International moving companies have been very busy in recent years. All those Dutch people who have decided to move to Belgium to move. You would think that when you live in Belgium there will not be a big difference with the Netherlands, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is and remains a different country and the Netherlands and Belgium are two countries with their own culture and traditions. Are you also one of the Dutch who is going to emigrate to our southern neighbors? Then quickly read this article to find out what it is like to live in Belgium.
Why move to Belgium?
When you move to Belgium, you can enjoy social security. Many people think that this is much better arranged in Belgium. The Dutch government is also regularly mentioned, which people think has been doing less well than Belgium in recent years. Of course, this does not apply to everyone, but it is a frequently heard argument.
Furthermore, the country is of course very close to the Netherlands and it is therefore also possible that you simply continue to work in the Netherlands. The idea of staying close to family and friends also gives people a kind of security, which makes them take the step to move to Belgium faster than elsewhere abroad.
The Belgian culture
Many people immediately think of Belgium as the Belgian beer culture. However, the country is of course much more than that. In Belgium, it also depends on where in Belgium you are going to live. Yes, you are moving, but is this to Flanders or Wallonia?
At first, many Dutch people go to Flanders and the French go more often to Wallonia. This is of course due to the languages spoken in that area. These two language communities also make the cultures between these two regions differ a bit. The communities and culture in both regions are actually quite isolated from each other. This often makes foreigners wonder whether there is even one Belgian culture. Despite the differences, you can indeed say that the country does have one culture.
Belgians are a proud people. They are proud of their country and cultural heritage. This of course brings us back to the Belgian beer culture. The Belgians are proud of their large collection of traditional beers whose history goes back to the Middle Ages.
The Belgian cities are also beautiful and have a long and rich history. There is also a clear hierarchy in the workplace in Belgium. The boss makes the decisions and you go against that. In the Netherlands this is really different. Also during meetings Belgians will listen more than talk.
The language in Belgium
Living in Belgium means that you will have to deal with different languages. You will hear a standard language in your region, but when you drive to another city in another region for work or pleasure, you might hear French instead of Dutch. Make sure that before you move to Belgium, you look carefully at which region you are going to live in so that you also know which language is spoken. In Belgium there are 3 official languages. These are Dutch, French and German.
The Dutch language
The vast majority of Belgium speaks Dutch. This is approximately 60% of the Belgian population. Dutch is strongly related to Flemish, which is also called South Dutch. Dutch is the official language in Flanders. The capital Brussels is bilingual. These are Dutch and French.
The French language
French is the third most spoken language in Belgium. It is spoken in Wallonia, but of course also as you could read earlier in bilingual Brussels. In Brussels it is the case that approximately 50% have French as their mother tongue. Furthermore, there are of course also many Flemish people in France who have French as a second language.
The German language
German is the least spoken language in Belgium. It is spoken by less than about 1% of the population in the German-speaking Community. Here, 97% of the inhabitants are German-speaking. In 1919, this area was awarded to Belgium by the 'Peace of Versailles' and this was to compensate for the war suffering in the First World War.
The Belgian cuisine
Belgians are true Burgundians and you will probably quickly adopt this Burgundian style after your emigration. Once you have moved there, you will of course quickly get used to the eating habits of Belgium. The Belgians especially prefer regional and seasonal ingredients. On the coast, a lot of fish is of course eaten in the country. Mussels in particular are popular there. In the Ardennes, for example, a lot of game is eaten and further in the country a bit more meat, such as pork.
The breakfast
In Belgium, people usually have breakfast with a sandwich with cheese or something sweet like jam. They also drink a lot of milk and sometimes have breakfast with cereals. The Belgian breakfast is therefore comparable to the Dutch breakfast.
10 hours (10:00)
Around 10:00 most Belgians have a coffee break where they also eat a small snack. This can be a cookie or a piece of cake.
The lunch
Like the Dutch, Belgians often eat a sandwich with cheese or ham for lunch. Sometimes together with a soup but not always. Belgians often choose to have the 'leftovers' from the night before for lunch. Lunch is usually eaten between 12:00 and 13:00.
4 hours (16:00)
The Belgians also have a snack moment between lunch and dinner. Here they also eat cake or biscuits. But during this afternoon snack they often choose a piece of fruit.
The dinner
Belgians usually eat around 18:00/19:00. They often start with a small soup and the main course will mainly consist of potatoes, vegetables and meat. Fish is also very popular. Furthermore, just like elsewhere in Europe, a lot of Chinese, Japanese or Italian food is eaten.
Cost of living
The Belgian economy is comparable to the Dutch economy. Social insurance is well organised and the premium for health insurance, for example, is also a lot lower. So if you retire soon, you don't have to worry about anything. You will spend a bit more on groceries in Belgium, but this is certainly compensated by other things such as lower house prices. So your Belgian bank account will not have a hard time. Below we have some examples of the differences in products from the supermarket:
- In Belgium you pay about 14% less for bread.
- In Belgium you pay about 12% more for cheese.
- Rice is approximately 4.7% cheaper in Belgium.
- Tomatoes are about 2% more expensive in Belgium.
- In Belgium you will pay approximately 34% more for bananas.
- Wine is also about 17% more expensive in Belgium.
Finally..
Make sure you are well prepared for your move to Belgium. It might be useful to make a handy checklist for this so that you do not forget anything. Do not forget to bring a valid ID, because you will need this for many things at the beginning of your emigration in the country. Furthermore, working in Belgium also means that you have to pay taxes. That is why it is wise to investigate the rules regarding taxes in Belgium well and to get yourself well informed. That way you can start your emigration well prepared.
Do you have any questions?
Do you have any questions regarding emigration to Belgium? Then you can always read our other articles on the website. Are you also looking for a moving company and do you want to receive free moving quotes? Then this is of course also possible via Moova.
