Maternelle/Nursery Options September 2019 Brussels

Member since 07 February 2019

sunnymomMember07 February 2019 13:54:05

Hello!
My family will most probably move to Brussels (from the US) in September 2019 (job is in Louvain la Neuve).
I wanted to ask, what are the best areas to live in Brussels that have a good commute time to Louvain la Neuve? With regards to schools, we have a 3 year old that will have to go to school so I'm trying to understand what are the school options for her, given that we won't be moving there until end of August/September. I understand that public schools need you to enroll many months in advance.
Are there schools that aren't outrageously expensive that offer some sort of dual language program? (french/english)

Currylover Serial expat

Member since 06 August 2016

CurryloverSerial expat08 February 2019 07:31:18

272

Why not move to Louvain-La-Neuve?

If you really wish to reduce your family time with a long commute, I'd advise that commute to be by train or by TEC bus as a back-up. Driving will be insane, take longer, bigger environmental impact.

Best places to live to get the train/bus to LLN is as near to Bruxelles-Etterbeek train station as you can get. Train is 33 minutes direct. This is very urban, on the border of Ixelles and Etterbeek, quite a studenty area too as VUB and ULB are nearby. You'd get a place in a nearby public school, just at least half of the schools will be full so you'd have to be happy with the schools that are left. Schools jammed packed with non Belgians there. Private schools doing French-English will cost from 8k to 35k and will offer a poor linguistic environment for French so your child may learn limited French. If you're interested in your child being bilingual French-English, go for a public French school. That's a no brainer. The TEC bus to LLN also leaves from near Etterbeek station, this is why I'd go for very near this station, within a few 100 metres really. If you look at the map and locate ULB and VUB campuses, this is where I'd look for housing and you'll definitely get a place at Jardins d'Elise, no7 and no8 schools which are all in that area. That area is known as Cimitiere and Solsbosch and area in Ixelles municipality. You could also look north to La Chasse area of Etterbeek municipality and you'd definitely get a place a Claire-Joie school. Or along Ave de la Couronne in Ixelles, you'll definitely get a place at Sainte Trinite (Cardinal Mercier).

Some but not all trains to LLN also stop at Boitsfort which is in Watermael-Boitsfort, a beautiful suburban area with public schools with enough space, but less rentals available. I'd only choose here if 1) you're happy with less trains per hour and 2) you can find a rental near the station. The TEC bus does not stop there however.

Finally, trains also stop at Bruxelles-Luxembourg station but I don't think all do. Trains all stop at Bruxelles-Schuman station. Both are also very urban and more expensive than the Etterbeek station area.

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/