Tutorial for foreigners moving to Brussels

Me: 25 years old, Hungarian, researcher, loves walking in parksPlease in case of any comments I suggest to contact me privately if possible (if you know me)!

[moving2brussels]

Belgium less popular among exchange students

Belgium has become less popular as a destination for foreign students since the 22 March attacks. AFS that organises exchanges for secondary school pupils says that there are far fewer youngsters enrolled in its exchange programme for the coming school year. [...] VUB says that 20% Erasmus students are enrolled than at the same time last year.The university believes that the 22 March terrorist attacks have had an impact.The VUB’s Nikki Van Tendeloo told VRT News that "We can’t say with 100% certainty, but we have very strong suspicions that this is the case.”

Source: http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News/1.2663718

[moving2brussels]

Arriving in Belgium: a tale of bureaucracy by Nadia Bunce http://www.fansofflanders.be/Categories/Blogs/26092012%20Nadia%20Bunce/Bureaucracy

[nevver]

[moving2brussels]

I love that, here in Brussels, people are open-minden and accept the arguments of others. Majority of my friends and colleagues support liberal and left-wing views, instead of Trump, Putin, Orban and Duterte. We often talk about politics (like the U.S elections in which we all agree with the politics of Bernie).

I haven’t faced any aggressive, radical or intolerant views here up till now.

EDIT

This weekend I met someone who told me that he loves Putin’s patriotism, but an other friend asked us not to talk about politics because that would be an endless story.

[moving2brussels]

Brussels Pride 2016

Photos from the official Facebook website of Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The second photo’s slogan says that LGBT acceptance begins in the family.

[dailybrussels]

Abbaye de la Cambre.

[soldiers-of-war-deactivated2022]

[moving2brussels]

It is mid-May, but still not uncommon to see soldiers with guns on the streets since March 22. Even in my street soldiers are guarding some buildings. This probably remains the same until the security level is not below 3 :S

[moving2brussels]

Ghent

Ghent (or Gent) is just 50 km away Brussels, so it could be a cool weekend program to visit Ghent and take a walk in the city center. Students from Brussels often go to Ghent because there are many programs, workshops and concerts there :)

[moving2brussels]

Blankenberge

If you are visiting Bruges / Brugge, it worth it to travel 15 more to watch the sunset in Blankenberge. If the weather is hot, you can spend the whole day at the beach but the North Sea is not very warm (never warmer than 17 Celsius).

[moving2brussels]

Tomorrow: Pride

Tomorrow is the gay pride parade. Even at the Etterbeek Commune the LGBT rainbow flag is flying beside the Belgian flag. By the way I haven’t heard a single negative comment about the Brussels Pride (which is not the case for example in Budapest)!

[moving2brussels]

Registration at the Commune

Today I had to go the Etterbeek Commune and register my address. The administration was quick, my passport, my rental contract and employment contract was checked, I had bring passport four photos and fill a new form with my date of birth and my parents' date of birth and my previous and present profession. The only thing that surprised me is that the department of "Service des Etrangers" / "Dienst Vreemdelingen" is in the -1st floor under the ground.

I am going to receive an invitation letter from the Commune after an officer checked that I really live at my address. Then I have to go back for my regular documents (because now I only got temporary certificates).

[moving2brussels]

Bruges / Brugge

Bruges / Brugge is one of the most beautiful city of Belgium, definitely it worth it to travel to Bruges for a day (at least). We went by car and it took one hour and fifteen minutes (100 km).

[moving2brussels]

Ascension Friday in the Royal Park

I don’t know if it is common or not, but on Ascension Friday (6th/May/2016) there were many street food caravans kiosks and beer tents in the Royal Park close to the fountain when I visited the park. I recommend it to everyone! :)

[moving2brussels]

Park #11: Parc de Bruxelles / Warandepark

Nice and big, the western side is rather calm, the eastern side at the fountain and the metro station is more living and louder. It’s ideal after a long walk in the city center. It is next to the Royal Palace (Palais Royal) what also has a beautiful garden.

[moving2brussels]

Today I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to bring my stuffs to the terrace, sit there and enjoy the good weather. I was standing in the door and opening the door of the terrace with my right hand (my laptop in my left hand), when a flower pot fell down from the 3rd or 4th floor and broke into pieces. It was like an explosion. I was so frightened, that I almost dropped my laptop. I changed my mind, I didn’t go the terrace.

A bit later I started to collect its pieces (approx. 15-20) and put together them. I taped together the pieces with adhesive tape. It seems not every pieces fell down to my ground floor terrace. Perhaps half of it broke when it fell down to the 3rd or 2nd floor then immediately rolled down and broke into pieces in front of me.

[moving2brussels]

One day before Ascension in Colruyt supermarket in the evening

Ascension Day (Ascension / Onze Lieve Heer hemelvaart) is a public holiday in Belgium, so the supermarkets and stores are closed too. Everyone goes shopping the previous day after work, so I had to stand 20 minutes in the queue. It was horrible...

[moving2brussels]

Insurance for tenants

ING offers Family and Home insurance for tenants as well, which can be done online. It is the cheapest and easiest way, especially if you are already an ING client.

You just have to answer to to following questions:

What type of property is it? How big is the area of main building and outbuilding? Number of rooms larger than 4 m2? Has there been any damage caused by flooding of the property in the last 5 years?

Do you want to include Theft insurance? Do you want to add Family insurance (Covers damage that you cause to other people)?

Have you (and/or one of your household members) ever been refused or had cancelled a fire, family or car insurance by an insurance company in the last 5 years? Do all the exterior doors of the property that you wish to insure have cylinder locks? Is a professional activity carried out in the property in addition to private occupancy?

How would you like to pay the insurance? If you want them to take the monthly insurance automatically from you account, you will also need to fill a form and sign it.

[moving2brussels]

Rental guarantee deposit

At ING it is possible for non-residents to deposit the rental guarantee to a blocked account without the landlord. For that, you only need the rental contract and a copy of the owner’s ID card. The copies and forms with the details of the ING account will be either scanned and sent to the landlord, or you have to deliver it and bring it back with his/her signature.

Basically, a whole new account is opened for you. You are the account holder, but since the feature of the account is “Private - Rental guarantee” (Sundry: ING Green Savings Account), this account will be blocked.

Not much paperwork, it can be done in 15 minutes, the next day you can transfer the amount to this account.