Sustainability Consult Newcomer’s Guide to Brussels: Part #1

Source: wallpaperswiki.org

The Basics

Welcome to Brussels!

If you are new to the city, chances are you are wondering how things work around here.  We hope the Sustainability Consult Newcomer’s Guide to Brussels will help you settle in. 

• Useful Websites for Flat-hunting: 

a.  Immoweb - the “alerts” function, which sends updates whenever a new apartment is advertised, is especially useful

b.  Vlan

c.   Appartager - this website advertises shared apartments

d.  Craigslist

• Real Estate Agencies - they do not charge the renter for their services but they are not always very reliable 

a.     Immo Dominique

b.     Trevi

c.     Immocom

d.     Century 21

e.     Big Immo Real Estate

f.      Brikman

g.     Bureau Toby

h.     Immo J.

• Registering in Belgium - once you find a place to live, you must go to your local Commune (town hall) and register yourself in Belgium. Without being registered in this country, you cannot open a bank account.

• Banks – Belgium claims to have the largest number of bank branches per head in the world, so there is a lot of choice:

a.     BNP Paribas Fortis

b.     ING

c.     KBC

d.     Belfius

e.     Citibank

f.      bPost (Belgian Post Office)

g.     Argenta

h.     AXA Bank Belgium

• Useful Websites for Job-hunting:

a.     Eurobrussels

b.     EurActiv

c.     EUCareers

d.     Eures

• Temping (Interim) Agencies - there are many in Brussels, particularly in the De Brouckère area and they are usually very helpful:

a.     Actiris - the Brussels region public employment organisation

b.     Randstad

c.     Tempo Team

d.     Adecco 

Blog by Bárbara Mendes-Jorge and Aris Koutentakis

This blog is one of a five-part series.  If you enjoyed this article, check out our other posts:

Part #2: Settling Down?  Setting Up and Travel Essentials
Part #3: Food - Where to Buy It, Where to Eat Out
Part #4: Culture and Leisure
Part #5: Learning Languages and Other Useful Information