Awesome video. As someone who spent a month there in the summer of 2022, the most underrated thing about Belgium is how quickly you can get to almost anywhere in Central Europe. Paris in one and a half hours, Bruges in one hour, Gent in 30 minutes, Antwerp in one hour, London on the Eurostar in two hours, Amsterdam in less than three hours. It was amazing how many day trips I took. I loved it so much.
Yes in deed Sir Galahad! It's a wonderful perk of being here :) Having the EU institutions situated here also means great airfare deals to all of the EU country capitals :) Have a nice day!
I also lived in Belgium because I worked for about three months. I'm uploading a bruselles vlog of that time, and watching your video reminds me of that time. Thank you for the good explanation!
Hi Alexandra, nice video, I truly appreciate it as a Brussels citizen. You showed a lot of exemple that learn me to love my city again ! But I don't know if you say it, but I just want to remind you that Brussels is officially bilingual (French and Dutch). That's it, thanks for reading and keep going with these videos :) !
Thanks so much Xados for watching! I'm really glad to hear that as a Belgian you thought the video represented the country well :) I'll do my best to keep showing it in a good light in the future :) Have a nice day!
officially yea... but unofficially its mostly 95% french speaking... in fact dutch is not even the second language, english comes in second after that...
Hi Alexandra, thank you for these videos. They are so helpful. We are about to move from The Netherlands to Brussels and was wondering about the neighborhoods and gyms. I am American and my husband is Dutch. So your tips are so helpful. Thanks again!
Was just finding information about living in Belgium and your video came out on top. Thanks for this. This is such a nice and relaxing video to watch. It is very informative and covers a lot of the things that I wondered about.
Thank you this video was awesome! My husband and me are considering to move to Bruxelles from Hong Kong in the coming months and we are both Yoga and Pilates teachers as well. So this was really a lot of good information🙏🏻🙌🏻
Thank you very much for your information, I’ll be travelling to Brussels in the middle of June can’t wait. I do have some basic French being a Canadian, hopefully enough to get me by. Thanks for the help, 🇨🇦
@@AlexandraTempleton Not that controversial. Dutch is the official language (see all official documents) and spoken by more than 60% of the population. Flemish is an accent, not a language. Like Appalachian or Bostonian are accents, not languages. Great videos Alexandra!
Thank you so much, it is a very useful and informative video I like yoga maybe i can book some slots with you when i move here Good luck with your business 💪
Thanks for this video! 👌 I didn't know about this flat rent website and the one for logistic information. 👍 I'm selfemployed and asked myself if there will be also special regulations for taxes ("steuerbefreiter Kleinunternehmer") like in Germany and how it works with the Healthcare ("Künstlersozialkasse") in Belgium. But I will find out! 🇧🇪🇩🇪😂
wow amazing content.ur great! just thinking of moving there with my girl cause a pretty nice job i got offered but i saw the tax scale and i got freaked out. u helped me a lot.
I'm moving to Brussels in 9 days, this is so helpful but because im staying only for 6 months I havent been able to find furnished housing. im so stressed! 😞
Thanks for watching MS! I'm glad the video helped you out :) Best of luck on your move here and if you need any more resources to find housing, check out the description box below the video :)
Thanks much dear! First of all, you're such a darling! 💓🌷🏳️⚧️ I'm planning to visit Belgium and would be super excited to watch your next video about it. xoxo, Fairy
Thank you so much, Fairy! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video :) I have a few more videos about Belgium here on the channel if you'd like to see more like this one :) Wishing you safe travels when you come here!
Hi David! I haven’t updated this one, per se, but I have a bunch of other videos on life in Brussels that you can find here: ua-cam.com/play/PLwNp-sCwWpa89_REU7F5S3PBZPYN3hvT4.html&si=PulzGox7XF_zZrWr
Nice video! The official language in Flanders is Dutch though, not Flemish! The colloquial language a lot of Flemings speak everyday, is often referred to as 'Flemish', but - as I said - that's different from the official language ;). I get that it's difficult though as a foreigner to understand the difference between Flemish and Dutch (especially if you don't live in Flanders).
Wrong. She is right to call it Flemish. Keep in mind foreigners call it Flemish for a good reason. Last but not least FYI: !! the Netherlands has silently introduced Flemish in their country !! As well as many other Belgian cultural determinants. Yes you read that right, they are speaking and using our Flemish now. It's hilarious how pretentious they are. - from a Belgian living in the Netherlands
@@galaxia4709I am American and worked in the Netherlands and in Flanders in Ieper, Mechelen, Brugges, Dordrecht, Amsterdam and Leiden. I was fascinated by peoples reaction to me as my surname is van Etten, my ancestors coming from Etten-Leur in the 1600s. It was like I was taken in and felt a warmth.
For expats working in Etterbeek and seeking affordable studio living options, including those open to countryside residences, what are the available choices?
Hi Sanjay, I'd recommend you check out this site: www.immoweb.be/en You can narrow down apartment listings based on zip code, maximum rental price, desired square footage, and much more. Hope this helps!
Thanks so much FBR! I haven't had the chance to visit Limburg yet, but it's quite close to BXL so maybe one of these weekends I'll venture out :) Thanks for watching!
Thanks for watching Kay! It's hard to give you an exact number as it will depend heavily on where & how much you work. But Google says the median salary of BXL is ~3.600Euro/month. Hope this helps!
Am I good if i know Dutch and English for living in Brussels (French isn't really for me)? Can you make videos about working as a personal trainer in Belgium (I'm planing to give it a try)?
Hey Nenad! Thanks for stopping by :) I think with English and Dutch you should be fine in BXL- all of the official documents are done in both Dutch and French so you're good there! Regarding a video on being a PT in Belgium, I can see what I can put together that may help others out- stay tuned ;)
Thank you Hery! I'm glad to hear the video helped you :) I would refer you to the website Expatica.com as they have a lot of info for self-employed people starting their own businesses/workshops :D Good luck!
Thanks Alex! Watching your video. I just got postdoc in VUB and planning to move Brussel by next month. Can you tell me about the accomodation near VUB campus?
Thanks Vinod! I'm glad you liked it, and wish you the best of luck on your move :) I'm not sure about campus accommodation, but I would check out the website Expatica.com/be :)
Efficient video, but you seem to forget that 2/3 of Belgium speeks Dutch, Flemish is a regional language, titel, the odfficiel name of our language is Nederlands not Vlaams
Thanks so much Nilakshi! I've heard really good things about the Goethe-Institut (www.goethe.de/ins/be/de/index.html?wt_sc=bruessel) Hope this helps and thanks for watching :D
Hi, I've enjoyed watching your videos about Brussels. I'm US and hoping to move to Brussels on a self employed freelance visa. I know some details about this visa route but am not sure about 'sponsorship' requirements as part of the visa application. I know other stuff (professional card, biz plan, etc) but can't tell if I need a Belgian citizen to sponsor me. I thought in your video you mentioned you had to get someone to sponsor you. But that was maybe another visa route? I will be in Brussels Oct 19-Nov10 to scout out the area. Are there any expat groups you recommend? What other links & info sources can you share on applying for a self employed visa in Belgium. I have reviewed expatica extensively so no need to repeat that info. Thx & keep the videos coming. They are very fun! John
Hi John! I'm so glad you're enjoying the Brussels series so far, and I wish you the best of luck on your move here :) Unfortunately I can't direct you to another visa source (Expatica is the best one I know) because I am on a visa via my partner here. I hope that you find what you're looking for!
Hey @Travelpakistan7864 I'm not entirely sure, as it probably depends on which country you're coming from, but I can refer you to this page which should have the answer you're looking for: www.expatica.com/be/working/ Have a nice day!
Yes yes you should be ok with just English in Brussels. It may depend on what you want to do for work, but navigating the city is pretty ok with just English. I would recommend you check out Expatica (linked in the video's description) for more info on housing options and prices :)
Hi Vlado! Thanks for watching :) I didn't mention any prices in the video on purpose to keep it timeless. Additionally, I published this over a year ago and now, with the current inflation, I don't think that any of the prices I would have quoted would be accurate today. Wishing you a nice day!
Hey flying bird! It's not great, especially in the winter months, but then the summers are beautiful! Long days, mild temperatures- so I guess you have to take the good with the bad :)
Hello Alexandra , i would like to know if american citizen with job offer from belgium , does he need work visa before moving to belgium or he can enter as tourist and with that contract he apply for work and resdence permit ?
Hi Lam! Thanks for watching :) As far as I know, Americans can come to Europe for travel for up to 90 days but they cannot make money here unless they have a specific work visa. You could come and find work within that 90 day period, but you would either need to be sponsored by a company or apply for an independent work visa (freelance). I'd recommend you check out this page for more specific answers: www.expatica.com/be/moving/visas/belgium-work-visas-422637/ Hope this helps! Have a nice day!
Taxes are high? Yes but we do have free Health care. You pay €2,5 to see A docter. Health care is actually a right. You are Born with it and Its not a choice. We have free education. for everybody to go and study! Clean city’s. If you have A accident and can’t work, you are still getting your salary as you are used to… City’s are clean and safe.. we do pay taxes to take care of everyone living here. Because Maybe you might need that help some day yourself. You should take an example…
Hey Atrel! I'm not entirely sure, but I can refer you to this page: www.expatica.com/be/ There might be something written that could answer your question, or point you in the right direction :)
www.bbc.co.uk/languages/european_languages/languages/flemish.shtml#:~:text=Flemish%20is%20a%20West%20Germanic,of%20the%20population%20of%20Belgium. The BBC might disagree with your assessment :) We don’t have a word for ‘Nederlands’ in English.
As a US citizen can you open a business in Belgium and get a residence permit from your business. I want to create a tennis academy targeted at ex-pat families in Europe but I am struggling with which country would be best.
Hey @thetennisjournal! That sounds like a great idea for a business and I wish you the best of luck in whichever country you choose :) Regarding residence permits and businesses, I'd recommend you check out this post: www.expatica.com/be/working/self-employment/starting-a-business-in-belgium-100139/ And if the answer isn't there, that website has a lot of helpful resources that should guide you in the right direction. Godspeed, friend!
hey thanks so much, love your videos! I checked it out! couldn't do too much specifically on residency though just the details of starting a business there. @@AlexandraTempleton
It’s quite humid here, so there is a fair amount of rain during the year. The months of November- March are characterised by short and largely overcast days :/ But then the Spring and Summer are gorgeous!!
Hello.I am a non-European citizen i'm a little off topic to ask about something for myself. I want to live and work in Belgium i work as a house painter can speak English and a little french and i want to apply for a visa. Which is the best way to apply for a visa into my country embassy in belgium embassy ? Can you please give me some informations on how to get a visa ?
Hello! I'm sorry but I can't help you with your specific question, I would refer you to the Expatica website I mentioned in the video as there will definitely be some resources to help you there.
@@AlexandraTempleton Move to Belgium :) We are so tiny and have a dense population. In Flanders we don't have a lot of nature also. I do know we have some good quality food though. All i can say is that i wish you the best of succes and i hope you enjoy your stay here.
@@wukkelvd6006 Thank you Wukkel VD that's very kind. I think Belgium is a beautiful country with lots to see :D I hope that more people can explore it!
For a bit ... but ... this again, is a Dutch being totally thinking they are superior without knowing history (or only knowing dutch history). No way, we would have stayed with the spanish (we don't like 'm). Anyway, another stupid religic "thinking we are right". Honestly ....
Meaning that there are a lot of expats ;) A lot of people who are going through the same transition of moving to a new country and starting a new chapter :)
@@achmadiid8644 It's been my experience living in Brussels that most people here speak French or Dutch, and English is also widely spoken :) Thanks for stopping by the channel!
e careful about moving and working in Belgium - they absolutely dislike and discriminate against foreigners there. Best is to stay in the capital Brussels for living and working!
Yeah, I moved to Brussels. I remained one year in that city. And it was a nightmare from the beginning to the end. But don't worry. Most Flemings who are so unfortunate to have ever lived in Brussels think that way about their own capital.
@@crush42mash6 Well, it has a lot to do with the Belgian history. In 1830 the Frencophone elites in Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders united to form Belgium. But not the common people, who didn't have a say in these matters anyway. Belgium was a country that allowed only French in the Belgian parliament, in the Belgian courts, in the Belgian admistration, in the Belgian schools, in the Belgian army and so on. Now, the Flemings didn't speak French, they speak Dutch. So there was a visceral discrimination against the Flemings, who were the majority among the Belgians. We had to wait for more than a century, before Belgium gave us our linguistic rights. We had to wait for more than a century before there was a university that allowed Dutch to be spoken in Flanders. During WWI the orders were only given in French, so Flemish soldiers died just because they couldn't understand the orders they were given. We had to wait until 1961 before we could transulate the Belgian constitution. And in the 1970's we were allowed to speak Dutch in the Belgian constituonal court. This created a lot of bad blood between the Frencophones and the Flemings. The current political situation is a direct result of it. In Flanders, the extreme right party (Vlaams Belang) is the biggest party of all. On the second place stands the NVA. They appear to have a majority in the Flemish parliament, if elections were held today. Both these parties have Flemish independence written in their political program. For me personally, I noticed nothing of Brussels being a bilingual capital of Belgium. Everywhere I went, people only spoke French. They couldn't understand Dutch at all. So I, as a Fleming, didn't feel welcome at all. That's why I left Brussels after one year and returned to Flanders. I have experienced the same Frencophone arrogance as my ancesters did, during their life. And, feeling completely unwelcome in the capital of my country, I stopped supporting Belgium all together. Something similar happened to me in the Belgian ambassade in Maroc. My papers were stolen, so I called the embassy. There was a Frencophone woman who picked up the phone and who couldn't understand basic Dutch. So, I needed to speak French, even though it is my constituonial right to speak Dutch to every employee in a Belgian embassy. That's also a reason to explain my political preference.
@@dirkgonthier101 Wow I am completely blown away at the history, sorry that you’ve been treated wrong within your own nation. I am a Canadian teacher who just recently retired and heading over there to see some friends. I am blown away at the beautiful history of the place and the architecture. I am not well-versed in the politics however. We also have our issues in Canada like anywhere else. I’m sorry to hear about your frustration but I do appreciate you taking the time to write such an articulate letter explaining your feelings. I am not looking to live there I’m just looking to go for a few weeks to visit some friends I have not seen for almost 25 years. Thank you for your time and educating me.
Learn Dutch!! And don't live in Brussels. It is Dirty. Flanders is cooler and cleaner . Brussels is ghetto Paris. It is also a fact that more people in Belgium speak Dutch than French. 😛
It's not going to be that easy. In general it will be considered obvious that you are able to communicate in the local language when applying for a job. They will only inquire about your knowledge of the second language (may be a necessary requirement for the job) or other languages.
Awesome video. As someone who spent a month there in the summer of 2022, the most underrated thing about Belgium is how quickly you can get to almost anywhere in Central Europe. Paris in one and a half hours, Bruges in one hour, Gent in 30 minutes, Antwerp in one hour, London on the Eurostar in two hours, Amsterdam in less than three hours. It was amazing how many day trips I took. I loved it so much.
Yes in deed Sir Galahad! It's a wonderful perk of being here :) Having the EU institutions situated here also means great airfare deals to all of the EU country capitals :) Have a nice day!
I also lived in Belgium because I worked for about three months. I'm uploading a bruselles vlog of that time, and watching your video reminds me of that time. Thank you for the good explanation!
That's great, Sumtokki :) I'm so glad my video was able to help you out. Thanks for watching and best of luck on the video!
Brussels is the city that has everything you need❤️
Agreed!
Hi Alexandra, nice video, I truly appreciate it as a Brussels citizen. You showed a lot of exemple that learn me to love my city again ! But I don't know if you say it, but I just want to remind you that Brussels is officially bilingual (French and Dutch). That's it, thanks for reading and keep going with these videos :) !
Thanks so much Xados for watching! I'm really glad to hear that as a Belgian you thought the video represented the country well :) I'll do my best to keep showing it in a good light in the future :) Have a nice day!
officially yea... but unofficially its mostly 95% french speaking...
in fact dutch is not even the second language, english comes in second after that...
@@SeArCh4DrEaMzglad to know that as I'm a french n English speaker if someday I'll move there
This is good stuf! You're very pleasant to watch and jup, also to listen to!
Thanks very much @tveirken1 :)
Hi Alexandra, thank you for these videos. They are so helpful. We are about to move from The Netherlands to Brussels and was wondering about the neighborhoods and gyms. I am American and my husband is Dutch. So your tips are so helpful. Thanks again!
Hi Brook! I’m so glad to hear the videos have been helpful :) I wish you and your husband the best of luck on your move to BXL ☺️👍
Great video! Informative and we'll structured. Thanks for all the info. My wife and are moving to Brussels in January and it was surely helpful.
Thanks so much! I'm so glad you found it helpful :) Best of luck on your move to Brussels :)
Merci beaucoup Alexandra for this sharing ! It's always a pleasure to teach French :)
Of course! Thanks for doing all you do for the newcomers to BXL who want to learn French :)
Was just finding information about living in Belgium and your video came out on top. Thanks for this. This is such a nice and relaxing video to watch. It is very informative and covers a lot of the things that I wondered about.
So glad to have helped! Safe travels to Brussels and best of luck on your move!
Thank you so much Alex! This video was really helpful for me. I'm moving to Brussels at the end of January and I'm pretty excited ❤️
My pleasure Maria! I’m so glad you found it helpful and wish you the best of luck on your move here 😁
Same here---Maybe I will see you around town
Maria, did you move? How are you finding it?
Thank you Muito Obrigada! Very helpfull video, im moving in january and I am excited but nervous as well, after the video i am a bit more at ease!
Oi Daniela! Obrigada por assistir :) Espero que tudo dá certo com a sua mudança à Bruxelas 🙏🏼
Thank you this video was awesome! My husband and me are considering to move to Bruxelles from Hong Kong in the coming months and we are both Yoga and Pilates teachers as well. So this was really a lot of good information🙏🏻🙌🏻
That's wonderful news, Corina! I wish you both the best of luck on your transition here and hope that find work at a great studio :)
Thanks for sharing--I recently landed a dream job and will be moving there really soon. Im really big into fitness so lets keep in touch
Thanks for watching E II! Congrats on landing the job and when you make it to Brussels you can catch me at Animo Studios for a class 🦾☺️
Thanks a lot! I just got a job in Brussels and will move there in April. It was very helpful
Thanks so much Bresophil! I'm so glad to hear that the video helped you :) Best of luck on your move to BXL!
Please how did you get the job I need some help
I’m moving to Brussels this year! This video was so helpful thank you!
Thanks so much, Ryan! I'm so glad to have helped you out :) Wishing you the best of luck on your move and transition to Brussels life ;)
@@AlexandraTempleton Thanks! I really appreciate you :) hoping to meet lovely people like you when I move there :)
Congrats!! Perfect description and coverage of all aspects!
Thanks Costas! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video :)
Great video. Thanks so much for the help. Expatica is great and has exactly the information I needed
Thanks so much Luxor37! I'm so glad the video helped you out :) Best of luck on your BXL journey!
Great video! Super well structured. Thank you!
Thanks so much Cristina! I'm really glad you found it helpful :) Have a great day!
Thank you very much for your information, I’ll be travelling to Brussels in the middle of June can’t wait. I do have some basic French being a Canadian, hopefully enough to get me by.
Thanks for the help, 🇨🇦
I'm so glad you found it helpful! Wishing you a great trip in June :D
I've never seen a video described Belgium like this I'm coming next month
Thank you! I hope you have a great time here :)
@@AlexandraTempleton please would you mind sending me the links of the schools that though French. thank you very much.
@@usmanalhassan9045 They are all linked in the description box of the video ;)
Its very interesting I hope that you update this video in the future by adding some videos from neighbourhood.
Thanks for watching inatlosrima! I will see what I can do in the way of a video update- stay tuned :)
@@AlexandraTempleton Thank you :)
Just a small note: 'Flemish' is not a language, the language of Flanders is Dutch. (it's the same as saying Americans speak 'American') 😉
I’m sure if I had said they speak Dutch in Belgium, there would be someone from Flanders commenting that they speak Flemish 😅 It’s a delicate topic 😉
@@AlexandraTempleton Not that controversial. Dutch is the official language (see all official documents) and spoken by more than 60% of the population. Flemish is an accent, not a language. Like Appalachian or Bostonian are accents, not languages. Great videos Alexandra!
nobody cares
@@veryhyped Who are you to say?
@@giloises i am who i am. goodbye
I liked your video it left me with a big smile throughout 😁 I’ve booked a 10 day trip to brussels in September 🥳😎 Im looking forward ❤️
Thanks so much Kingdom Within! I hope the video helped you find a few spots to visit during your trip :) Thanks for watching!
I plan to move here to play ping pong. And the beer lol 😂
Thank you for the video, very clear information
Thank you Yuber :) I'm so glad you found it helpful!
You've made me want to go and live there... even though I already do :) Great vid
Thanks so much @kwayski, that means a lot 😁 Have a great day!
Wonderful uploading
Good information for us
I enjoy your video..
Have a good day 💖♥️🌹🙏
Thanks a bunch Rehana! I'm so glad you found the video helpful :) Have a lovely day!
Amazing
Definitely helped me
I'm so glad to hear that Ziad! Thanks for watching :D
Thank you so much, it is a very useful and informative video
I like yoga maybe i can book some slots with you when i move here
Good luck with your business 💪
I'm so glad you found it helpful, Dark! Thanks for watching and best of luck on your move :)
Thanks for this video! 👌 I didn't know about this flat rent website and the one for logistic information. 👍 I'm selfemployed and asked myself if there will be also special regulations for taxes ("steuerbefreiter Kleinunternehmer") like in Germany and how it works with the Healthcare ("Künstlersozialkasse") in Belgium. But I will find out! 🇧🇪🇩🇪😂
My pleasure Leo! Best of luck on everything with the flat :) and thanks for watching!
wow amazing content.ur great! just thinking of moving there with my girl cause a pretty nice job i got offered but i saw the tax scale and i got freaked out. u helped me a lot.
Thanks so much, DD! That's great to hear you're thinking of moving here- the city would be lucky to have you :) Thanks for watching!
Great video!
Thanks so much Robert! I’m glad you enjoyed :D
Great video - thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it, Eric! Thanks for watching :)
Thanks for video 🖖
My pleasure, Kagan!
Please upload more video about Belgium.... I like you're video...
Thanks Abu! I'll do my best, anything specific you'd like to see?
@@AlexandraTempleton could you please make a video about beer and nightlife in Belgium???
@@AlexandraTempleton also about explore international students life in Belgium??
Good morning great workout exercise video Good content
Nice video, keep up 😉👍
Thanks so much Youssef! Have a great day!
Super informative!
Amazing vedio
Very good 👌🏻
Thanks for stopping by, Miles! So glad that you enjoyed the video :)
I'm moving to Brussels in 9 days, this is so helpful but because im staying only for 6 months I havent been able to find furnished housing. im so stressed! 😞
Thanks for watching MS! I'm glad the video helped you out :) Best of luck on your move here and if you need any more resources to find housing, check out the description box below the video :)
Great video... Nice presentation... Keep it up 🎉🎉🎉🎉👏
Thanks so much Ebrahim! I'll do my best 😀
Great information thanks🙏
My pleasure Aviation World :) Thanks for watching!
Thanks much dear! First of all, you're such a darling! 💓🌷🏳️⚧️ I'm planning to visit Belgium and would be super excited to watch your next video about it. xoxo, Fairy
Thank you so much, Fairy! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video :) I have a few more videos about Belgium here on the channel if you'd like to see more like this one :) Wishing you safe travels when you come here!
@@AlexandraTempleton I'll check your other videos, Love! Thanks a lot! Ohh, do you have Instagram?
@@mywhitesanctuary6126 I do! It's @Allytfit :)
@@AlexandraTempleton Thank you, l'll add you using @ilovethetreeshop 🌺
Hi, is there an updated 2024 version of this video? Thanks,
Hi David! I haven’t updated this one, per se, but I have a bunch of other videos on life in Brussels that you can find here:
ua-cam.com/play/PLwNp-sCwWpa89_REU7F5S3PBZPYN3hvT4.html&si=PulzGox7XF_zZrWr
Great work 😍 can you make detailed video on Domestic Partnership Visa 6:01 😁
I'll see what I can do :) Thanks for watching Adil!
Very detail full information ♥️
I want to move Brussels but i have no idea how to start process. 🤔
Thanks for watching, Navid! I hope the info shared here helps create a smooth transition for you if you decide to take the plunge :)
Nice video! The official language in Flanders is Dutch though, not Flemish! The colloquial language a lot of Flemings speak everyday, is often referred to as 'Flemish', but - as I said - that's different from the official language ;). I get that it's difficult though as a foreigner to understand the difference between Flemish and Dutch (especially if you don't live in Flanders).
Wrong. She is right to call it Flemish. Keep in mind foreigners call it Flemish for a good reason. Last but not least FYI: !! the Netherlands has silently introduced Flemish in their country !! As well as many other Belgian cultural determinants. Yes you read that right, they are speaking and using our Flemish now. It's hilarious how pretentious they are. - from a Belgian living in the Netherlands
@@galaxia4709your comment is filled with misinformation. Just a warning for people who read your comment
@@galaxia4709I am American and worked in the Netherlands and in Flanders in Ieper, Mechelen, Brugges, Dordrecht, Amsterdam and Leiden. I was fascinated by peoples reaction to me as my surname is van Etten, my ancestors coming from Etten-Leur in the 1600s. It was like I was taken in and felt a warmth.
For expats working in Etterbeek and seeking affordable studio living options, including those open to countryside residences, what are the available choices?
Hi Sanjay, I'd recommend you check out this site: www.immoweb.be/en
You can narrow down apartment listings based on zip code, maximum rental price, desired square footage, and much more. Hope this helps!
Great videos Alexandra !
Are you planning on visiting Limburg as well ?
Thanks so much FBR! I haven't had the chance to visit Limburg yet, but it's quite close to BXL so maybe one of these weekends I'll venture out :) Thanks for watching!
@@AlexandraTempleton
make sure that you do :)
There are some great places to visit here.
Glad to give you some tips 👍
Thank you for this great video. Can you pls tell how much people make per month at average? It seems like we won't have much left after tax😭
Thanks for watching Kay! It's hard to give you an exact number as it will depend heavily on where & how much you work. But Google says the median salary of BXL is ~3.600Euro/month. Hope this helps!
Am I good if i know Dutch and English for living in Brussels (French isn't really for me)?
Can you make videos about working as a personal trainer in Belgium (I'm planing to give it a try)?
Hey Nenad! Thanks for stopping by :) I think with English and Dutch you should be fine in BXL- all of the official documents are done in both Dutch and French so you're good there!
Regarding a video on being a PT in Belgium, I can see what I can put together that may help others out- stay tuned ;)
Great video..
is there any information about self-Employed like building my own business like Architectures workshop..?
Thank you
Thank you Hery! I'm glad to hear the video helped you :) I would refer you to the website Expatica.com as they have a lot of info for self-employed people starting their own businesses/workshops :D Good luck!
wow that fast, thanks a lots
Schumann is not a commune it's a district .
Thanks Alex! Watching your video. I just got postdoc in VUB and planning to move Brussel by next month. Can you tell me about the accomodation near VUB campus?
Thanks Vinod! I'm glad you liked it, and wish you the best of luck on your move :) I'm not sure about campus accommodation, but I would check out the website Expatica.com/be :)
VUB or ULB campus in french (nice to know) :)
@@AlexandraTempleton I have found your Yoga videos very informative. Now I moved to Belgium. Can I join you on Yoga?
the most important thing of all is to eat brussels Sprouts
haha well played, sir :)
Efficient video, but you seem to forget that 2/3 of Belgium speeks Dutch, Flemish is a regional language, titel, the odfficiel name of our language is Nederlands not Vlaams
Im there at 05.10.2022. I will be there and in bruges few days,wish i can find female friend to enjoy with😊
Thanks for the information
I am interested in Belgium
Can you help me move to Belgium
Thank you Ma
Good info nice sharing👍
New friend here stay connected💐
Thank you! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it :) Have a nice day!
Please can I come in with my family through school?
Fantastic video. Very helpful. Do you know a company that teaches German also?
Thanks so much Nilakshi! I've heard really good things about the Goethe-Institut (www.goethe.de/ins/be/de/index.html?wt_sc=bruessel) Hope this helps and thanks for watching :D
@@AlexandraTempleton thank you so much
@@nilakshiching7097 My pleasure! Best of luck on your German journey :D
Hi, I've enjoyed watching your videos about Brussels. I'm US and hoping to move to Brussels on a self employed freelance visa. I know some details about this visa route but am not sure about 'sponsorship' requirements as part of the visa application. I know other stuff (professional card, biz plan, etc) but can't tell if I need a Belgian citizen to sponsor me. I thought in your video you mentioned you had to get someone to sponsor you. But that was maybe another visa route? I will be in Brussels Oct 19-Nov10 to scout out the area. Are there any expat groups you recommend? What other links & info sources can you share on applying for a self employed visa in Belgium. I have reviewed expatica extensively so no need to repeat that info. Thx & keep the videos coming. They are very fun! John
Hi John! I'm so glad you're enjoying the Brussels series so far, and I wish you the best of luck on your move here :)
Unfortunately I can't direct you to another visa source (Expatica is the best one I know) because I am on a visa via my partner here. I hope that you find what you're looking for!
Great
Thanks AJ! Wishing you a great day!
I want to move in Brussels on work visa... Should i have to apply from my home country or their is any work permit to come n search?
Hey @Travelpakistan7864 I'm not entirely sure, as it probably depends on which country you're coming from, but I can refer you to this page which should have the answer you're looking for:
www.expatica.com/be/working/
Have a nice day!
Hi I'm in Belgium But I'm looking for work 😢can anyone help me 😢
Would i get work and settle down if i only know english? Are the one room apartment affordable? Price?
Yes yes you should be ok with just English in Brussels. It may depend on what you want to do for work, but navigating the city is pretty ok with just English. I would recommend you check out Expatica (linked in the video's description) for more info on housing options and prices :)
How can I relocate to Belgium please 🙏🙏
lol......not a single word about prices. In euros. Or dollars. None whatsoever :) nicely done.
Hi Vlado! Thanks for watching :) I didn't mention any prices in the video on purpose to keep it timeless. Additionally, I published this over a year ago and now, with the current inflation, I don't think that any of the prices I would have quoted would be accurate today. Wishing you a nice day!
Stopped watching after I heard that flemish was one of the languages of Belgium.
Hey :) how is the weather in general?
Hey flying bird! It's not great, especially in the winter months, but then the summers are beautiful! Long days, mild temperatures- so I guess you have to take the good with the bad :)
@@AlexandraTempleton thank you very much :)
@@AlexandraTempleton do you mean cold, or cloudy/gloomy like London for example?
Or both?
Can you not Dutch Vlaamse to Belgium. 😮
Hello Alexandra , i would like to know if american citizen with job offer from belgium , does he need work visa before moving to belgium or he can enter as tourist and with that contract he apply for work and resdence permit ?
Hi Lam! Thanks for watching :) As far as I know, Americans can come to Europe for travel for up to 90 days but they cannot make money here unless they have a specific work visa. You could come and find work within that 90 day period, but you would either need to be sponsored by a company or apply for an independent work visa (freelance). I'd recommend you check out this page for more specific answers: www.expatica.com/be/moving/visas/belgium-work-visas-422637/
Hope this helps! Have a nice day!
@@AlexandraTempleton Thank you so much Aelxandra , i appreciate 😃
Taxes are high? Yes but we do have free Health care. You pay €2,5 to see A docter. Health care is actually a right. You are Born with it and Its not a choice. We have free education. for everybody to go and study! Clean city’s. If you have A accident and can’t work, you are still getting your salary as you are used to…
City’s are clean and safe..
we do pay taxes to take care of everyone living here. Because Maybe you might need that help some day yourself.
You should take an example…
Higher taxes than California? Salute.
Hahah I didn't think it was possible either :) But here we are ;) thanks for watching, Dusan 4666! :)
do you know anything about the US military bases/locations?
Unfortunately no, I'm sorry!
Hey, I have a question. Should a student have to pay taxes?
Hey Atrel! I'm not entirely sure, but I can refer you to this page: www.expatica.com/be/
There might be something written that could answer your question, or point you in the right direction :)
You live in Belgium but you say we speak ‘Flemish’ wich is not a language. We speak Dutch. Are you sure you know a lot about us.
www.bbc.co.uk/languages/european_languages/languages/flemish.shtml#:~:text=Flemish%20is%20a%20West%20Germanic,of%20the%20population%20of%20Belgium.
The BBC might disagree with your assessment :) We don’t have a word for ‘Nederlands’ in English.
As a US citizen can you open a business in Belgium and get a residence permit from your business. I want to create a tennis academy targeted at ex-pat families in Europe but I am struggling with which country would be best.
Hey @thetennisjournal! That sounds like a great idea for a business and I wish you the best of luck in whichever country you choose :) Regarding residence permits and businesses, I'd recommend you check out this post: www.expatica.com/be/working/self-employment/starting-a-business-in-belgium-100139/
And if the answer isn't there, that website has a lot of helpful resources that should guide you in the right direction. Godspeed, friend!
hey thanks so much, love your videos! I checked it out! couldn't do too much specifically on residency though just the details of starting a business there. @@AlexandraTempleton
The climate is important to me. Does it rain a lot during the whole year?
It’s quite humid here, so there is a fair amount of rain during the year. The months of November- March are characterised by short and largely overcast days :/ But then the Spring and Summer are gorgeous!!
@@AlexandraTempleton Ok, thanks a lot for your response. But this rain is present during some concrete months or during the whole year?
@@javiluxekir92 I would say it's present all year, but there are some months where it rains more than others :)
@@AlexandraTempleton Ok. Thanks a lot!
@@javiluxekir92 My pleasure! Thanks for watching :)
Hello.I am a non-European citizen i'm a little off topic to ask about something for myself. I want to live and work in Belgium i work as a house painter can speak English and a little french and i want to apply for a visa. Which is the best way to apply for a visa into my country embassy in belgium embassy ? Can you please give me some informations on how to get a visa ?
Hello! I'm sorry but I can't help you with your specific question, I would refer you to the Expatica website I mentioned in the video as there will definitely be some resources to help you there.
@@AlexandraTempleton Thank you
Raju Chhaba village -deh Rajasthan
Flemish is just Dutch. Yeah.
Ur video is so good and very informative.. you are so beautiful too 😅😅 just saying
Thank you very much @MyHistory :) I’m glad to hear you found the video helpful, and I thank you for taking the time to comment.
Have a nice day!
as a belgian citizen i have one question.
Why? x'D haha
:D Why make the video, or why move to Belgium? :P
@@AlexandraTempleton Move to Belgium :)
We are so tiny and have a dense population.
In Flanders we don't have a lot of nature also. I do know we have some good quality food though.
All i can say is that i wish you the best of succes and i hope you enjoy your stay here.
@@wukkelvd6006 Thank you Wukkel VD that's very kind. I think Belgium is a beautiful country with lots to see :D I hope that more people can explore it!
Belgium is the result of the Spanish black legend. If Spain never colonize Belgium it would still be holland by now
For a bit ... but ... this again, is a Dutch being totally thinking they are superior without knowing history (or only knowing dutch history). No way, we would have stayed with the spanish (we don't like 'm). Anyway, another stupid religic "thinking we are right". Honestly ....
do you speak dutch or french ?
I would say I speak bar French :P Enough to order food and get by in basic conversation :)
The video starts at 2:16
will you act in my Short film ??
Thank you that’s so kind! What is the short film about?
Hello my name Kyle Bussle is a Capital city
"you will be in good company because there's 1/3 non belgians"..?.?.? thanks
Meaning that there are a lot of expats ;) A lot of people who are going through the same transition of moving to a new country and starting a new chapter :)
Do you speak German?
No, unfortunately German is not currently in my repertoire :(
@@AlexandraTempleton wait. Where are you from? Aren't you Belgian?
@@achmadiid8644 I'm from the U.S. but I've been living in Belgium for 4 years :)
@@AlexandraTempleton nice to meet you, but Brussels doesnt know German?
@@achmadiid8644 It's been my experience living in Brussels that most people here speak French or Dutch, and English is also widely spoken :) Thanks for stopping by the channel!
e careful about moving and working in Belgium - they absolutely dislike and discriminate against foreigners there. Best is to stay in the capital Brussels for living and working!
Ridiculous comment
Better idea move from Brussels,now before you are robbed blind by its buitenlanders.
Yeah, I moved to Brussels. I remained one year in that city. And it was a nightmare from the beginning to the end. But don't worry. Most Flemings who are so unfortunate to have ever lived in Brussels think that way about their own capital.
Why
@@crush42mash6 Why what?
@@dirkgonthier101 Why What is your experience so bad? Could you share the problems the weathers would have a bit of a heads up? Thanks for your input
@@crush42mash6 Well, it has a lot to do with the Belgian history. In 1830 the Frencophone elites in Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders united to form Belgium. But not the common people, who didn't have a say in these matters anyway. Belgium was a country that allowed only French in the Belgian parliament, in the Belgian courts, in the Belgian admistration, in the Belgian schools, in the Belgian army and so on. Now, the Flemings didn't speak French, they speak Dutch. So there was a visceral discrimination against the Flemings, who were the majority among the Belgians. We had to wait for more than a century, before Belgium gave us our linguistic rights. We had to wait for more than a century before there was a university that allowed Dutch to be spoken in Flanders. During WWI the orders were only given in French, so Flemish soldiers died just because they couldn't understand the orders they were given. We had to wait until 1961 before we could transulate the Belgian constitution. And in the 1970's we were allowed to speak Dutch in the Belgian constituonal court. This created a lot of bad blood between the Frencophones and the Flemings. The current political situation is a direct result of it. In Flanders, the extreme right party (Vlaams Belang) is the biggest party of all. On the second place stands the NVA. They appear to have a majority in the Flemish parliament, if elections were held today. Both these parties have Flemish independence written in their political program.
For me personally, I noticed nothing of Brussels being a bilingual capital of Belgium. Everywhere I went, people only spoke French. They couldn't understand Dutch at all. So I, as a Fleming, didn't feel welcome at all. That's why I left Brussels after one year and returned to Flanders. I have experienced the same Frencophone arrogance as my ancesters did, during their life. And, feeling completely unwelcome in the capital of my country, I stopped supporting Belgium all together. Something similar happened to me in the Belgian ambassade in Maroc. My papers were stolen, so I called the embassy. There was a Frencophone woman who picked up the phone and who couldn't understand basic Dutch. So, I needed to speak French, even though it is my constituonial right to speak Dutch to every employee in a Belgian embassy. That's also a reason to explain my political preference.
@@dirkgonthier101 Wow I am completely blown away at the history, sorry that you’ve been treated wrong within your own nation. I am a Canadian teacher who just recently retired and heading over there to see some friends. I am blown away at the beautiful history of the place and the architecture.
I am not well-versed in the politics however. We also have our issues in Canada like anywhere else. I’m sorry to hear about your frustration but I do appreciate you taking the time to write such an articulate letter explaining your feelings.
I am not looking to live there I’m just looking to go for a few weeks to visit some friends I have not seen for almost 25 years.
Thank you for your time and educating me.
2 mins 15 secs of introduction is way too long for a video like this
Learn Dutch!! And don't live in Brussels. It is Dirty. Flanders is cooler and cleaner . Brussels is ghetto Paris. It is also a fact that more people in Belgium speak Dutch than French. 😛
The video talk obviously from Brussels.
As an American I am worried about even finding a simple job not being able to speak another language
It depends on the work you’re looking for, but you can always start language classes when you’re here depending on what you need :)
A lot of people speak english too so don’t sweat it
It's not going to be that easy. In general it will be considered obvious that you are able to communicate in the local language when applying for a job. They will only inquire about your knowledge of the second language (may be a necessary requirement for the job) or other languages.
Guys, i Will move to Bxl soon. Can you help me, i Will live in Ixelles. What should be my next steps,what documents I need. Thank you