About Belgium

Every person has their own story, but many of us share the experience of finding ourselves in a new country due to life's circumstances, where we need to build a new life as soon as possible. We hope that our portal Expaterra can help you with that!

 

So, Belgium: a country of opportunities and warm hospitality, where everyone can find their home amidst picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

 

Culture and Lifestyle

Belgium is a country with a rich culture and a diverse lifestyle that combines tradition, modernity, and multicultural influences. This small but multilingual country consists of three main regions: Flanders (Dutch-speaking region), Wallonia (French-speaking region), and the Brussels-Capital Region, where both French and Dutch are official languages. There is also a small German-speaking community in the east of the country.

The Flemish, Walloon, and German-speaking Belgians contribute to the cultural richness of the country, which is reflected in literature, art, music, and cuisine. Each region takes pride in its traditions, making Belgium a unique country with a diverse cultural life.

Belgium is renowned for its contribution to art. The architecture is also diverse, ranging from medieval castles and cathedrals to modern buildings like the Atomium in Brussels. Bruges and Ghent are known for their well-preserved medieval centers, attracting tourists from around the world.

Belgium hosts numerous festivals, from the Binche Carnival to the Tomorrowland music festival, one of the largest in the world. Belgium's National Day, July 21, is celebrated across the country with parades and fireworks.

Belgian cuisine is known for its waffles, chocolate, beer, and fries. The country produces more than 2000 varieties of beer, many of which are brewed according to traditional recipes guarded for centuries. Chocolate shops in Brussels and Antwerp offer some of the best chocolate products in the world.

Belgians are known for their hard work and responsibility, yet they highly value a balance between work and personal life. Great attention is given to social guarantees, including health insurance and vacation days.

A healthy lifestyle is important for many Belgians. Cycling, football, tennis, and swimming are popular in the country. Belgium also has many parks and green zones that promote active recreation.

Belgium combines ancient traditions and modern lifestyles, making it an attractive country both for living and tourism. Life in Belgium offers a combination of cultural diversity, high quality of life, and accessibility of various services, allowing everyone to find something to their liking here.

Belgium ranks high in several international ratings, reflecting its significant achievements in various fields. Here are some of the ratings where Belgium performs highly:

Chocolate production

   - Belgium is known worldwide for its chocolate, and the country is among the leaders in quality and production volume of chocolate products. Belgian chocolate is highly valued for its traditions, craftsmanship, and use of high-quality ingredients.

Quality of life

   - Belgium consistently ranks high in quality of life indexes, such as the OECD Better Life Index. The country offers a high level of social security, access to quality healthcare, education, and services. Brussels often ranks among cities with a high standard of living.

Banking stability and financial security

   - Belgian banks and financial institutions are considered among the most stable and reliable in Europe. Belgium frequently ranks high in financial stability and transparency indexes.

Environmental initiatives

   - In the field of sustainable development and environmental protection, Belgium also demonstrates high results. The country actively implements ecological initiatives and ranks highly in recycling and renewable energy usage indexes.

Science and education

   - Belgium ranks highly in international university and scientific research ratings. Universities like KU Leuven consistently rank among the top 100 universities globally according to rankings like QS World University Rankings.

Healthcare

   - Belgium's healthcare system is among the best in the world. According to Health Consumer Powerhouse, Belgium often ranks high in healthcare quality ratings due to the accessibility and efficiency of medical services.

Beer

   - Belgium ranks first in the world for the number of diverse beer varieties. Belgian beer, including Trappist and lambic, is known worldwide, and the country consistently leads in international beer competitions and festivals.

 

While Belgium succeeds in many areas, there are a few directions where the country ranks low in international ratings:

   - Traffic congestion: Belgium often ranks low in road traffic quality and congestion levels. Brussels, in particular, regularly appears in lists of cities with the most congested traffic worldwide. For example, the TomTom Traffic Index report consistently places Brussels among the cities with the highest travel times in traffic jams.

   - Air pollution: Belgium ranks low in air quality ratings in Europe. In cities like Antwerp and Brussels, air pollution levels often exceed recommended standards, as reflected in ratings like the European Environment Agency (EEA).

   - High taxes: Belgium ranks among the last in tax burden ratings. According to the OECD, Belgium is among the countries with the highest levels of personal income and labor taxation, reducing its competitiveness in attracting and retaining highly skilled professionals.

   - High housing prices: In certain regions of Belgium, especially in Brussels, housing costs are high compared to incomes, making housing affordability a serious issue. This is reflected in international housing affordability ratings like the Global Property Guide, where Belgium ranks low.

 

   - Energy Security: Belgium also ranks low in energy security ratings. The country is heavily dependent on energy imports, especially natural gas and oil, making it vulnerable to external shocks. In the World Economic Forum's energy security ranking, Belgium is below the EU average.

These aspects show that despite many achievements, Belgium faces certain challenges that require attention and improvement.

 

Local Language

Learning the local languages in Belgium can present certain challenges, especially for foreigners. The main difficulties people face when studying languages in Belgium include:

Multilingualism and Language Diversity

   - Three Official Languages: Belgium has three official languages—Dutch, French, and German. Each region of the country has its language preferences: Dutch is predominant in Flanders, French in Wallonia, and German is used in a small region in the east of the country. In Brussels, both Dutch and French are official. This diversity can be challenging for those trying to learn local languages since the choice of language to study depends on the region where a person lives or works.

Differences in Dialects and Accents

   - Dialects: Even within a single language, there are significant differences in dialects. For example, Flemish Dutch differs from Dutch used in the Netherlands in both pronunciation and vocabulary. The French language in Wallonia also has its peculiarities compared to French in France. This can make language understanding and acquisition difficult for foreigners.

Motivation and Practical Use

   - Lack of Practice: Depending on the region and environment, foreigners may find it difficult to find opportunities to practice the language. For example, in Brussels, where English is widely used, it may be challenging to motivate oneself to learn French or Dutch since everyday communication is possible in English.

   - Motivation: Learning a language that is used only in a specific region can decrease motivation, especially if a person plans to move across different regions of the country or work in an international company.

Availability of Courses and Resources

   - Limited Access to Quality Courses: Although courses for learning all three official languages are available in Belgium, their quality and availability can vary depending on the region. For example, in smaller towns, it may be difficult to find a qualified teacher or suitable course.

   - Cost of Education: Language courses can be expensive, especially if offered in private schools or on an individual basis.

Cultural and Social Barriers

   - Integration into the Language Environment: In some cases, locals may be reluctant to switch to another language if they see that you do not know their primary language. This can create a sense of alienation and complicate social integration.

These challenges make the process of learning local languages in Belgium difficult but surmountable. With the right approach and the use of available resources, such as language courses, conversation clubs, and practice in everyday life, one can significantly improve their language skills and more easily adapt to life in Belgium.