Brussels and Belgium are great places to live and work, whether you plan to stay for a year or two or maybe more. These are some of the advantages:
Belgium has a lucrative labor market
There is a great demand for qualified and trained professionals. This is especially true in Brussels, where most of the EU institutions are based. Also, there are many international corporations located in the city and the surrounding region. Flanders, north of Brussels, is also home to many internationally renowned companies.
Housing is relatively affordable
Some parts of Brussels can be expensive, but rents in Belgium are generally much lower than in Britain or London. There is also no shortage of affordable properties to buy and rent.
Commuting to work is easier and cheaper than in the UK
Although trains can be full, distances tend to be relatively short. And train tickets are much cheaper than in Britain and cost half the price everywhere in Belgium on weekends.
Transport links are excellent
Living and working in Belgium and especially Brussels means that you will never be far from the UK. Eurostar high speed train service to the UK is now very fast and much more convenient than flying, assuming you live in the south of England. It takes less than 2 hours to get from central Brussels to central London. Plus, you’ll never be more than a few hours from the Belgian North Sea coast, most of which is made up of golden sandy beaches.
A more relaxed work culture
The work culture in Belgium is more relaxed than in the UK and employees have more legal protection and social benefits such as holidays, which are usually a generous 5 or 6 weeks after the first year. There are also more holidays.
Good food and drink
Belgium also has a world famous cuisine that surprises even the French. There is also a huge variety of great Belgian beers to try!
Language is not really a problem
Most people in Belgium speak English quite well and in many large companies the working language is English. Belgium, and especially Brussels, have a large expat population, and in most cases, you can do it in English. However, learning French or Dutch (the two main languages of Belgium) is a good idea to get the best out of the country and to be able to integrate better.
The media are international
The media in Belgium is very international, especially television. Most Belgians have cable TV (which now also offers phone and internet services). There are about 40 TV channels available, most of which are not Belgian. And BBC1 and BBC2 are available throughout Belgium as standard.
Bottom line: Belgium is a great location, whether you’re looking to emigrate for the longer term or just to spend time living and working in another EU country. Belgium is not perfect, of course, but overall I would say the pros outweigh any cons.
I moved here two years ago and I am glad I made the decision. It has been worth it and I highly recommend that you consider Belgium as a destination if you are thinking of moving abroad.
