While it’s more affordable than the majority of other major cities in Europe, the rental market in Brussels is highly competitive. Before signing a contract, landlords have a legal duty to set out the charges relating to the apartment and how they are calculated.
After moving into your new home, you can focus on the more fun side to your new life. Here’s some advice on adapting to local customs and culture.
"},"alignedImage":{"position":"top","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/b432fbd4-619a-4726-a502-82ec2c219dc1/portrait-of-young-woman-standing-on-street","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/443ecb5f01ae7693/original/portrait-of-young-woman-standing-on-street.jpg","extension":"jpg"}},{"componentType":"accordion","accordionList":[{"title":"Weather","richBody":{"value":"Don’t forget your raincoat and umbrella! Meteorologists class Belgium’s climate as ‘temperate maritime’, meaning it has mild summers and winters. But this frequently translates into four seasons in one day, with frequent rain. But you can also join locals in heading outdoors or onto a café terrace every time there’s a ray of sunshine.
"}},{"title":"Traffic","richBody":{"value":"Traffic is a major headache, especially if you’re driving in and around Brussels. Public transport is however extensive in Brussels with buses, trams and a metro system as well as trains. Apart from major cities that are linked to the national rail network, it can be difficult to access some places in the countryside without a car.
Belgium is a cycling nation and bike lanes have long been part of the road infrastructure in Flanders. Now Brussels and the rest of the country are catching up with the addition of more cycling lanes to encourage use. While helmets are not compulsory for cyclists, they are highly recommended. Many cyclists also use reflective vests to improve visibility.
"}},{"title":"Food and drink","richBody":{"value":"Eating and drinking are a national pastime. Belgians are accustomed to cooking from scratch at home, appreciate fine dining and will find any excuse to gather for a convivial aperitif.
As a land of beer and chocolate, there’s also a growing number of craft brews and artisan chocolatiers. Waffles and fries are among numerous other tasty specialities. Traditional regional dishes, from winter-warming stews to steaming mussels and a variety of sweet pastry tarts, form an endless culinary trail waiting to be discovered.
And there’s more to Belgium than beer. The country produces its own wine, especially white and sparkling varieties, plus plenty of spirits and liqueurs, including jenever, peket and an increasing number of local gins.
"}},{"title":"Culture","richBody":{"value":"Its francophone, Germanic and multicultural influences have given Belgium an extraordinarily rich and diverse cultural history. Its cutting-edge contemporary arts enjoy a worldwide reputation. Be it dance, theatre, film, music or art, there’s always something exciting going on.
Belgium also has an enviable festival scene, with plenty of music festivals from dance to folk and reggae every summer, while every city appears to host its own film festival. This bubbling creative scene also extends to the world of fashion and design. Brussels in particular attracts many international artists who appreciate its open-minded culture.
"}},{"title":"Sport","richBody":{"value":"Belgians are great fans of sport, and not only cycling and football, which are among the few passions that unify this sometimes disparate country. And there are plenty of other sporting pursuits for all ages and interests.
Clubs and associations abound in villages, towns and cities all over the country. You may have to seek them out, but the rewards are endless. Community life underpins Belgian society and is one of the best ways of integrating yourself into local life.
"}},{"title":"Must-see places","richBody":{"value":"The centre of Brussels is home to the world-famous medieval Grand Place. It’s surrounded by cobbled passages and landmark sites such as the Manneken Pis, a small bronze statue of a peeing boy that is symbolic of the city.
The newly renovated Bourse building in the downtown pedestrian area houses Belgian Beer World, and has a rooftop bar. Head to Mont des Arts for the museum quarter, or the nearby Sablon area for galleries, stylish restaurants and authentic bars and cafes. There are more museums in Cinquantenaire Park, one of Brussels’ many green spaces.
One of the architectural styles to indelibly leave its mark on Brussels is Art Nouveau. Visit the Horta Museum in Saint-Gilles, the home and studio of pioneering designer and architect Victor Horta, or the spectacular nearby Maison Hannon.
Every large city in Belgium has a charming square and at least one worthwhile museum. Beyond the tourist mecca of Bruges, consider visiting Ghent. It’s another historic city with medieval marvels, but fewer crowds and lots of cool places to eat and shop.
Wallonia, the south of the country, is full of abbeys and castles. From ruins to thriving monasteries and new eco-friendly estates, they make a perfect day out.
"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"And last but not least, ready for a language course?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Belgium has three official languages: French, Dutch and German. People living in the northern half of Belgium (Flanders) speak Dutch, those living in the southern half (Wallonia) speak French. Brussels is officially bilingual, although French is the majority spoken language. But no worries if you don't speak any of the languages yet, in most places they will be able to help you in English.
Belgicisms
It can be taxing, but one of Belgium’s hidden charms is its multilingualism, dialects and expressions. Flemish dialects can be incomprehensible even to fluent Dutch speakers, and the Walloon language bears little resemblance to French, varying according to each region. In the capital, the dialect is Dutch based, combined with some French, plus a sprinkling of Spanish thanks to the country’s chequered past. All these dialects share a highly expressive and colourful vocabulary.
"},"alignedImage":{"position":"left","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/f67677e9-eff5-44fe-a051-00c838bee38b/Two-best-friends-taking-a-coffee-in-a-city-bar","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/4f5047a6c964d054/original/Two-best-friends-taking-a-coffee-in-a-city-bar.jpg","extension":"jpg"}},{"componentType":"highlight","richBody":{"value":"Examples of Belgian expressions:
Brol Odds and ends, a bit of a mess
Chope/Pintje Draught beer
Ca cloppe That works
Couque Pastry
Cul sec, à fond Down in one, frequently used by students when drinking a chope/pintje
Dikkenek Big-headed
Drache Heavy rain
Guindaille Party with friends or fellow students
Kot Student room
De la mitraille Small change
Non peut-être Yes, certainly
A tantôt See you later
En stoemeling To do something on the quiet, discreetly
Wasserette Laundry