Living

Brussels boils and bubbles, seven days a week. There is always something to do. Even on Sunday. From shops that are open to local markets. You’re connected at all times and in all places; there is free Wi–Fi at plenty of different sites and shops throughout Brussels.

There are 1,001 ways to move about in Brussels. And that’s good too, because once you’re a student-graduate, your subscription for public transport with the MIVB and/or De Lijn and TEC becomes quite a bit more expensive. Ever heard of GEN? These NMBS trains travel around the busiest axes to bring you more quickly to smaller stations in and around Brussels.

Apart from the public transport, you can also make use of shared transport. For bikes, scooters and cars, there are several providers and platforms. The big advantage? You have all the good and none of the bad, so, for example, you never need to go looking for a (costly) parking spot. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with a nice walk through the city!

Are you using your own bike or taking the car? The Brussels government provides dedicated bike parking stations. Parking Brussels takes care of everything related to automobile traffic.

You undoubtedly know the great cultural temples such as KVS, Kaaitheater, Beursschouwburg, AB, Théâtre National and Botanique, but Brussels also has a lot of smaller theatres and concert halls. They’re all collected at agenda.brussels.

Did you know that the nightlife in Brussels is recognised as cultural heritage? With more than twenty large nightclubs, the nightlife scene in the city is more than worth the effort. Renowned nightclubs include Fuse, Mirano, La Cabane, Spirito, C12 and Bloody Louis.

Brussels is home to more than 100 museums with collections on everything you can think of. If you really want to dive into them, the Museum Pass is an interesting purchase. Use it to visit scores of museums in Brussels and elsewhere in the country for free.

In Brussels, you’ll find literature from around the world. The international house of literature, Passa Porta has a treasure trove of books and organises activities focused on reading and literature. As a meeting place, Muntpunt—one of the Dutch-language libraries in Brussels—also organises events around literature. You’ll find one of these libraries in every municipality, with the same membership card being used at all of them. Brussels also has the largest library in the country: the Royal Library of Belgium or KBR. You’ll find fascinating historic and scientific collections there.

Brussels has its own tourist service: Visit Brussels. This organisation offers tourist information and lists that tell you, for example, where to find the most delicious ice cream or coolest clubs.

You’ll find some places in Brussels are open and green, while others appear to be densely populated and urbanised. Brussels has almost 2,800 hectares of publicly accessible green areas, good for 18% of the total surface area. It is simply a question of finding them. Leefmilieu Brussel has marked their locations for you here.

There are plenty of sports clubs in Brussels. Think about football, wall climbing, underwater hockey, athletics, rope-skipping, fencing and dance—it’s all on offer. Check out this overview of the clubs in Brussels.

If you prefer your sport outside a club situation, make the most of the many green zones in Brussels. Online, you’ll also find cycling and walking routes to die for. These include, for example, Sport Brussel’s favourite walking routes.

Mapping out all the volunteer organisations in Brussels is quite the task. Being involved in public life is possible in several different ways. Via de VGC community centres for example, but also via neighbourhood houses and committees, amateur theatre, youth movements and citizens’ actions. Find community centres online via the urban movement Bral.

Check out the activities of the alumni networks from VUB, Erasmushogeschool, Odisee, LUCA and KU Leuven.

The Kenniscentrum Welzijn, Wonen en Zorg has an overview of all the places looking for volunteers. The many community centres and community houses would love to have volunteers from their local areas. Drop by or contact them to look into the possibilities. And don’t forget: Brik is always happy to have you as a volunteer too!

Another tip for getting to know people—and practising your language—is volunteering at Patati. You’ll meet people from Brussels who have different native languages. They will be happy to practise Dutch with you at any of the many conversation tables.

You can also get to know Brussels via regional media. BRUZZ is the collective name for a radio station, television channel, magazine and website that includes (primarily Dutch-language) reports about all facets of Brussels. Alternatively, (French-language) regional television station BX1 reports on the everyday goings-on in the capital city.

Brussels is as large or as small as you want it to be. You can wander anonymously through the streets or look for places where you know people.

There are also online possibilities. Become a member of any of the many Facebook groups such as ‘Brussel Verniet’ and ‘Durf te vragen Brussel II’, as well as following other social media accounts for and by people from Brussels and you’ll soon build up your network.

Instagram tips: @wonen.in.brussel, @weirdthingsinbrussels, @prettybrussels, @brussels.from.above, @brusselsdoors, @welovebrussels.

It's generally accepted that you can devote a maximum of one third of your wages to your home and associated costs, such as water, electricity and communal maintenance costs. But there are of course other fixed costs. Include your monthly expenses related to internet, or for example, Netflix or Spotify. Calculate how much your MIVB ticket costs per month, what contributions you’re paying to your health insurance and your other insurances or payment instalment plans. You’re then able to think about the cost of hobbies and your shopping or free-time habits. Experts also recommend putting away ten per cent of your nett wages for unforeseen costs.

Do you have financial problems or a question? Get in touch with Budgetbeheer Brussel. This organisation has also launched a budget management app: Wakosta? You’ll find other (free) apps online to help you manage your budget.

Forget about the night shop or the little supermarket on the corner. They’re fine for emergencies or a last-minute craving. Do your weekly shopping in a large supermarket and keep the prices down. Look for promotions. Buy as much in bulk as possible and take an Uber home. You’re guaranteed to win back the added cost of a taxi. Buy your fresh food at local markets. It's especially good towards closing time when you’ll find plenty of bargains. Alternatively, try an app like Too Good to Go. This is where shops and restaurants offer what would otherwise be wasted food—at low prices.

Forget about ‘brand new’ and think about ‘unique’ and ‘having a soul’, even ‘rescued’ items. In Brussels, you can buy all kinds of second-hand goods at the daily flea market in the Marollen, at the second-hand stores and even find things for free via the Facebook group Brussel Verniet. Want to bet you’ll be able to completely decorate your apartment this way?

If your mixer breaks or there’s no sound coming out of your alarm clock, don’t throw it away. First bring it to one of the repair cafés where volunteers perform free repairs.

You’ll find even more tips at the website of De Transformisten. They know all there is to know about sustainability and even established the first Babytheek. Did you also know that in Brussels, there’s a sort of lending library for DIY tools and equipment? Make sure you check out Tournevie.