What to expect when living in Brussels
One of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, Brussels is regularly ranked among the best places to live for expats, and residents enjoy a very high standard of living. As it's also home to institutions of the European Union (EU), Belgium's capital is tolerant and inclusive. Wherever you go, you'll hear lots of different languages being spoken.
If you're considering moving to Brussels, here are some things you should know before making the big move.
Language in Brussels
In Belgium, language is significant, as there is an important political and cultural divide between the Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north of the country and the French-speaking Wallonia in the south. The country has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German, although the latter only consists of less than 1% of the population.
While Belgians take language quite seriously outside of the capital, in the Brussels-Capital region, there's a much more relaxed approach, and a lot of people communicate regularly in their second, third, or even fourth language. While Brussels is officially bilingual (Dutch and French), in reality, Dutch is the working language of the capital, and nowadays, almost everyone speaks English to a good standard. Often, people aren't sure which language to use, and while it can be confusing, that's part of the fun of living in such a diverse city.
Due to the numerous different communities living in Brussels, it's a very multicultural place to live, and every day, you'll hear anything from Arabic and Portuguese to Swahili and Polish. As the EU and NATO are based in the capital, there are a lot of opportunities for expats to find work in their mother tongue.
Social life in Brussels
Due to its international composition and the large number of expats already living in Brussels, it's quite easy to integrate into life in the city. Indeed, meetups and social events are always organized to welcome newcomers to the heart of Europe.
Brussels (and Belgium, in general) has an outstanding work-life balance, so there's undoubtedly scope for having a fun time while advancing career-wise. In this respect, it's also a very family-friendly city.
Alongside a thriving arts and culture scene, Brussels also boasts many fantastic bars and restaurants and a packed schedule of festivals and events in the capital throughout the year.
Brussels is a very laid-back place for a capital, and because it has so many different sides to it and so many other peoples, languages, and cultures, anyone can feel at home here.
Climate in Brussels
Regarding the weather in Brussels, the only thing you can say for sure is that it's unpredictable. While the capital certainly has its fair share of sun, even on the sunniest days, you wouldn't bet against it raining at some point.
Although it can rain for what seems like weeks, and the sky can seem perpetually overcast, this never gets in the way of life in the capital. So you'll still see people going for a run or cycling around the nearby countryside, a favorite Belgian pastime.
Belgium has mild summers and winters, with only the country's south regularly seeing snowfall. In recent years, however, the country has had some of the hottest summers on record.
While Brussels's citizens know how to enjoy all that the capital has to offer, whatever the weather, summer is a charming time of year, as everyone takes to its beautiful parks and streetside cafes.
Nature in Brussels
While no one would ever go so far as to say that Brussels is a green city, the capital is surrounded by beautiful countryside, so in no time, you can find yourself immersed in nature. Indeed, as Belgium is so small and is home to fantastic public transport links, you'll never find yourself far from nature throughout your time in the country.
Apart from its magnificent countryside, the capital also has many great parks. Parc Royal, for instance, is the nearest to the city center. As well as being bordered by a beautiful palace, it also hosts many cultural events and festivals throughout the year.
Cinquantenaire Park is another popular place to relax in nature, and it has a couple of museums for you to enjoy in addition to its green spaces. Bois de la Cambre and Parc de Forest are another two of Brussels's lovely parks, and they have a wilder feel about them, as they're less landscaped.
One of the largest green spaces in Brussels is entirely reserved for the royal family, and every spring, they open up their fantastic greenhouses at Laeken for the residents of Brussels to visit and immerse themselves in all of the beautiful flowers and plants.
