The jungle called Belgium isn’t easy to explore because you need to know at least two languages if you want to be understood. What a fuss! If you no longer know which way to turn, read this article and you’ll feel like a native in no time!
A place to stay?
The first thing you’ll probably have to do when you’re in Belgium, is to search for a place to stay. Students in Belgium stay in a so-called kot (student apartment or student flat). Especially in a city like Leuven where lots of students stay during the academic year, you find a lot of koten. But an apartment is another (yet more expensive) solution. If you don’t know where to begin, these tips might help you.
Tip 1: Consult the local newspapers of the place where you’re going to stay and look at the advertisements.
Tip 2: You can also consult an estate agent (makelaars in onroerende goederen or agence immobilière), most cities have several estate agents. They will help you to glance through the possibilities.
Tip 3: Another possibility is to walk through neighbourhoods that are suitable for you to live in. Pay attention to signs that say te huur or à louer.
Remark: If you choose to stay in a student apartment, you’ll probably have to share a kitchen and bathroom with other students. Most of the student apartments have a bed and a closet, but when you choose to stay in an apartment or studio, you will probably have to arrange this yourself. Or you just search for the apartments that are gemeubeld/meublé (furnished).
Tip 4: Always check if your contract is for 10 or 12 months when you choose a student apartment!
Doctor?
Hopefully, your stay in Belgium will be a happy and healthy one. But if you get sick, how will you find a doctor?
Tip 1: In Belgium this isn’t too difficult. You can just consult the Yellow Pages. Or talk to one of your (Belgian) friends and ask them who their family doctor is and if they’re satisfied with his or her services.
Tip 2: Language won’t be much of a problem because many Belgian doctors speak English or understand it well enough to help you. You may also be able to consult a listed English-speaking doctor or an interpreter from your local embassy.
Tip 3: You aren’t obliged to register with a family doctor, but it might be handy to register if you want to get reimbursed.
Tip 4: Your doctor might also be useful when you need to consult a specialist or treatment facilities.
Tip 5: Once you’ve found a good doctor, check the office hours and whether he makes appointments (afspraak or rendez-vous) or holds consultations or both.
Food?
When in Belgium, do as the Belgians do. So once a week you have to eat chips/French fries, one of the most famous snacks in Belgium.
Tip 1: If you don’t own a deep fryer, you have to go to a frituur. There you can eat chips/French fries, but also some meat specialities, like the Bicky Burger, Berenpoot or Ragouzi. A vegetarian alternative is also possible of course. You can find at least four frituren (chip shop/French fries stand) in each city in Flanders. It isn’t very healthy, but once a week can’t be a problem, can it?
Tip 2: If you want to eat some vegetables, you can try a typical Brussels dish called stoemp. Just mash some potatoes, add some vegetables of your choice and done! It might be a little bit more work than that, but those are the essential ingredients. You won’t find this dish in every restaurant in Flanders, but in Brussels this shouldn’t be a problem.
Tip 3: Other Belgian specialities you should try: stoofvlees, Gentse waterzooi, waffles, mussels… If you want to find out what these things taste like, just ask your Belgian friends (or their mothers) to prepare it for you or go to a nice restaurant.
Tip 4: You will always find some good places that aren’t too expensive, especially if you go to a brasserie. Enjoy!
Public transport?
Tip 1: If the cities aren’t that far apart, you can always travel by bus. In Flanders you can jump on a bus of De Lijn, while in Brussels De Lijn or MIVB are possible.
Tip 2: If you want to visit a city far away (although that’s relative in a small country like Belgium), you can go by train (NMBS). If you’re younger than 26 you can buy a Go-Pass 10. You can travel 10 times with this card for just 50 euros.
Tip 3: When you’re in Brussels, you can also take the railway/subway which is called metro or you can go by tram. These are also services of MIVB and you need only one tickets to travel by all of these means of transport.
Tip 4: Of course we cannot forget that you can always go on foot, you have some exercise and sightseeing is easier when you can visit everything in your own pace.
9 februari 2011
