Moving to Belgium

Located in the heart of the continent and housing the headquarters of the European Union and NATO in its capital, Belgium is a melting pot of influences from around the world. As a result, it is one of Europe's most diverse and fascinating countries.

Belgium is rich in both cultural history and cultural pleasures. What wine is to France, beer is to Belgium. With a reputation for gastronomy and the most outstanding selection of the world's finest brews, this diverse nation is warm and welcoming to anyone planning to settle here.

Living in Belgium as an expat

To a large extent, the country is split between two dominant culture groups, the Flemings and the Walloons. The Flemish community is Dutch-speaking, primarily based in the north of the country in Flanders and constitutes around half of the Belgian population. The French-speaking Walloons live in the south and east of the country in Wallonia, making up around a third of the populace. There is also a smaller German-speaking population in the eastern part of the country, near the border with Germany.

All three of these languages are officially recognised, and while they may be predominant in certain areas, the Belgian capital is legally bilingual. This infiltrates every aspect of daily life in Brussels, from street signs to business dealings. This unique mix of cultures is one of the most challenging aspects to come to terms with but also one of the most fascinating.

Brussels is the political powerhouse of Europe with its historic Gothic buildings and European Union office blocks. Outside the thriving capital lies picturesque countryside, the wooded gorges of the Ardennes, and an assortment of undiscovered lazy seaside towns.

Expat families and children

With one of the world's highest living standards and excellent quality of life, expats moving to Belgium can take full advantage of its housing, healthcare, education and infrastructure. Belgium has a high-quality public transport system and a highly developed and incredibly dense motorway network, which links it with other European routes and facilitates access to neighbouring countries.

Cost of living in Belgium

There's a price to pay for all this, and the good life in Belgium incurs a high cost of living. That said, expats who can afford this high cost of living will undoubtedly have a unique and positive experience during their stay.

Climate in Belgium

The weather in Belgium is not one of the country's selling points. Though not necessarily unpleasant, light rain is fairly constant throughout the year and can be a bit inconvenient. To reduce the risk of being caught off guard, carrying a small umbrella in case of sudden showers is a good idea.

Those not fond of heat will surely enjoy the mildness of Belgian summers, with temperatures hovering around 72°F (22°C). Winters can be chilly, with temperatures ranging from just above freezing to around 39°F (4°C), and there may be snowfall.

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Fast facts

Official name: Kingdom of Belgium

Population: 11.9 million

Capital city: Brussels

Other major cities: Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Bruge and Liège

Neighbouring countries: Belgium is bordered by The Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east,  Luxembourg to the south and France to the west.

Geography: Belgium is a small Western European country with three main geographic regions: the northwest coastal plain, the central plateau and the Ardennes. The Ardennes is a heavily forested, rocky plateau in southern Belgium. The rest of the country has a rather flat landscape, with a few natural lakes and many artificial waterways and canals.

Political system: Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Main languages: Dutch, French, German, English

Major religions: Christianity

Currency: The Euro (EUR) is the official currency and is divided into 100 cents.

Time: GMT+1 (+2 from the end of March to the end of October)

Electricity: 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are used.

International dialling code: +32

Internet domain: .be

Emergency number: 112

Transport and driving: Cars drive on the right-hand side of the road. The country has an excellent public transport system, including trains, trams and buses which connect various cities and regions in Belgium. Expats can generally get by without having to own a car.