Moving to Belgium: what to do?

Belgium, our neighboring country in the south. Who doesn't know this beautiful country? Many Dutch people have visited the country. The beautiful and historic cities such as Antwerp, Brussels or Bruges are very popular for day trips, but Belgium also has overwhelmingly beautiful nature reserves. The Ardennes, for example, where you can also do many sporting activities in the open air.

All these plus points have probably made you decide to emigrate to Belgium, but there are several factors that make Belgium popular as a country of emigration among the Dutch. One of the most important factors is, for example, that moving to Belgium is somewhat easier than emigrating to another country. Living in Belgium means that you are incredibly close to family and friends while living abroad. When you decide to emigrate, this is still a nice aspect. Also, when you move to the Flemish area, you will not have to deal with a language barrier, because they simply speak Dutch there. In Belgium also called Flemish, because it can sometimes be a tiny bit different.

Moving to Belgium is of course a lot of fun, but there are a number of things you need to arrange before you actually take the step. Tips on arranging your affairs when emigrating to Belgium can be found in this article!

Why do people actually want to move to Belgium?

As you may have read earlier in this article, Belgium is not unknown territory for the Dutch and it will not surprise us if you have already been able to tick off a number of cities in Belgium from your travel list. It is a beautiful country with very beautiful nature reserves and it is also very close to the Netherlands. Furthermore, Dutch is also one of the official languages and moving to this country will therefore cost you less effort than if you emigrate to an unknown country and, for example, would have to learn a completely new language. Yes, of course it does depend on where you are moving to in Belgium, because French and German are the other official languages.

Continue working in the Netherlands

It also often happens that Dutch people who emigrate to Belgium continue to work in the Netherlands. This is of course easy, because it is not very far to drive. Please note that when you go to live in Belgium and continue to work in the Netherlands, you arrange your tax affairs properly in both the Netherlands and Belgium, because things can sometimes go wrong due to the confusion at the authorities in both countries.

Preparing for the move

Useful tips are always welcome when emigrating. In the first instance, it is very important to have your affairs in order when emigrating. Therefore, make sure that everything possible is arranged in the Netherlands a few months in advance. This could include, for example, cancelling your rent or certain subscriptions. These could be mobile subscriptions, but also gas and electricity providers or TV and internet. Pay close attention to the contracts, because you often have to deal with a notice period. Therefore, do not cancel them too late, because then you will have to pay an extra month or two unnecessarily while you are already living in Belgium.

Take a good look at your personal situation

What you need to arrange also has to do with your personal situation. Maybe you don't have any of the aforementioned subscriptions running and someone else has 10 running. And that's why it's so important that when you decide to live abroad, you look carefully at what you need and need to arrange and don't just look at what others are doing.

Things that are important to everyone

However, there are also a number of other matters that are important to everyone. Think of a number of matters with the Dutch government. For example, Dutch taxes, because literally everyone has to deal with this. Check whether you have outstanding bills with the tax authorities or other institutions. In that case, you can arrange these matters well before you leave for your new place of residence.

Important documents

When you want to live abroad, it is also very important to have your paperwork in order. This can be your Dutch passport or identity card, but also your driver's license. You may now think, but what do I need to have in order? Well, what many people forget is to check the validity of these documents. This is wise to do, because they are the most important documents you have and you will need them regularly before, during and after your emigration. In Belgium, you obviously do not want to be busy renewing your documents after you have only been there for 3 months. You probably do not have time for that at all. You will need the documents when renting or buying a house, for example. A Belgian real estate agent will then certainly ask for your identity papers. You will of course also have to open a Belgian bank account at some point. Or maybe you want to buy a car?

A little tip..

It is also wise to make copies of these important documents. This way, you will always have these documents at hand in case of theft, loss or damage. Of course, we do not expect this, but as they say: an accident can happen in a small corner. So it is better to be prepared, right!?

Do you have any diplomas?

There are also a number of other practical matters that you should not forget. For example, do you have any diplomas? Then it is wise to request an extract from this at DUO. Even if it is your high school diploma. It is true that employers in the Netherlands do not often ask for this, but it is part of the Belgian culture to ask for these papers, for example, during a job interview.

Diploma description

You can easily request your diplomas online at DUO. But be careful! Your Dutch diplomas must have a diploma description abroad, otherwise they are not valid. You can also easily request a diploma description online. You can do this at NUFFIC.

Legalize documents

When certain documents are needed abroad, but also the other way around, when foreign documents are needed in the Netherlands, they must be legalized. The document must then meet certain requirements and the document will then receive a special stamp or sticker. Which documents you must legalize for Belgium is best inquired at the Belgian consulate/embassy.

Translate documents

Documents that are submitted to authorities abroad often also need to be translated, because people want them in their own language. Now you might think, but hey, in Belgium that is not necessary at all with Dutch documents? Yes, in Flanders this is probably not necessary, but emigrating to Belgium does not always mean that you are going to live in Flanders. Some Dutch people move to French-speaking Wallonia or to German-speaking Eupen. In these cases it may happen that some documents need to be translated. If you want certain documents to be valid in Belgium, you need to arrange this properly. Which documents need to be translated and whether this is even necessary is also best asked at the Belgian consulate/embassy.

Officially moving to Belgium

When you are actually moving to Belgium and your moving date is known, you need to take the real official step. This step is that you are going to deregister yourself with the municipality in the Netherlands. If you visit the website of the Central government read you see that when you emigrate you are legally obliged to deregister with the municipality in the Netherlands where you live. When you deregister you indicate which country you are leaving for and if you want you can also give your address in Belgium so that the Dutch state always knows where you can be reached. This can be useful for any matters with the tax authorities or for a possible student debt with DUO.

When do you have to deregister with the Dutch municipality?

You can unsubscribe up to 5 days before your departure. Please note that you make an appointment on time and do not wait until the last few days, because the municipality may be busy, which means that you will not be able to make an appointment on time. Of course, you want to avoid this at all costs.

Register yourself in Belgium

Now that you have been deregistered from the Dutch municipality, you must of course register again in Belgium, as you will officially be living in Belgium. In Belgium you are obliged You must do this within eight hours at the municipality where you are going to live. The documents you need for this can best be found at the local authority inquire about where you are going to live.

The local police officer

What is good to know is that once your registration is complete, there will be another check. How this happens is different for each municipality, but what happens most often is that a local police officer will visit you at home. This usually happens within 2 weeks of your registration. This is a small procedure and the officer only comes to check whether it is true that you and any family members actually live at the specified address. A conclusion of this appointment will be passed on to the municipality by the local police officer himself. The municipality will then contact you again. This is usually by letter.

Health insurance

When you move to Belgium, it is not only important to look at the health insurance system in Belgium, but you also have to make sure that you arrange everything properly in the Netherlands.

Your Dutch health insurance

When you emigrate, you are required to cancel your Dutch health insurance. You will no longer be living in the Netherlands, so you will no longer need it. You can cancel your health insurance with your Dutch health insurer by requesting a special emigration form. Some health insurers also request a written letter. For more information about what you need to do, it is best to contact your own health insurer. They can tell you exactly what you need to do.

The Belgian health insurance fund

Once you have emigrated to Belgium it is important to get a new health insurance as soon as possible. Living in Belgium also means getting insurance in Belgium.

Mutuality in Belgium

Belgium believes that everyone has the right to medical care and therefore works mainly with social insurance. In Belgium this is also called mutuality. You can choose to insure yourself with a health insurer or you can opt for the federal Assistance Fund for Sickness and Disability Insurance (HIZV). All health insurers offer the mandatory free health insurance. The frequently asked question about how this is paid for is easy to answer. This is financed by taxes that are paid by employer and employee contributions. The Belgian government also has certain subsidies for this.

Additional insurance in Belgium

Furthermore, in addition to the mandatory basic insurance, you can also choose to take out additional insurance. With the HIZV, you are not obliged to have additional supplementary insurance, but with other health insurance funds this is unfortunately no longer an option. Since 2010, you have been obliged to take out additional insurance with other health insurance funds. However, in Belgium, people often choose to have additional insurance themselves. This is due to the fact that additional insurances naturally also reimburse additional costs, such as glasses or dentistry.

Isn't health insurance in Belgium much more expensive?

In Belgium, you will have to contribute approximately 13% of your gross salary to the health insurance fund. Employers also give 15% to 20% of salary. However, any children can be insured free of charge.

Own contribution

Unfortunately, medical expenses incurred in Belgium are often not reimbursed 100% and a personal contribution is often requested. A chronically ill person will therefore have more costs than a healthy person. These costs can be quite high for a chronically ill person each year. Furthermore, medicines in Belgium are also very expensive. It is therefore fairly common knowledge that many Belgians buy their medicines across the border in the Netherlands, because this is much cheaper for them.

Do you receive benefits or a pension in the Netherlands?

Social security in the Netherlands is well organised. Those who work in the Netherlands do not have to worry if they are forced to be laid off or are suddenly unable to work due to their health. It is good to know that Belgium also has its own social security and that this is also very well organised. In Belgium you also have benefits, a Belgian child benefit or a pension. For countries within the European Union (EU) this is of course quite normal.

If you receive benefits in the Netherlands, this does not automatically mean that you are entitled to them abroad. For some benefits, there are exceptions within the EU, but for this it is best to contact the UWV or the municipality concerned.

International moving companies

Moving within the Netherlands is already chaotic and often stressful, but when you move from a Dutch municipality to a Belgian municipality, things are a little more complicated. A different country also means a different approach. Therefore, make sure that you do your research into international moving companies in advance. These companies not only have experience with moving, but also with moving abroad. They know exactly what needs to be done and with their extensive experience they ensure that all your belongings are delivered safely and undamaged to your new home in Belgium. Make sure that you do this on time, because such an international moving company must of course have the time to plan the move properly.

The Cost of Hiring an International Moving Company

The exact prices for hiring an international moving company are difficult to estimate without some background information. The standard costs that have to be made are, for example, the fuel costs and the movers who are paid per hour. For this, the company needs to know where you are moving to, how big your belongings are, what kind of home you live in and how many movers are needed for this. In addition to these standard costs, there are also your personal wishes and needs. For example, do you choose to hire extra movers or do you want a packing/unpacking service? These two small examples can already increase the price. That is why it is best to request quotes from multiple moving companies.

Request a no-obligation quote

As a tip, we would like to give you that it is best to request quotes from multiple moving companies, but of course we also know that you do not have time for this. An emigration is already busy and chaotic enough, so you do not have time to search for international moving companies in your region? And then you have to email or call them all!

For this, we at Moova have come up with a solution. This way, we can also help you a little with your move and make it all a little easier for you. At Moova, you can easily request free quotes online. You can do this within 2 minutes and it is completely without obligation. This means that you will not be committed to anything as long as you do not give permission for this. This way, you will receive the free quotes as soon as possible by email and you can view them at your leisure. This way, you can see which moving company appeals to you most and you can make an appointment with them. We can't make it any easier!?

Finally

As you have read, moving to Belgium is not as simple as it seems. Despite the fact that the country is very close to the Netherlands and people often think that everything is easy to arrange, you have now read that there are still a few things that need to be arranged. Perhaps you can make a handy checklist for yourself of the things that you need to arrange when you move to Belgium. That way you will be well prepared and the emigration can go smoothly!

Do you have any questions?

Are there any other topics you would like to read about or do you have any other questions regarding your emigration to Belgium? Then you can always consult our other articles on the website. Perhaps you can find useful information there for your emigration.

Furthermore, we wish you every success and hope that you can make your dream come true in Belgium.