Many of the articles you’ll read about living in Brussels discuss the wonderful architecture, the range of fascinating museums and the delicious choice of food and drink awaiting anyone who goes to live there. While all of this – and much more – is undoubtedly true, there are also the basic realities of life to get to grips with. Once you’ve rented or purchased a place to live in Brussels, you’ll have to set about arranging the basic utilities such as gas, electricity, water, telephone and internet and television.

Here at Eu-rentals.com we like to think we provide a first rate service for all our users. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to live, renting out a property or just want to access information and advice on living and working in Belgium, our site offers everything you need in one easily accessed place. Even though we’re experts when it comes to creating websites of this kind, however, we know that there’s no such thing as perfection, and so we’re always working to make things better.

When you finally find what you think might be the perfect apartment, asking too many questions can seem like tempting fate. If it feels right and its affordable then surely you can just cross your fingers and trust the rest to luck?

Telephone & Internet
Fixed Phone Line and Internet Connection
The first step toward getting a phone line and internet connection in Belgium is to register with Belgacom, the leading national telecom provider.  Once you’ve signed up for a subscription your landline connection will be activated or, if needed, your fixed line will be installed, and you’ll be free to access internet and telephone services from any of the many companies operating in the country.

The health care system in Belgium is a mixture of public and private provision. In both sectors, patients will be expected to pay fees which are funded through a combination of Belgian social security and health insurance funds. In most cases, the patient will pay the cost upfront and will be refunded a proportion later, with the charges being paid for things such as dental and medical fees, hospital treatment, prescriptions and maternity costs.

Belgium is a genuinely multi-lingual country, something which is particularly true in a city like Brussels and which is driven by the presence of international corporations and bodies such as the EU and NATO. Officially, the country is divided into different linguistic regions. The five provinces in the north and northeast of the country have Dutch as the official language, and these are:

Antwerp

East Flanders

Flemish Brabant

Limburg

West Flanders

Whether you’ve decided to leave Belgium altogether, or are moving from one property to another, there are certain things which need to be done to make sure the process runs as smoothly as possible. The following guide breaks the process down into individual steps, including details of the official bodies which need to be informed of your move.   
Inform the local municipality

Housing and Rentals
Compared to some European countries, Belgium offers a good deal to anyone wishing to rent a property. This is because leases on rental properties are stable, secure and longer term, with aspects such as annual rent rises and the responsibility for repairs and upkeep being well established from the outset. There are four types of basic rental contract in Belgium:

Short term, which lasts for three years or less

Nine years, which can include fixed term agreements for periods between three and nine years

The international nature of the population of Brussels, driven by the presence of institutions such as the European Union and NATO, probably helps to ease some of the problems usually associated with moving to a new country or even continent. Many of the people you have to liaise with, such as real estate agents or landlords, will have experience of dealing with people from other countries, and the multilingual nature of the population helps to ease any issues regarding communication.
Location

In the past, Belgium has probably had something of a reputation for being a little bit prim and proper. Famed as being the home to the European Parliament and several other international bodies, it was renowned for up-market shopping and dining and the presence of well-heeled politicians and business people.  In recent years, however, it has developed much more of a cutting edge. Whilst it might not yet have the hipster credibility of cities like London and Berlin, this might actually be something of an advantage.