The blog
Belgium, from the inside.
Paperwork, daily life, neighbourhoods, budget, culture: everything we wish we had known before unpacking.
Taxes in Belgium for new residents: rates, local tax and your first return
Taxes in Belgium for new residents: income tax from 25% to 50%, the tax-free allowance, local surcharge, withholding, foreign accounts and your first return.
6 min readFamily and workSchools in Belgium: French, Dutch and European schools explained
Schools in Belgium: compulsory from 5 to 18, French-, Dutch- and German-language education, enrolment dates, reception classes and European schools.
6 min readBudgetRetire in Belgium: foreign pensions, S1 health cover and tax
Retire in Belgium with a foreign pension: S1 health cover, tax on worldwide income and treaties, legal age 66 or 67, and the early-pension malus from 2027.
6 min readPaperworkResidence in Belgium for EU citizens: registering with your commune
Residence in Belgium for EU citizens: apply to your commune within 3 months, documents by status, the 200 euro fine, the residence check and the E card.
6 min readWhere to liveRenting in Belgium: the 9-year lease, deposit and notice by region
Renting in Belgium explained: the 9-year lease, 3 months' notice, deposit capped at 2 or 3 months by region, lease registration and what landlords may ask.
5 min readPaperworkOpening a bank account in Belgium: the basic banking service and your IBAN
Opening a bank account in Belgium: your right to a basic banking service at 20.34 euros a year, documents, Ombudsfin, foreign accounts to declare and mortgages.
5 min readPaperworkMoving to Belgium: the step-by-step guide to your first weeks
Moving to Belgium as an EU citizen: register with your commune within 3 months, get your national number, join a mutuality, open a bank account, plan tax.
6 min readPaperworkMoving to Belgium from the UK after Brexit: what you need now
Moving to Belgium from the UK after Brexit: Withdrawal Agreement M card, rules for new arrivals, work permit, S1 healthcare, GHIC and driving licence.
6 min readHealthHealth insurance in Belgium: how to join a mutuality (mutualité)
Health insurance in Belgium explained: join a mutualité or the CAAMI, personal contributions if you have no income, the S1 form and what the EHIC misses.
6 min readFamily and workFreelance in Belgium: self-employed status, social contributions and VAT
Freelance in Belgium: register with an enterprise counter, join a social insurance fund first, 20.50% contributions and VAT franchise up to 25,000 euros.
5 min readPaperworkDriving in Belgium: licence exchange and registering a foreign car
Driving licence in Belgium: when an EU licence must be exchanged, the 185-day rule for UK and Swiss licences, and how to register a foreign car with the DIV.
6 min readDaily lifeDaily life in Belgium: languages, public holidays and local habits
Daily life in Belgium for newcomers: Dutch, French and German regions, bilingual Brussels, the 10 public holidays, emergency numbers and shop hours.
5 min readBudgetCost of living in Belgium: what the official figures say
Cost of living in Belgium from official sources: minimum wage, tax, regulated costs, bank, car and school fees, and how to build your budget.
6 min readWhere to liveBuying property in Belgium: registration duties in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia
Buying property in Belgium: notary, compromis and deed, registration duties of 3% in Wallonia, 2% in Flanders and 12.5% in Brussels, and the deadlines.
6 min readWhere to liveBest places to live in Belgium: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and beyond
Best places to live in Belgium: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven, Liège and Namur compared on language, region, schools and rules.
5 min readBudgetBelgium's expat tax regime: who qualifies for the impatriate rules
Belgium's expat tax regime explained: up to 35% of pay reimbursed tax-free, the 70,000 euro threshold, the 60-month and 150 km conditions and the deadline.
6 min readPaperworkBelgian national number (NISS): how to get your national register number
The Belgian national number explained: 11 digits given at your first commune registration, the NISS, the BIS number for workers and how it serves as tax ID.
6 min readYour move, one step at a time.
Create your free account and ask Moovy your questions. The Founders offer applies to your first subscription, on every paid plan.