try. Gather bank state ments, cheque and credit card records.

2 months before departure

- Check if your passport and/or ID are up for renewal. Enquire from the Belgian Embassy or Consulate in your country if you need a visa. On average, it takes about four weeks after all the information is sent to receive a visa by post.

- Contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country to find out about bilat-eral arrange ments it may have for citizens living abroad.

- Have all pets checked for rabies. Rabies certifi cates dated no less than one month and no more than one year before arrival are necessary for the pet to enter into Bel-gium. From certain other countries (but not the US, Canada or Australia), further tests are required, so allow more time. Check with your vet for details.

1 month before departure

- If you are a non-EU citizen, apply for the correct work permits. Talk to your future employer, as there is paperwork to be com-pleted at their end as well.

- Make copies of birth, adoption, mar riage and divorce papers and certifi cates to bring with you, to avoid having to file for them while abroad.

- Alert your bank that you will be going abroad. Either arrange to close your ac-count or to have them monitor your cards closely.

- Obtain school certificates and letters of ref-erence from your children’s schools. It may make it easier to find a school in Belgium.

2 weeks before departure

- Get a statement from your local police to testify to your good moral character. You may need it once you arrive in Belgium to get a residence permit.

- Contact your medical insurance company to make sure you’ll be covered until you sign up for the Belgian system. EEA nation-als are well advised to obtain a European medical insurance card which will cover their medical costs while they complete the necessary formalities here. Know that there is a six-month trial period from the moment you sign up for a Belgian health insurance fund before you qualify for reimbursement and other services.

1 week before departure

- Buy French and/or Dutch dictionaries and phrase books.

- Gather and make copies of dental and medi-cal records, immunisation records and so-cial security numbers and records .

Countdown to departure

Invest in Wallonia promotes the new Wal-lonia. Its website is available not only in French, Dutch, German and English, but also in Japanese and Chinese, as befits its global outreach. With offices across the re-gion, Wallonia Export Agency AWEX pro-motes investment in Wallonia by providing a dedicated support system to help companies export and develop internationally.A major initiative since 2005 is the Marshall Plan, which aims to stimulate the economic development of Wallonia and the French-speaking Community. A second green ver sion of the plan focusing on sustainable development was launched in 2009.

| www.wallonia-international.be

| www.investinwallonia.be

| www.awex.be

The new Wallonia revolves around six com-petitive clusters with a tripod organisational structure (academies, com panies and train-ing centres); centres of excellence suchas the Gembloux faculty for agribusiness and the Liège centre for space sciences, while 200 business parks and a dozen science parks are fostering new start-ups.AMOS is a spin-off from Liège University that develops advanced optical instruments for the space industry; pharmaceutical giant GSK has a vaccine research base near Genval; Google set up its first European data centre in Wallonia; and Microsoft’s first innovation centre opened three years ago in Mons.The University of Mons has emerged as a ma-jor force in materials science and chemistry, while the city of Mons itself is now a hotbed of hi-tech research. Designated European Capital of Culture for 2015, the city is gearing up to show off its cultural credentials on the

international scene, while Liège is a candi-date city for Expo 2017.Wallonia also has its fashion-conscious side, with Wallonie Bruxelles Design Mode help-ing designers export their creations. Liège has emerged as a breeding ground for up-and-coming young designers. The famous watch brand Ice-Watch comes from the town of Bastogne.

| www.wbdm.be

Natural beauty

The Ardennes is a swath of forests, rolling hills and river valleys, including the Meuse, Lesse, Ourthe and Semois rivers. The activi-ties in the region are extensive, including cycling, kayaking, hiking and downhill and cross-country skiing. In the east, the Hautes-Fagnes National Park is a boggy area of moorland that features the highest point in the country at 652m. Hotels and bed and breakfasts capitalise on the region’s bucolic nature, offering walking, painting and relaxation vacation packages, while the town of Spa harnesses the nearby natural springs in its glass-and-wood sanctuary. The water itself is also a global success story, with Groupe Spadel exporting it around the world and leading the way in recycling initiatives. The Spa Francorchamps circuit is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its fast, hilly and twisty na-ture, and is a favourite of many racing driv-ers and fans.Wallonia is also home to many regional gastronomic specialties and a burgeoning

organic and artisan food business. It is re-nowned for its folklore, from centuries-old carnival celebrations to annual festivals and Christmas markets. Though Belgium is known for its food and beer, a handful of artisan vineyards in Wallonia are produc-ing great wines, while Belgian Owl whisky is garnering praise from its home base just outside Liège.

Day-to-day

Wallonia is also known for its lovely land-scape, quality of life, friendly locals and cosy villages, some of which are within commut-ing distance of Brussels. For families, the Office de la Naissance et de l’Enfance may play an important role. It is a one-stop shop for all questions regarding pregnancy, birth and child health. It also certifies and moni-tors childcare centres. The website is only in French, but it can be a valuable resource when starting a family or moving to Belgium with young children. The Ligue des Familles is another useful and extensive resource.

| www.one.be

| www.liguedesfamilles.be

The Walloon employment agency is Le Forem (in French only). Public transport is operated by TEC, whose website features an English route-planner.

| www.leforem.be

| www.infotec.be

Living the life in the Ardennes

Remember to get pets vaccinated




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Visas

- Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need a visa to enter Belgium. A valid identity card or passport is enough.

- Citizens of a few non-EEA such as the US, Canada or Japan can also travel to Belgium without a visa as long as their stay doesn’t exceed 90 days within any six-month pe-riod.

- If you are a citizen of another non-EEA country and plan to stay in Belgium for less than 90 days, you will need to obtain a Schengen visa. The Schengen zone guarantees free movement between signa-tory countries including Belgium, which means that you will be able to travel to other Schengen countries during your stay on the basis of that single visa. Likewise, non EEA-nationals who are legal residents in a Schengen country will be able to enter Belgium without having to apply for a new visa.

- For all non EEA nationals, a visa is needed to move to Belgium in order to work, study, get married or cohabit, or be reunited with one’s family. Apply for one at the Belgian consu-late or embassy that is competent for your place of residence. The documents required are a passport valid for at least 15 months, a certificate of good conduct issued no more than six months earlier, a medical certificate and a work permit or other documentation explain ing why a visa is necessary.

For those wanting to come to the coun try for reasons other than work, proof of having the financial means to support themselves and their families must be obtained.

Work permits

Non EEA-nationals looking to be employed in Belgium need to apply for a work permit. There are several types to suit different situ-ations and professions. Those looking to set

up shop as freelancers should apply for a carte professionnelle/beroepkaart instead. Work permits and professional cards are not required for EEA nationals, except for Bulgarians and Romanians, who still need them until December 31, 2013. Visit the web-sites below for details of the procedures for each region, and also see our explanation of Belgium’s regions on p. 6.

Formalities in Belgium

Foreigners moving to Belgium need to report to their commune of residence. For EAA na-tionals intending to stay long term, this has to be done within eight working days of moving. Some communes give you an appointment; others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Arm yourself with an ID, passport photos, some change and a job contract from your employer or proof that you have some means of supporting yourself. You will be given a temporary document and will have to go back a few weeks later to col-lect your residency card. This is normally valid for five years and allows you to register your children at a school, sign up to a health insurance fund and join a public library. EU staff can avoid this step by registering with the Commission office.

Whatever your country of origin, there are formalities to be completed if you plan to move to Belgium.

Getting legal

Getting work-ready

Flanderswww.werk.be

Wallonia emploi.wallonie.be

Brusselswww.bruxelles.irisnet.be

German-speaking Community www.dglive.be


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Generally, don’t expect local people to speak or understand English, though many of them do. The rule here is the same as in any foreign country: ask politely first (Parlez-vous anglais/Spreekt U Engels?).

In business, English is more and more the lingua franca, if only because it avoids the Dutch-French problem. When calling a large company, it’s reasonable to ask to be put through to someone who speaks Eng-lish. Many international businesses have offices here, and they deal with each other more than they deal with members of the public, so English in the office is much more current than it is on the streets.

Belgium has three official national lan-guages: Dutch (not Flemish), French (not Walloon) and German. Dutch is the lan-guage of Flanders, which includes West and East Flanders, Antwerp province, Flemish Brabant and Limburg. French is spoken in Wallonia – Hainaut, Namur province, Liege province, Luxembourg province and Wal-loon Brabant, while German is spoken in a small part of eastern Wallonia.

The region of Brussels-Capital is officially bilingual. Although the language you’ll hear most by far is French, Dutch-speakers have full language rights, and can insist on using their language in any official situa-tion, whether it’s in the offices of the local municipality, in the police station or at the emergency room.

There are also several “municipalities with facilities”, where residents of one language area are permitted the use of the other language in official situations. Around Brussels, these are Kraainem, Wezembeek-Oppem, Linkebeek, Drogenbos, Wemmel and Sint-Genesius-Rode. If you live in one of these towns, you’ll be allowed to use French for official communications, but only after making a specific request.

English is widely spoken in the larger towns and cities, in shops and restaurants, though never officially. While you may find a sym-pathetic official at your local town hall who will be willing to help you by switching to English, that’s not to be expected. If you have to deal with official matters and don’t master enough French or Dutch, get someone to help you.

In Flanders, it’s better to take a chance on people understanding English than French: even the ones who do speak French may not take kindly to being asked. English is, in any

case, becoming the most popular second language, especially among younger people. The same goes in Wallonia.

The one thing most people know about Belgium is that it’s divided down the middle on the question of language. But there are ways for a newcomer to bridge that divide

The Belgians have a word for it

You will have to use French or Dutch in official situations

English is widely spoken and understood

Learning the language

When it comes to learning one of the languages of Belgium, the choice is vast. If you live in Brus-sels, your local municipality may offer French or Dutch classes at low cost. In Brussels, the main contact is the House of Dutch (www.huisnederlandsbrussel.be), which can provide smaller classes better tailored to your level. French classes are offered by the Alliance Française (www.alliancefr.be). There is also a host of private language schools such as Amira (www.amira.be) and Berlitz (www.berlitz.be), but those can be quite expensive.

Once you have some notions of French or Dutch, the best way to make progress is to speak the language with native speakers, in real situations. It’s intimidating and bewildering at first, but it’s how you learned your own language, and progress can be rapid. Resist the temptation to allow your conversation partners to slip into English when words fail you; if that happens once it’ll be the rule from then on.

If you don’t know any native speakers yet, there are “conversation tables,” organised locally, where foreigners are brought together with native speakers for the purpose of practising the spoken lan-guage. Examples include Café Combinne, a Dutch chat café (www.cafecombinne.be), and the more advanced tables organised by Cercle Royal Polyglotte (http://users.swing.be/polyglot.be). For others, try searching on www.xpats.com, or posting a question, to find one near you.



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Anderlecht

Shunned by most expats, this is a commune best known for its industrial estates and rough neighbourhoods abutting the South Station. To its credit, it also has placid resi-dential areas, several parks, and an excellent metro connection to the city centre.

Auderghem/Ouderghem

With a third of its land covered by the Forêt de Soignes/Zoniënwoud, this is one of Brus-sels’ most desirable and expensive areas, of-fering quiet residential streets, good shops and schools and several metro stops.

Berchem-Sainte Agathe/Sint-Agatha Berchem

Cows in Brussels? About 100 of them can still be seen grazing in this highly contrasted commune, which also includes large thor-oughfares and a busy shopping centre. Lovely old neighbourhoods sit alongside recent housing developments.

Bruxelles/Brussel

Stretching from Avenue Louise to Laeken and from Rond-Point Schuman to the canal, this is the largest and most populated com-mune in the Brussels region. Many single expats elect residence here, either in the ever-more fashionable city centre or closer to the European institutions.

Etterbeek

A central commune with a homogeneous, urban feel. Bordering the Schuman district, it is home to the gorgeous Cinquantenaire museum and park as well as the elegant Rue des Tongres. Many of its 19th-century townhouses have been converted into offices

or overpriced studios, but attractive proper-ties can still be snapped up around Places Jourdan, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Antoine.

Evere

Essentially a farming area until the 1950s, it is now awash with supermarkets, large apartment buildings and office blocks, not least of which are the Nato headquarters. Its post-war terraced houses and quiet, afford-able lifestyle make it a choice destination for families who don’t mind the trek to the city centre.

Forest/Vorst

A two-faceted commune: the areas around Parc Duden and Place Altitude 100 (Brus-sels’ highest point) boast leafy streets, many Art-Deco buildings and offer excellent value for money. Down the hill is an industrial district and neighbourhoods that are more run down. The commune is also home to the popular Forest-National concert venue.

Ganshoren

A peaceful residential commune north of Brussels with unbeatable property prices.

Ixelles/Elsene

Stylish and lively, Ixelles is where many expats and well-to-do Belgians dream of settling one day. Property prices are sky-high around the Place du Châtelain and Rue Américaine, and more reasonable around the recently renovated Place Flagey. With a large student population owing to the presence of Brussels’ two universities (the VUB and ULB), Ixelles is also home to Matongé, Brus-sels’ sizzling hot Congolese neighbourhood.

Jette

Savvy expats are busy snapping up property in this pleasant northern commune, which has plenty of green spaces, good shopping ar-eas and a new European School about to open nearby. Get there before everyone else does.

From lofts in Molenbeek to quaint old terraced houses in Boitsfort, Brussels has accommodation to suit all tastes and (nearly) all budgets. This overview of the 19 communes should help you track down your dream neighbourhood.

Finding a homePreparation is the key to an easy and successful move to Belgium.

Making the moveRelocation agencies

Though by no means a necessary step, hir-ing a relocation agency can help insure a smoother transition. The European Relocation Association (EuRA) offers listings of companies ap-proved to help you make the move. Compa-nies belonging to ErRA pay to be affiliated and are forced to follow a strict code of con-duct. A relocation service can help movers find out about visa, work and residence permits, as well as other administrative formalities. Many can help look for schools or day-care centres and assist with house-hunting. However, when house-hunting, be aware that some agencies may accept commission from landlords for steering newcomers in their direction. www.eura-relocation.com.

A temporary home

If you have nowhere to stay when you ar-rive in Belgium, an apartment hotel may be the solution. These don’t come cheap but are generally comfortable, well-located and

well-equipped to see you through the first few weeks or months.It’s still important to do some preliminary research, as accommodation can range from basic to lavish. The most upmarket ones may have a Jacuzzi in the bathroom and a gym and sauna in the building, while others offer a full range of business services such as wire-less internet connections, fax and secretarial services.Once settled in, you can take advantage of your new home. Most of these rented places will feel warm and welcoming but, unlike in hotels, you are normally allowed to rearrange furniture and add personal touches, such as family pictures and favourite posters.

Here come the movers

When moving, you may need to book a park-ing space in front of your house or flat. This is done at the commune for a fee several work-ing days ahead of the move. You may need to go there in person, although some communes accept via fax or email. Movers sometimes include it in their services. Make sure you have a number to call in case there are still

cars using the space on the day you move.Some moving companies provide check-lists for customers. If yours doesn’t, see the website for the Federation of International Movers: www.fidi.com. Give yourself plenty of time to complete all the items on the list. When you move into your new house, make sure your name is on the doorbell. The police will check this after you apply for a resi-dency permit, and may even pay you a short visit.

Getting good adviceSeveral organisations offer advice to foreign-ers, including the American Women’s Club, the British & Commonwealth Women’s Club and the Community Help Service.www.awcb.orgbcwcb.weekly.comwww.chsbelgium.org



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Tervuren

Nestling in the Forêt de Soignes, Tervuren is best known as the seat of the Africa Museum and its magnificent park. It also happens to be a bustling little town with a strong expat community. The British school is there, as are several Montessori schools. A picturesque tram ride connects it to Rond-Point Mont-gomery in central Brussels.

Overijse

This town’s most famous son is Justus Lip-sius, the 16th-century humanist whose name lives on in the headquarters of the EU Coun-cil building in Brussels. Housing prices are reasonable, though public transport is scant.

Kraainem

One of few suburbs with metro access to the city, this is a popular place for expats, lead-ing to higher house prices than you might find elsewhere. The nearby airport can cause disruption.

Wezembeek-Oppem

The presence of the Deutsche Schule makes this suburban community popular with Ger-man families, while its rural charm attracts people from all over. Parts of the commune are within walking distance of the Stockel metro station, while others rely on buses and a tram. Airport noise can affect houses here, too.

Hoeilaart

Just beyond the Ring lies this pretty rural town, a short drive from the city through the stands of beech trees. It was once known as the “glass village” due to its many greenhous-es used to grow grapes. A “druivenfestival” (grape festival) still takes place every Sep-tember. There is a train station with hourly connections to Brussels Luxembourg and Schuman.

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Waterloo

Famous for its battlefield, modern-day Waterloo is now home to a multinational community, thanks in part to several inter-national schools. The town is well served with shops, banks, parks, luxury villas and a train station.

Rixensart

Prices here are lower than in Waterloo, and the old village retains a real charm, helped by the presence of its castle and quiet residen tial roads. Two nearby stations connect it with Brussels in the north and Louvain-la-Neuve in the south.

Genval

A truly enchanting spot, Genval has a lake and a striking early 20th-century château, now a five-star hotel. Houses here can be hard to find and fetch high prices. Trains conveniently link the town with Brussels-Schuman twice an hour.

Braine l’Alleud

Quiet suburban town about 20km south of Brussels. Most houses here are large and modern, with price tags to match. Much of the Battle of Waterloo took place here, and the town’s church was used as a field hospital.

Lasne

Between Waterloo and Rixensart, Lasne is green and quiet and has several working farms. It is known as the richest commune in the country, though it is poor in public transport .

if city life doesn’t appeal, you can always look further afield. Here are some of the Brussels suburbs you might want to make your home.

Country livingKoekelberg

Overshadowed by one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the world, this diminu-tive commune has a newly renovated park and beautiful old townhouses at knock-off prices.

Molenbeek

The name means “mill” and “brook”, but there is trace of neither in modern Molen-beek, a bustling and ethnically mixed district to the north-west of Brussels. In recent years, warehouses along the canal have been con-verted into trendy lofts, attracting a cosmo-politan crowd. The commune is also known for its left-field cultural scene.

Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis

Another commune with two sides to it. The elegant upper part around the town hall has grand Art-Nouveau mansions with prices to match. The once derelict lower part near the South Station is slowly being gentrified due to its closeness to the high-speed train hub. Between the two, the Parvis de Saint-Gilles area cultivates its bohemian allure, with bars and pubs aplenty and a mixed international population.

Saint-Josse/Sint-Joost

Brussels’ densest commune is a shining, if chaotic example of multi-cultural and multi-purpose city living. International hotels rub shoulders with ethnic neighourhoods and office towers, all a stone’s throw from Schu-man and the city centre.

Schaerbeek/Schaarbeek

Don’t be put off by its bad reputation: Schaer-beek offers great value for money if you know where to look. While the streets around the North Station and Place Liedts may not be – how shall we put it – ideally suited to the needs of expat families, there are also plenty of elegant and perfectly safe tree-lined avenues, some of them a few minutes’ walk from Schuman. The lovely Parc Josaphat is another bonus.

Uccle/U kkel

Once a rural retreat for noble families, Uccle today is full of charm and highly prized by French families, who gravitate around the Lycée Français. Dense urban areas to the north and west give way to opulent residen-tial neighbourhoods as you near the Forêt de Soignes, which fringes the commune’s south-eastern border. On the down side, property prices are among the highest in Brussels and traffic can be a nightmare.

Watermael-Boitsfort/Watermaal-Bosvoorde

A pretty commune with a laid-back, village-like atmosphere and its feet in the Forêt de Soignes, Boitsfort is popular with families and expats in search of quiet and authenticity. Houses can be tiny but by no means cheap. The International School of Brussels has its beautiful campus there.

Woluwe Saint-Lambert/Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe

One of the most popular expat districts, WSL boats some pleasant neighbourhoods, various parks, excellent metro connections and, most famously, the Woluwe Shopping Centre, a shopaholic’s paradise. Despite the commune’s efforts to boost its cultural life, however, much of it is commuter land with endless and charmless alignments of apart-ment blocks.

Woluwe-Saint-Pierre/Sint-Pieters-Woluwe

Posher and prettier than its neighbour Wolu-we-Saint-Lambert, this commune breaks all records in terms of property prices. Its focal point is Place Dumon, which is con-veniently situated at the end of the metro line to Schuman and the centre – although with everything on hand including a cinema, who needs to go to town?

The Koekelberg basilica is one of the world’s largest churchesmore on

www.thebulletin.bemore on www.thebulletin.be


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In spite of a spectacular price hike in the early-to-mid 2000s, property in Belgium is still plentiful and relatively affordable to rent or buy. The most popular websites for view-ing houses and apartments on the market are www.vlanimmo.be and www.immoweb.be. You can also contact an estate agent or sim-ply stroll around the area where you would like to live, looking out for the distinctive black, orange and white signs on doors and windows.

Renting

Belgium has two common rental lease op-tions: a standard flexible lease for a period between three and nine years, and a short-term lease for contracts up to three years.The nine-year lease al lows the tenant to break the lease with three months’ notice (and pay-ment of a penalty when this happens during

the first three years). The rent is fixed for nine years, apart from annual increases linked to the Belgian cost-of-living index. The short-term lease may be set for any period up to three years and may not be broken by either tenant or landlord. It may be renewed once only, up to a maximum of three years.

Deposits

The lease will require you to put down a security deposit equal to two months’ rent against any damage caused to the property during your lease. On moving in, tenants are obliged to perform a detailed examina-tion of the property, called an état des lieux/plaatsbeschrijving, together with an expert designated by themselves or by the landlord. This step shouldn’t be taken lightly: be sure to record all defects in the property to avoid being charged for them when moving out.If you want to renovate a rented place, you can draw up a ‘renovation lease’, whereby the landlord charges a cheaper rent in exchange for the renovations you plan to make. Such contracts can be tricky to negotiate and call for legal advice.

Buying

Buying a house or apartment is a sensible option if you plan on settling in Belgium for a long time. Every sale has to go through a no-tary, so finding one you get on with before you even start looking for a suitable property is a good idea: he or she will be able to steer you through this long and treacherous process. You have found your dream home: congratu-lations! Now’s the time to bargain. Belgium, on the whole, is still a buyers’ market, and it is often possible to knock 10 percent or more off a building’s asking price. If in doubt as to the property’s worth, have it assessed by a chartered surveyor.Bear in mind that you will end up paying

substantially more than the agreed price as buyers are liable for additional fees and taxes. Depending on the type of property, expect to add between 15 and 21 percent to the purchase price. Soon after a deal has been made, the two par-ties meet to sign the sales agreement, which is traditionally drafted by the seller’s notary and requires a 10-percent down-payment. This agreement is legally binding: should you change your mind after that, that sum will be lost. Special clauses exist that can let you out on certain conditions. Try negotiat-ing for one if you are not sure of securing a mortgage loan. Closing follows within four months with the final sales agreement, when the outstanding amount changes hands. Upon signing, the buyer becomes responsible: he or she must insure the property and becomes liable for the annual property tax.

Old or new?

Both options have their pros and cons. New properties are liable for 21 percent VAT but usually (one hopes!) end up costing less in upkeep. They also come with a 10-year guarantee. Older properties are not susceptible for VAT but for a registration tax which, in Brussels, amounts to 12.5 percent of the purchase price. A rebate on the first EUR 60.000 (amounting to EUR 7.500) can usually be obtained if this is your main residence and only property . If you have the patience and stamina, buy-ing a house that needs renovating is a cost-effective option chosen by many Belgians. Works on buildings that are older than five years are only susceptible to six-percent VAT and are often tax-deductible when aiming for better energy-efficiency.

The beautiful and spacious accommodation is one of the joys of life in Belgium. Here are a few things you should know before you decide to rent or join in the national pastime of buying and renovating.

Renting and buying property


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Gas & electricity

Belgian gas and electricity markets began to be deregu lated in 2003; Brussels was last to achieve it in 2007. This means the consumer can choose the supplier that of fers the best deal for what they need. When moving into a property, it may be pos-sible to transfer the supply from the name of the previous owner or tenant to the new occupier, should you wish to use the same supplier.

Contact the relevant gas or electricity com-pany a week before mov ing in and request a transfer form. The form needs to be filled in by both the old and new tenants, and a meter reading must be provided. If the property has not had gas or electricity connected, call the company that best suits your needs.

Water

In Brussels, water is distrib uted by the In-tercommunale Bruxelloise de Distribution

d’Eau. Details for water suppliers can be found in the Yellow Pages, or by asking a landlord, the town hall or even a neighbour. Power supply

The electricity supply in Belgium is at 220 volts on a 50hertz cycle. This means that newcomers arriving from the rest of Europe, where the sup ply is normally 240 volts, will not have a problem with their existing ap-pliances.

Even if you’ve found the best house on the block, it’s no use if the utilities inside don’t work. Here’s how to get connected.

Switching on

Those coming from other countries, though, may have problems using their equip ment. Transformers to convert 110 volts to 220 volts are avail able in hardware and electri-cal stores throughout Belgium, and gener-ally in the country of origin. Check with the retailer to ensure it has the capacity to run your appliances.

Bills, bills, bills

Once you’ve figured out how to power up your home, you need to choose how to pay. Bills – which may be estimated based on a previous occu pant’s usage – generally arrive on a monthly or bimonthly basis. Typically, tenants have two to three weeks to pay each bill. Speak to your bank about setting up standing orders and direct debits.Gas and electricity meters are generally read about once or twice a year so unless you check the meter yourself, you could be in for an expensive surprise when a new reading is taken .

warning: carbon monoxide poisoningHomeowners and tenants with a gas-fired water heater are legally obliged to have it checked each year by a licensed plumber to avoid the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, not to mention ensuring efficient heat flow. Several people die in Brussels every year as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning due to faulty water heaters and/or inadequate ventilation. Your landlord should be able to recommend a plumber, which you will have to pay for.

GAS & ELECTRICITy

BRUSSELS: www.brugel.beFLANDERS: www.vreg.beWALLONIA: www.cwape.beWATER www.ibde.be



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Before arrival, there are many things you can do to ease the administrative burden. EU citizens, who under the Free Movement of People principle are allowed to establish themselves in any of the bloc’s 27 member states should ensure their identity docu-ments are up to date. Non-EU citizens should approach the Belgian embassy or consulate in their home country to apply for a visa.

Non-EU citizens may also need a work per-mit of which there are three categories: A, B, and C. The first is unlimited and valid for all employers, the second is for one employer for one year and the third is for all employers for one year and may be renewed. They have to provide a medical certificate and a profes-sional card. Students must also show they have sufficient means to live.

Workers on secondment could be eligible for the country’s generous expat tax status. Essentially, those who qualify are entitled to a tax free allowance for expenses associated with being employed abroad (for example, kids’ school fees) and tax free earnings on any working day spent outside of Belgium. Your employer or accountant must file a re-quest within six months of the start of your contract.

Your employer may also help you find ac-commodation and, notably in the case of the institutions, introduce you to life in Bel-gium with information seminars and social gatherings. If not, there are clubs catering to almost every nationality and to every interest from photography to ceilidh dancing.

Upon arrival you must register with the commune in the municipality in which you reside. Those staying less than three months must do this within three days. Those who plan to stay longer are obliged to register within eight days of arrival. Anyone resident in Belgium and over the age of 12 is legally required to carry a Belgian identity card at all times.

Many an expat has been reduced to tears by administration at the Belgian communes. The queues can be horrendously long (it’s best to arrive early) and often officials ask for extra information. To minimise return trips, take all potentially relevant documents. You will need to take your ID, a copy of your rental lease and possibly your birth certifi-cate. Even EU citizens may also be asked for a professional card.

After registering at the commune, the po-lice will visit to check you live where you say you live. If you are not home when they call,

you may be asked to present yourself at the police station. Once the police confirm your address, the commune will process your request for an identity card which will nor-mally arrive within three weeks.

find out more

Moving to Belgium: www.belgium.beVisas: www.diplomatie.beLong-term residence: https://dofi.ibz.be

Living in Brussels: www.irisnet.beLiving in Wallonia: www.belgium-tourism.netLiving in Flanders: www.visitflanders.com

Expat life: www.xpats.com

As an expat, you won’t be alone in Belgium. Expats from within and outside the European Union make up one-tenth of the population. As home to several EU institutions and nATo, it’s a prime location for anyone with an interest in international affairs while other expats are attracted by world renowned industrial players. Belgium offers a great combination of the cosiness of smaller cities but top flight jobs.

Making your move

Make it official: signing up at the commune


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Cable

In Brussels, your cable service operator de-pends on your commune.

Etterbeek, Schaerbeek, Jette, Forest, Berchem Saint Agathe, Koekelberg and Ganshoren:

| Telenet: 0800/66.046, www.telenet.be

Auderghem, Evere, Ixelles, Uccle, Saint-Gilles and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, plus a large area outside Brussels, mainly in Wallonia:

| Voo: 0800/800.25, www.voo.be

Anderlecht, Brussels City, Laeken, Neder-Over-Heembeek, Haren, Drogenbos, Saint-Josse, Watermael-Boitsfort and Wemmel:

| Numericable: 02/226.52.00,

| www.numericable.be

Woluwe-St-Lambert:

| Wolu-TV: 02/736.77.89, www.wolutv.be

They offer a basic package of a couple of dozen channels including those listed on the right, plus a range of optional extras such as digital TV and HD channels.

Telenet is the main cable provider in Flan-ders, where in place of French channels inthe basic package you get the likes of Nick-elodeon, Cartoon Network and National Geographic. In Wallonia, you’ll lose out on Flemish channels such as VTM, VIJFtv and VT4.

Digital tv

Some cable providers of fer additional chan-nels, but, since you can’t choose yourprovider, you’re restricted to the extra pack-ages offered by the company that covers your area. Digital TV in Belgium is essentially in the hands of Belgacom, BeTV and PRIME.Belgacom offers BBC One and BBC Two as part of its standard package.

| www.belgacom.be

| www.prime.be

| www.betv.be

Satellite

Satellites are hugely popu lar in Brussels. Ori-ented to the Astra 2D satellite, a vast number of channels can be received, including the BBC’s digital output (for chil dren, art-lovers and fans of Parliament), all transmitted free to satellite. US forces channels are popular for fans of baseball and American football. Cards for decoders from national schemes other than the UK can be used here legally, but there’s some dispute over Sky’s decoder usage.

For decades, Belgium led Europe in its provision of Tv channels. The country was one of the first in the world to introduce cable Tv (trials began in the 1960s) and, as the foreign population grew, Tv providers gradually added channels from neighbouring countries. For access to Tv, you need to sign up with a cable company, a digital Tv provider or a satellite provider.

Channel hopping


Tv channels available in Belgium

BBC one: The main British TV channel, which broadcasts soaps, reality TV and CBBC children’s shows.

BBC Two: Similar to BBC One, but aimed at a more highbrow audience. Programmes include dramas, documentaries and reality series.

RTBF 1: French-language Belgian chan nel with the news, game shows, sports and documen-taries.

RTBF 2: French-language Belgian chan nel with programmes such as Veronica’s Closet, always in French.

RTL-Tvi: French-language Belgian evening chan nel with series such as The West Wing (dubbed).

vRT-één: Flemish TV channel with Dutch-lan-guage dramas and docu mentaries, plus US and British series and documentaries in English.

Ketnet/ Canvas: Broadcasts children’s TV channel Ketnet in the early evening, then switch-es to Canvas for mainstream pro grammes. Canvas shows US dramas such as The Sopranos and Six Feet Under, British hits including The Office, and a range of films.

vTM: Dutch-language Belgian chan nel showing popular US and British series in English.

2BE: Dutch-language Belgian channel that broadcasts popu lar US series such as Bones and How I Met Your Mother.

vT4: Dutch-language Belgian channel similar to VTM.

viJFtv: Dutch-language Belgian chan nel broadcasting series such as Grey’s Anatomy in English.

Télé Bruxelles: Francophone channel with news from Brussels.

Tv Brussel: Flemish local channel with news from Brussels. The channel has a news and lifestyle programme called Brussels International in English on Sunday evenings.


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Not a load of rubbish

Many local authorities in Belgium require residents to sort rubbish by category for sub-sequent recycling, safe disposal or incinera-tion. In many places, includ ing Brussels, you can be fined if you don’t sort your rubbish properly.

Getting rid of glass

Collections vary between communes. Brus-sels no longer accepts glass in the blue bag. Residents should take old rinsed jars and bot-tles to one of the many bottle banks around the streets.Many beer, wine and water bottles have a container deposit levied on them at purchase. Return them to where you bought them to get your deposit back. This is the most ecologi cal option for container recycling: a bottle can be washed and reused 50 times on average, which is far less energy- intensive than either recycling glass or making it new from raw materials.

Too BIG to bag

If there’s any life left in your cast-offs, think of the charitable organisations that welcome donated objects for their stores. For truly de-funct, broken or throw-out household objects – defined as things you could take with you when you move, such as mattresses, furni-ture, carpets and electrical goods, but not window frames, old sinks or building rubble – some authorities offer a free house-to-house collection service. For example, Brussels Re-gion will collect a maximum 2m3 without charge every six months; beyond that, you will be charged €19 per m3.Other large objects can be taken to a contain-er park, which anyone renovating their home or indulging in a spot of DIY will likely get to know quite well. Rules can vary widely from region to region. Brussels has two regional container parks (in Laeken and Forest),

where a team of eagle-eyed stewards check over your load and indicate what to put in which skip (and what must be paid for). There are also a few communal container parks.

Wood, metal, garden waste, old electrical goods and other junk are free to dump. Not so building waste, which costs €3 per 20kg bag of rubble, for example. Roofing or asbestos must be collected by specialist companies.

Too toxic to toss

So-called ‘small chemical waste’ can also be taken to the container park, or to mobile col-lection points that visit each commune (in Brussels Region). Old paint pots and the like, mercury thermometers, photographic fluids (but not professional quantities), neon lightsand medicines come into this category. Phar-macies will also take out-of-date or superflu-ous medicines off your hands.

Sorting out the waste

Batteries are disposed of in special containers

CONTACT US 02 549 75 40rue Montoyer 41 • 1000 Brussels

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Quiz

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday

APRiL MAi JUnE

JULy AUGUST SEPTEMBER

12

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30

oplossing Quiz 1. A, B & C! 2.A 3.C 4.B 5.A

Get more dates on www.thebulletin.be

DatesMAy 7 EURoPEAn QUARTER, BRUSSELS

Open Day: The European institutions open their doors to the public, giving us a glimpse of what really happens in the Brussels corridors of power. (www.fetedeleurope.eu)

MAy 8 RUE DE TRonE, BRUSSELS

Start Your Own Business in Belgium: For budding expat entrepreneurs, consultancy Local Knowledge holds a free half day seminar on how to set up and run a business here (www.local-knowledge.be).

MAy 23 LE CHâTEAU SAinTE AnnE, BRUSSELS

The Duchess of Richmond’s Ball: Meet fellow expats and support The Royal British Legion, Community Health Ser-vice, British Charitable Fund and Reine Fabiola’s Children’s Hospital at this charity ball (www.britishinbrussels.com)

MAy 25 HALLES ST-GéRy, BRUSSELS

Discover Brussels!: Cafe Babel Brussels hosts a speed dating evening where expats and Brusseleers have seven minutes to exchange information on their life, culture, and views on the capital (www.bruxelles.cafebabel.com)

SEPTEMBER 18 AvEnUE DES ERABLES, RHoDE SAinT-GEnèSE

Hints for Living in Belgium: The Ameri-can Women’s Club of Brussels starts its Fall 2012 Classes for all English speak-ing newcomers of all nationalities (www.awcb.org)

SEPTEMBER RADiSSon, AnTWERP

Antwerp Expat Night: An evening out and a chance to find out about life in Belgium. Feast at the buffet, try your luck with the tombola and enjoy the entertainment. Date to be confirmed.

1. Congratulations, you’re moving to Belgium! What do you say when people ask you why? A. It’s an enlightened country with excellent quality of life and great

cultural, gastronomic and historical riches. It’s also the nerve centre of the European Union, where some of the biggest decisions that affect our daily lives are taken.

B. Chips. Beer. Chocolate. C. It’s the home of surrealism, why else?

2. it’s moving day! What should you keep close to hand? A. Passports, essential phone numbers, and a “first day kit”

(chargers, adapters, kettle, a couple of mugs, duvet and pillow, toothbrush)B. Valium, cheap chocolate, vodka miniatures and your mum’s phone number.C. A walrus.

3. What should you bring with you to register at the Commune? A. A bucket of herring to distribute to the officials you meet. B. A thermos flask and a sleeping bag, because it’ll be a long wait. C. Passport photos, an ID card or passport, proof of employment for non-EU citizens

4. What is an “état des lieux” or “plaatsbeschrijving”? A. The new Martin Margiela fragrance. B. The vital inventory tenant and landlord need to agree before you can move

into a rental property.C. The first phrase of a traditional Belgian rhyme about hare coursing.

5. There’s a policeman at the door of your new flat – what do you do?A. Invite him in and confirm that you live there – he’s just checking to

complete your registration with the commune. B. Confess to a series of crimes in your panic. C. Introduce him to your walrus.

Colour-coding b

The sorting guide given here is valid for Brus-sels. Other towns have similar systems; local waste collection authorities can provide detailed advice. White bags are collected twice weekly in Brussels; yellow and blue bags once a week.

Yellow bag

Paper goes in there and it must be clean and dry. Anything from news papers and phone directories to biscuit packaging and shoe boxes is fine. You may dispense with the bag and fill card-board boxes with paper, or tie bundles of newspapers or flattened card-board boxes with string, so the collection team can clearly see that it’s paper only, but beware the effects of rain (you’re respon sible until the moment of collection).

Blue bag

This is designed for an assortment of recycla-ble packaging materials: rigid plastic, drinks cartons, metal food containers including alu-minium food trays and metal lids, and aerosol cans – emp tied and rinsed. Tetrapak-style drink cartons can go in here, as well as water, shampoo and cleaning fluid contain ers; but not lighter plastic used for the likes of marga-rine and yoghurt pots, salad containers and biscuit packag ing, nor foil or plastic film, nor packag ing for toxic or corrosive substances.

Green bag

This bag is for garden waste – trim mings, prunings, old plants, cut flowers, grass and leaves – and the collection is weekly from April to November. Food scraps and other kitchen waste are not allowed in this bag – but are perfect compost material, if you have space.

White bag

This is the bag for most non-recyclable house-hold waste (from nappies and plas tic biscuit wrappers to polystyrene and food-soiled paper). What can’t be reused or recycled in Brussels – 500,000 tonnes a year – goes up in smoke at the incinerator along the canal in Neder-Over-Heembeek. About 30 percent in weight and 8 per cent in volume remains after incineration. Metal is then removed, while the rest ends up under roads or in other landfill .

Need help?

Fostplus is the organisation behind the collection and sorting of domestic packaging waste in Belgium and has plenty of tips and info in English. www.fostplus.be. More info (in French and Dutch) is available from Bruxelles Propreté/Net Brussel, www.bruxelles-proprete.be, www.netbrussel.be, tel 0800.931.81

True colours: you’ll soon get the hang of recycling



MovinG MovinG

* conditions apply. For more information call 0800 800 25, go to one of our retailers or to www.voo.be


Lost in Belgium?

For an expatriate, there is nothing worse than the feeling of being cut o� from your family and country, unable to make contact by telephone or over the Internet.

VOO’s Trio Packs (TV NET TEL) bring you the simple solutions you need, whether you live in Wallonia or Auderghem, Evere, Ixelles, Saint-Gilles, Uccle or Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

INTERNET: enjoy a powerful, fast and very stable Internet connection, even when your television is switched on.

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PAY TV: its premium services and packages are also exclusive to VOO. Enjoy the best movies and television

series in the original language, as well as top sporting action.

You don’t need to worry about a thing! An installer will do all the work for you and will visit you as soon as possible. All you need to do is call 0800 800 25 or visit www.voo.be. Both are available in English.

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Call 0800 800 25 or go to www.voo.be We take care of the rest !


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