Best Areas And Suburbs In Brussels part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.
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Introduction
So, you’ve made the decision to move to Brussels. Congratulations! This beautiful city has a lot to offer expats. But before you can start enjoying all that Brussels has to offer, there are a few things you need to understand before planning to relocate. In fact, there are plenty of apartments and houses for rent, as well as furnished rooms.
Also, you can find a place to live through classified ads, estate agents, or by word of mouth. Brussels is well-connected, so it’s easy to find your way around. Just make sure you understand how to use the metro, trams, and buses before leaving. Besides, traffic congestion in Brussels is nothing like what you’ll experience in other cities, but there are traffic jams on the ring road during rush hours.
Once you’ve found a place to live, it’s time to get settled in. Also, get a Belgian bank account! This will make it easy to pay bills and receive payments from abroad. Moreover, living in Brussels could be your best decisions in 2022. All you need is to read through what we’ve compiled here for you. Another important thing to do is get a Belgian phone number.
This will make it easier for people to contact you, and you can use it to receive calls from abroad at a lower cost. Have you surfed the internet to get the right information about moving to Brussels as an expat? Look no further, as we’ve got you covered in this article to explain the best areas and suburbs in Brussels.
That being said, we have compiled some of the pros and cons of living in Brussels to give you a head start. Aside from this fact, you’ll know more about the best tourist attractions, and many others, to mention a few. Are you ready to explore what we have for you? If that sounds like a yes, read further!
Concept of Living in Brussels as an Expat
Living in Brussels is quite different from what you’ve been experiencing in the Western world. To make your way out, and relocate to this place, you need some guidelines and ultimate tips.
Firstly, Brussels is not a huge city. For example, you could walk from the northernmost to the southernmost points of Brussels in under an hour. So you can definitely get around on foot! But there are usually other ways to get to where you’re going, too – buses and trams run regularly across the city and serve most neighborhoods. And if all else fails, there are taxis!
Brussels is also home to an international population. So whether you’re looking for a friendly conversation over a coffee or wanting to make friends with people from other countries, you won’t have any problems connecting with the community here. Many expats like to meet up with other expats for a drink or a meal, while others take the opportunity to learn about different cultures and customs.
So what else can you do here? There’s no shortage of museums, galleries, and other cultural attractions in Brussels. The city is particularly well known for its surrealist art, so why not check out some of the famous museums like the Magritte Museum or the MIM? If you’re a fan of music, theatre, or dance, there are plenty of events to choose from in Brussels. And if you just want to relax in a park or wander around some beautiful streets, Brussels has plenty of that too.
Tips to Moving To Brussels as an Expat
It can be daunting to uproot and move to a new city, especially in an unfamiliar place like Brussels. But with a bit of organization and advance planning, you can make a move, and go as smoothly as possible. So here are some tips that will help make your time in Brussels easier.
Where to Live
Brussels is an international city with people from all over Europe and the world living here, so you will have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and expats. However, even with all those options available, an expat needs to pick the right neighborhood in Brussels. Depending on your lifestyle and needs, different neighborhoods would be better suited for you.
If you’re looking for a lively neighborhood with plenty of bars, restaurants, and activities, then the EU district or Saint-Gilles would be good choices. If you’re looking for something more family-friendly with great schools and green spaces, neighborhoods like Uccle or Watermael-Boitsfort may be better suited for you.
Learning the Language
One of the biggest challenges for any expat is learning the local language. Brussels is no different, and while English is widely spoken, it’s always beneficial to learn some basic phrases in French or Dutch. There are plenty of language schools in Brussels that can offer classes for all levels.
And, once you start to get a grasp of the language, there are also plenty of ways to practice your speaking skills. There are many meetups and events for expats where you can meet locals and practice your conversation skills.
Getting Around
Brussels is a very walkable city, and most of the main attractions are in the city center. However, if you need to get around Brussels more quickly, there is an excellent public transport system. The buses, trams, and metro system are all easy to use and can take you pretty much anywhere in the city.
Finding a Job
One of the benefits of Brussels being an international city is that there are plenty of jobs available for expats. However, it can be difficult to find a job if you don’t have the right skills or experience. The best way to find a job in Brussels is to use the many online resources and available job boards.
Brussels is a small city, and it won’t take you long to commute between job boards or events with jobs on offer. Also, most international companies will have their hiring process, so it would be best to contact them directly for information about applying for jobs with your company’s HR department.
What to Do
Brussels is a very international city. This means that many events and cultural activities are going on so you will never be bored in this city. There’s always something new to discover, whether visiting a new museum or attending some festival.
There are all sorts of museums, galleries, and monuments in Brussels that expats should visit at least once. The Atomium is a must-see for anyone visiting Brussels, and the city’s churches are also very beautiful. As for festivals, there are many to choose from, but some of the most popular ones are the Jazz Festival, the Film Festival, and the Christmas market.