yeah, I'm Belgian and I agree with basically everything. I could add some nuance though. Regarding the English proficiency: the people (especially in Flanders) will be able to help you in English. But once you have to deal with any government institution, they are basically forbidden to use any other language than either Dutch, Fransh, or if you're in the tiny east cantons, German. But not even in all of Belgium they can use both French and Dutch, that's only in Brussels and to an extend in some "facility communes". As you can see government in Belgium works under the dogma: "why make it easy if we can make it overly confusing?". In shops goods have to be labeled in Dutch, French and German (except it's clearly import) and if you're lucky it's labeled in English too.
@@bonjourmansee It's a leftover of our history here. First we were part of the Netherlands after Napoleon. The dutch king basically abused Belgium to siphon money from South to the North. Which obviously resulted in the Belgian revolution. Once that was done all those in power basically spoke french because, well, for a long time we were basically part of it so. The majority was and still is dutch though so they basically made it impossible to do higher education and such in dutch even in Flanders. They basically wanted to make Belgiun french. But fun fact, no. Took about a century before you could follow higher education in Ghent in dutch and things like the justice system for a long time was all french. You can imagine how that went. So basically because of that allowing french in Flanders isn't a thing and the same applies to Walloon for dutch. It's a tad silly in this day and age but it's a relic of the past.
It’s actually even more ridiculous. On the phone we can help people in English, but official communications such as letter need to be the administrative language. I.e Dutch in Flanders , French in Wallonië and Dutch or French ( according to the citizen’s preference) in Brussels and of course German in the German speaking administrative areas.
@@thandie67 how on earth did Belgium chose to use a foreign language. I am sorry but perhaps try writing more than one sentence next time cause your post does not really make sense.
A certain part of this discussion is mostly aimed at Brussels (surroundings) or Wallonia. I lived in Gent (Flanders) and I never faced issues with commune etc. It was very beautifully planned in Gent. I can concur the driving license bit though. Also most of the key issues (security, cleanliness, traffic) exist in all major European cities. If you are a permanent employee a lot of stuff (Transportation, car, etc) is paid by the employer.
the transportation cost is most of the times only partial refund by the employer though. And if you want high advantages such as a company car etc you're looking at upper level-skilled jobs such as IT, HR, Management, ... Your average day to day worker doesn't get these unfortunately. :) Most only get a € 0,42 / km refund for every kilometer you take traveling to your work and back again.
Wow! Generous employers! €0.42/km sounds like the UK's £0.45/mile, only that's for special trips. To have it paid for every journey is really generous! £1=€1.17 and 1 mile is 1.6 km. £0.45/ mile is about €0.33/km. 42/33=1.27, so 27%+ more generous. So, either way, the Belgian employers are way more generous! Ah, a few years ago, I heard that the Belgian employers give a lot of physical benefits (cars, electronics, etc.) because the tax rate is so high that money isn't as attractive.
@@bonjourmansee ...... For people in Flanders, Brussels is actually like another country with an estimated debt of 11.5 billion euros at the end of 2024... an extra financial millstone around the neck of the entire country...
if you compare with London, Ik, then you realised its quite reasonable country. Same things applied in Uk as well be it related to NHS or police. Don't misguide people pls.
Listening to all these things as a Belgian citizen is honestly funny and depressing at the same time. Spot on with everything, Belgium is a country where you have to be able to fend for yourself, when you grow up here it's not that bad though. You learnt to live with everything, even when your country doesn't have a goverment during a covid pandemic, we were fine asside from the sickness
Some things are expensive, but some are cheap. Health care is notoriously cheap compared to other countries. Some groceries are cheaper, some are more expensive. Basic restaurants sell good food for an acceptable price.
@@1001BalanceNot as high as in Germany, France, UK, or Scandinavia. In those countries it is basically free. And we pay high taxes and pay quarterly to the mutuality.
Rent is cheap… used to live in London, Stockholm and Beijing. Seriously, it depends from where you are from. The worst is Stockholm. Big traumatic experiences…
Well, I moved to Belgium from Italy and I totally agree with what you said with the difference that compared to Italy all the negative sides you described are really positive.
Ciao! Io sto pensando di andare a vivere un giorno lì. Tu che vivi già li e hai esperienza...secondo te merita? Si sta meglio rispetto all'Italia? Le persone come sono?
This is an amazing video !!! Honest and truthful. Europe is not a fairytale or a Yash Raj movie !! It is a hard life especially for the expats. We come here to work and get the European experience in our CV’s but in the process we are working hard not just in our proffessional front, but in the personal side too.... no one has ever told that story, except of course you. I am also referring to the cultural shock video that you had posted before. A big applause 👏.
Agree with each and every scenario that you have brought forward. I would like to add the situation of the Reticence that we expats feel frequently. While searching for rentals we faced awkward silences ,cold shoulders and no responses for no reasons ....!! Whoever comes to stay in Europe should get used to being treated as the ‘others’ !!
@@sayonidas2979 I'm glad you told it like it is! I did meet some genuinely nice people who really helped me and I'm grateful, but generally the European humanitarian values are simply shallow and superficial - everything is measured in terms of money & they consider even the smallest gestures of kindness as some kind of favour that they're doing you. For example, sharing food or even asking someone for water are considered big things in these societies which is extremely strange to me. At the end, you get treated as a desperate expat from a "third world country" and they are truly very misinformed about India!
@@yadavkomal Belgium has far more values than India whose people still behave very violently, Indians are misinformed about India - it is a rough corrupt nation. Western nations are wary about loads of foreigners coming to take their jobs on VISA scams. So obviously they're not going to bow at your feet. Get realistic. It's a lie that sharing food or water is a problem in Europe. Look at how many foreigners they let in. I'd say food and water are more scarce in places like India.
Everything is about perspective, to which country are you comparing belguim ? Rent in Brussels is extremely cheap for an international city, public transportation are extremely cheap compared to London. Yea they are expensive if you compare to India maybe but that does not make any sense does it? 50% taxes and you have retirement job insurance universal healthcare. Groceries are expensive again compared to which country? It is cheaper than France and way cheaper than UK and way way cheaper than switzerland Yea it is more expensive than India but again that comparison does not make any single sense. Crimes and thefts in big cities are common and you should take care of your stuff in London, New York, Barcelona, Chicago, Paris or Brussels. The only big international cities that are very safe are Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul and Hong Kong maybe, Doha, Dubai.. Pauverty and beggers, have you been to San Francisco? And if you are comparing the prices to India you should probably also compare the level of misery and Pauverty to India just to be a bit coherent 😂 For driving having lived in south east asia and travelled to lots of countries, It is a great thing what is being done in Europe..Better than having psychopats and stupid people using their cars as a weapon. And if you are not completely dumb you can get your livcence in one year. For healthcare I would personally prefer to get hospitlized in Belguim rather than India for example, it is my personal choice.
Agreed, housing is rather cheap in Belgium, even in expensive areas: compared with the UK, Switzerland and other really rich countries, California, New York... Except around Brussels, the roads are mostly empty! Very surprising, coming from the UK. Apparently, Belgium is 20% cheaper than the UK. So, the prices are the same but in a cheaper currency. 1 GBP = 1.17 EUR, currently.
ye i don't know why the complain ok its expensief ,people from expensief countrys should go ,Thailand ,Philippines ,taiwan alot cheaper there ,and here so complaining as a Guest of the country i hope Belgium Amasy see it and blacklist her ,that the do in alot Countrys where Guest Complaining on youtube and etc....
as a native Belgian I really feel that drivers license problem. Its so expensive. Although I agree they have to be strict. I got my license, but now I forgot to drive because there is so much traffic jams where I live and "one way" streets, its like a maze. At least I can borrow mom's vespa now (motorcycle lol)
I only agree with the weather. Ehm ehm... first of all, Belgium is a social country. It's not perfect, but it's awesome. You don't want to work? Fine... you'll get money, housing, free education, free healthcare, free internet subscription, free this and free that. So you literally don't have to worry about starvation. Which country does that? Unemployment benefits? The best in the entire galaxy. Belgian people? Cold, rude, racist? Maybe... But hey, let's take a step back and analyze why. It's because people go to Belgium to get all these benefits. Imagine someone coming to your couch and provide them with everything I have mentioned above. Millions of people do that. And hey, I am not originally from Belgium, but God bless this country and it's people as many people and families have strived. It f0cking hurst my feeling b1tching about the things you mentioned. This is horrible. If you don't like it, just go to France or Germany and make another vide after you have lived more than a year in these countries and we'll see how your perspective will change :D. Again, I am not of Belgian origin, it is just what I have observed and I really feel for Belgian people. God Bless BELGIUM and its people.
It's normal for a country that has Dutch, French and German as national languages to not provide English as a standard. If you want to come and take the job of a local person, at least learn the local language... There are companies that have changed their standard language to English for a little while when calling or chatting with their helpdesk and because of complaints they had to rightfully change their standard language to their local language or one of the Belgian official languages.
Thank you for revealing the truth I’m Nigerian who lived for many years on Saudi Arabia snd planing to move to Belgium having to hear this made me have think twice
Its informative video to help people see pros and cons before making the big decision, I also made one with positive points, you can search it in my channel. Hope you do what is best for you dear
Belgium is a very fair country with wonderful, clever, tolerant people. Most of the cities are ver green and clean except heavily touristic places and I think it’s a problem of every place of that kind. Taxes are kind of heavy, but everybody protected thus the criminal level is very low. I feel like this video was filmed due to absence of previous negative side content. In order to bring attention to the channel. Belgium is one of the top greatest countries and you can tell it only by visiting most of the world.
@@pedjavukmirovic6770 why taking down statues of people that made Belgium rich? even as a foreigner living here, you indirectly benefit from Leopold's questionable exploits, since they provided funds that allowed to build up Belgium as we know it..
Belgian here: The Belgian system is unsustainable, since it relies on a small workforce that is accepting the burden of very high salary taxes, long working hours, 'burn out' situations in the workspace, while at the same time Real Estate/multiple home owners/capital/multinationals get hardly taxed and are in a feedback loop of high capital return/expensiveness... It's a great country if you already have bought a big house, and if you are in the top 10 percent, due to great public infrastructure/restaurants/safety (except brussels) If you want to start from scratch, you can never make it due to the system limitations described above...
I'm Belgian but my girlfriend is a Turkish expat and what you say is true. For example; my GF went to HR when she got her first salary here and she asked "Why is it so low". 😅
Brussels is flooded by gangs who use children (!) to invoke 'Pity'. Not that slightest bit different from other cities around EU. I've been to e.g. London multiple times and never seen more people sleeping in boxes in parks, streets, just about everywhere.
I'm from Belgium and this is spot on. The burocracy is really depressing. If you have admnistration to be done or if you want to reach an institution by phone, it's very hard to get in. Basically you have to search for everything on your own here, figuring out yourself cause the info is not delivered to the citizens. Sometimes you can't even get a hold of someone by phone. You have to find another way to contact them. On the English matter, most people do know English here (in Flanders anyway, don't know about the French part of Belgium), they are able and willing to help you out. And yeees, the weather here can be really depressing in the fall and winter months
You pretty much answered all my questions with 50% taxes?!?!?! and 5 euros for 1 euro cooking oil. I'm staying where I'm at. The taxes are low and reasonable just to start with. And on that note I'll NEVER complain about my taxes ever again. I have family that lives in Brussels Belgium. I can not imagine how difficult it is there. I'm sure it's a pretty place to visit, but clearly not live there if you can help it.
What she said is not exact : Taxes are progressive : You'll pay 25% on the first 14 000 €, 40% on your income between 14 000 € and 24 500 € and 45% beween 24 500 € and 42 000 €. You'll pay 50% taxes only on your income above 42 000 € If you make 50 000 €, you will pay about 19 575 € of taxes => it means about 39% of your gross income. And we have an amazing social security that covers everyone. So you definitly get back some of that money by not paying for school, medical care, etc.
Quite a lot of false or exaggerated information (crime has been dropping, there are website and apps for almost all government instances, hospitals and doctors have websites for online appointment-which do not take 2 weeks and if urgently you'll hear a doctor the same day, houses are one of cheapest in Western Europe, public transport is more than decent and cheaper than the UK or Netherlands). You will encounter most of the issues in any other European country btw, don't be naive...
So life is pretty cheap in belgium compared to the other european coutries right ? How about the salary ? I'm actually an engineering student and i'm willing to build a life in europe becuz i feel like the culture of my own country doesn't suit me, i've been thinking about moving to belgium or the Uk since i'm competent enough in both english and frencg languages, but it seems to me that it's pretty expensive living in the UK and people are kinda gloomy over there ? Can you please enlighten me about life in Belgium. Thank you so very much if you do 🤍
@@Malake5909 well difficult to define "cheap" of course. Rent is around 700-800. Groceries are not cheap but if you shop smart then it's not a problem. Salary for engineer will be around 3-4000 (I don't know your experience or field) with often lot of benefits like company car etc. Most people I know save around 1000-1500 a month (Belgians are median richest people so no surprise, even more so for engineers). Belgians are open-minded but a bit to themself and don't like arrogant people. In the northern part basically everyone speaks English, southern part you'll need your French. For me it's the best part in the world to live, we have everything except the weather ;)
Very true Mansee! We are one of the Highest tax payers in the world.....and they are coming with more in other forms of payments. Salary in Belgium is ok I guess. Most of my Belgian friends here are middle class and lead a good quality life with all comforts! But as you know, they dont keep saving money like us Indians as they dont waste money on weddings and jewellery like us Indians. The only savings/ investment they do is to buy a house, and travel around. I know in cities like Amsterdam, Berlin etc IT workers/ engineers, Medical professionals earn more! But such cities are also very expensive to live in ( rent and real estate), compared to Belgian cities. Since the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, shopping, eating out etc have become expensive! Post pandemic, I shopped groceries for 25 to 30! Now it is almost 50 Euros for the same quantity . Money just flies away from the pocket! I got an extra bill of more than 2000 Euro for electricity consumed last year! 🥺🥺
omg, thats scary. I hope salaries have sufficient indexation next year and also govt provides sufficient subsidy on energy - nevertheless, we all know things are going crazy and our pockets are going to hurt (and are hurting!). your detailed comments provide good insights! thank you. I hope this info will make it worthy for fellow Indians or other people to make wise judgement if they should really come here or not.
@@bonjourmansee . Yes, coming here or even the UK and starting a life here from scratch would be not easy...as prices are only increasing , essential commodities. Especially people/ students ( KU Leuven, Gent university etc) who have taken loans
Thanks for the warnings. Traffic around Brussels! Bad, yes. The weather is excellent. I love NW European weather. That's why it's so green and it's not hot, except in the worst times in summer. No freezing to death in -30° C winter nights either. Thanks for saying this was only the negative side. Housing is cheap in Belgium. The roads generally seem empty, except around Brussels. Cycling is very easy. I love the languages! Can't get enough of the Vlaams, Français and Deutsch. Plenty of English too. The health service cannot be as bad as the UK?!! Please! Or South Africa.
@@bonjourmansee Pros will be more in coming years. But still if you compare only money saving aspect then it’s truly not a good option but savings,safety and living standards are far better here than USA.
@@deepaksharma-nn1qw You're way off. She's talking about the situations a prospective Belgium resident might be facing in Belgium especially in Brussels. She's not trying to compare Belgium to the USA. Savings depends on the person not on the country. Safety depends on the area not on the entire city or country....Living standard depends on the person and it's not a general rule that applies to everyone. I would say, here in the the US, it takes you about four weeks to get your driver license for about $30. An American who plans on relocating in Brussels, Belgium should be aware of the process of getting a driver license there.
Living in Berlin, Germany too has refugee crisis but other things are good here Public transport is gud Thefts.. bike thefts are common but house thefts? Only in one particular area in Berlin i heard of. Pick pocketing? I have never seen it happening not heard about it happening Paper work takes time here as well, as they do it very thoroughly but once they are done they’ll send it. Its not like we have to followup nd escalate it only then the work is started. Made good decision choosing Berlin its ❤
There are certain points that are correct but still some like appointments with communes & hospitals that could be taken out easily online …. But still agree with most of them
Your are right that in some communes it’s possible. But only some. 😢 anyways indeed this video résonantes a lot with the pain area of many expats living here. Thanks for your comment, keep supporting the channel ❤
Lol. I have a lot to say about Belgium but man, it's like I'm listening to a clueless princess complaining about the difficulties of the real life outside of her rich people's bubble.
more negative things eg the cost of services for an electrician or plumber ; they charge a lot without giving any receipt; 15-20 police agents are assigned to control the tickets at metro to impose a fine but they have not caught the burglars who enter and sleep at my house taking everything using transport company; if you have not installed an alarm system at home or pay each month the remote surveillance company you are not safe etc etc
It's very scary what you are talking about the thefts and burglary.. is it happening in daylight?? What precautions one can take to avoid being a victim of it.. plz suggest
Being aware is the first preparation. Have good locks at home, don’t open (even the society’s door)without verifying if the person is genuine. Due to economic crisis many refugees and bpl are trying to resort to these things. And in general as well since Europe is touristy, one has to be very careful of pickpockets in crowded areas. I have real examples from ppl I know..they lost their laptops, phones, iPods, or their apartment was attempted to be broken into … or someone trying to snatch their chain…huh .. and all this in last 3 months. In short: just be careful of your surroundings. But no one will come straight to your face and snatch your things - only if you lose that awareness or do some mistakes: remember someone is watching you and waiting for that opportunity!
@@balu9618 no no, in that it’s 1000 times better than 🇺🇸 USA.. relax. But offcourse there are some areas that are not advised to go to.. and if you go their alone at night - you never know. But normally: no mugging , stay relaxed.
I think it's changing a lot. I used to go for a run in the evening, but after lockdown after dark homeless people on drugs (that can be aggressive) are roaming the city since then. (in Ghent)
Neighbourhoods have been taken over by muslim immigrants. A lot of crime, drugs and litter Belgians don't feel safe anymore and that explains the polaristion and the politics they prefer.
Hello Mansee, i can't help but to say that your neutral opinion is rather narrowed to the capital area of Brussels. If you were willing to pay the same amount of rent and charges you should be able to rent a 2 story house in the commutes around Brussels. Transportation by train could even be refunded 100% by your employer in combo with TEC and local Brussels public transport. I would kindly suggest you take a trip to places as Oostende or even De Panne, near the French border, at the coast area to see what life is about there. Nowadays the energy prices are dropped a little more than expected and life is gaining more quality again. I love to hear how expats think about my country and now i have seen some of your videos I conclude you have been totally honest all the way except our food... We like to believe we offer the largest variety in take away cuisines here from local to French, Greek, Italian, Asian and even Indain cuisine but I do recon that quailty is not always top notch :-) Best of luck on your channel and I hope you continue to enjoy your stay with your partner here in my country
Easy there tiger, she just wants to point out that not all is sunshine and rainbows. We have allot of awesome stuff here but lets not deny that allot of stuff is broken as well. :D
Hi, if I come to Belgium with a limited work permit, can I change employer and is this will make me lose my single permit ? How did you change your work first time in Belgium ? Thanks for the help :)
Hi, yes you can change. Its normal. Your new employer will start the documentation for it - while you stay in Belgium and continue your work normally with the previous employer. When your new work permit arrives, based on it you can request the updated ID card and surrender the old one. Hope you get a nice opportunity soon! Keep supporting the channel :)
I am moving there in Jan 1st week. and you made me depressed...😮💨😮💨😮💨. Anyway as being an Indian and being all new to the country, may I expect any help from you guys if required? Thanks for the updates through the videos..
Hahahah I didn’t intend to make my viewers feel that way but only to make them aware, alert so they can be ready. We Indians anyways are very adjusting and adapt well! Offcourse you can expect help from us, but we want sweets in return 😂😂😂kidding! we will try our best to help. Bdw, Indian community here is very helpful and when you connect to various fb groups you will always find answers. So that’s another positive side! Wishing you a happy upcoming journey !
@@bonjourmansee Thanks a lot. yeah lets see if can carry some Kolkata special sweets for advance help. will get in touch with you on insta as I am not there in FB. thanks again.
Hi Dhinesh, If you have offer of 50K euros NET, then its good offer. go for it, but if its gross then its less you should consider taking 40 LPA in India.
I think, it's a good thing to travel and see the world firsthand, just calibrate your expectations. People are going to be people no matter what culture or country, and especially these days, everyone is struggling to get by. Europe has been war-torn for the better part of its existence. The last influx was in the '90s during the Yugoslav war. Nazi movements have also always been a part of Europe; it's only because of social media that people internationally are becoming more aware of it. The weather affects everyone, of course, and you have to adapt to the new environment. So, do as the locals do; spend time with indoor activities like ice skating or going on hikes don't sit at home and ponder about your life's descisions. But don't expect life in Europe to be exactly like at home. Europe as a whole (not just Belgium) isn't easy. The very first wave of migrants was well aware of this, probably thanks to their firsthand experience with European colonizers. They essentially sacrificed their personal well-being for their children and their children's children. So, if you're looking for immediate personal fulfillment, it's probably better to look elsewhere.
Meri didi I'm studying master's in Data Science in UK 🇬🇧 but I wanted to move to Europe So, do you advise me to choose Belgium or Netherlands because These Countries are giving PR in 5 Years So, please say me that can I choose Netherlands or Belgium didi 🙏 Jai Hind 🇬🇧🙏🇮🇳
Thanks, as a Belgian i see the negatives as well, compared to 20 years ago the inequality has now exploded, certainly in the housing/capital markets... this is a result of 30 years of very low capital/RealEstate taxes , combined with very high salary taxes right now: -around 50 percent of Belgians are struggling to pay monthly bills, -10 percents of Belgians (mostly in Flanders) are so well off financially, that they technically never have to work again... -20 percent of the workforce has a burnout or long term unemployment -20 percent works in well paid 'nonsense' jobs, such as Consultancy, Real Estate Sales, StockMarket advisory,Recruitment,... This polarisation leads to a big shortage in people that want to work 'real jobs' : police, teachers, doctors, nurses, as these jobs don't allow financial stability, As a result of this 'ratrace' situation, people turn to extreme political parties (Vlaams Belang, PVDA) which makes it even worse...
Just to clarify something, in the Flanders (dutch speaking part of Belgium which equals 60% of the population) knows how to speak English (people from all layers, so from workers up to people who have studied). Next to that, yes crime is insane in Brussels (also in Antwerp and Gent) but all the other areas are in general very safe. I personally prefer to take a train instead of going by car to Brussels (also Antwerp) because of how hectic the traffic is over there. I aggree with the bureaucratic way of handling administration in Belgium. Although I personally can go to a doctor the day I made an appoinment, which is necessary because if you have to stay at home because of sickness you have to bring in a doctor's note in 48 hours to get your wage for those days you were absent at work. I hope you're enjoying your stay over here in Belgium, but please realise that the life in Brussels is not representing for the whole of Belgium. (I have to admit that we have a depressing weather and we are also quite a closed type of people)
4:11 Is there an upper cap of temp put for households as well? If yes, would you know the temp? I am moving from India to Brussels this winter and quite anxious about the cold there.
Hello, dont worry! Yes the situation is not very good when we talk of energy bills. But the govt has extended efforts to reduce the tva from 21% to 6% on electricity and mazout .honestly, I don’t know if the prime of 100-200 euros will be applicable to new arrivals. However, you can be 100% assured that there is no cap for domestic use. Naturally, if you are moving from India to here you will use more energy than people here because you would still be adjusting to the temperature- but I’m sure you will adapt and adjust. Wishing you a great journey and good time in Belgium 🇧🇪. Keep supporting the channel ❤
Lolz! I just happened to watch this and I'm flying from Delhi and landing in Brussels on 25th morning (25th Oct 2022)...to get married and live there!!
Congratulations on your wedding soon! 😍hahahaha I can understand your disappointment, but there are a lot of positives too: so I hope the country brings lots of happiness and luck for you and your partner, keep supporting the channel ❤
You're talking about your personal experience, not reality. I am Belgian by birth, I live in the Liège region, I can see my doctor the same day or the next day, I can make an appointment at the hospital via an application or website, I have never been robbed in 36 years and neither do my loved ones (none). The extreme right only concerns Flanders. There is not a single far-right elected official in Wallonia. You talk about salaries, you compare with the USA, it's grotesque. Here taxes are used for many things (pension, unemployment, medical expenses, child allowances, etc.). In the USA you have nothing. You can get around Brussels easily with public transport. Outside of Brussels, the car is very practical. The price of real estate in Belgium, and particularly in Brussels, is very cheap compared to our neighbors (Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg) So stop making people believe that your opinion is that of all Belgians.
You didn't say any lies, it's all true. It might not be fun to hear for people wanting to come here (to Belgium), but all of it are things to be taken into consideration to avoid being desillusioned upon arrival. As a result of far right gaining popularity there are also groups of radicals that are very offensive or even agressive towards immigrants, and as such harrasment is becoming more and more of a problem. Don't get me wrong there are allot of friendly caring people in Belgium, and I believe they are still the vast majority, but be prepared for some less than welcome interactions as well as most immigrants do get confronted with such situations at one point. Another tip for people visiting or moving to Belgium is to learn from locals what to look out for before actually coming here. I visit Brussels allot and there are stories by the dozens of tourists getting robbed or taken advantage of because they entered a wrong part of the city or put their trust in the wrong people. It's not like a ghetto there but as always just be cautious and inform yourself when going to a foreign country to avoid this happening to you.
indeed, but its a surprise to see such delays from WSL-1200. The employees from the population department did accept that the Foreign services of the commune are seeing exceptional delays. + obviously no online appointments. I lived previously in Etterbeek and they had actually begun with online appointments. Good to know SJTN is also a good one.
@@bonjourmansee WSP - 1150 took me 7 months to get a residence permit and that too after several visits. The administration is too lazy in certain communes!
Oh dear... yes... Belgium is known for its bureaucracy but once you are established here and take time to put your affairs in order with the city hall and such - everything becomes super easy and fast. You are not yet established after only 1 year... I have been able to get various documents electronically at a touch of a finger so I really don't know what you are talking about sometimes... patience is key. Also... there are huge tax benefits upon buing your first home...
Thanks for such a descriptive video... my husband just got an offer to move brussels for 2 years. We both are working here and earning decent but I will need to quit job if we will move there. We have 2.5 yrs old daughter. If he is offered around 4k euros after tax, is it advisable to move there. Also how much can be saved there?
if its just for 2 years and then you will move back - i don't see any point in moving and starting from scratch twice - when you both have good jobs in India. It will also be a big change for your little one(twice). However if you have long term plans - then its a good opportunity as money your husband will get is good, meanwhile you can (you must) find a new job for yourself. if you both will be earning here and have a kid - its great for long term. well, this is my opinion, I hope you will also discuss with you family and make a wise decision that suits you the best.
I was thinking to do bsc program from Belgium.. As a student is it possible to go with spouse? And can spouse do any job or delivery job? Can we bear all the expenditure by doing part time job? Please reply🙏
Honestly, student jobs are not very rewarding, you will not help a lot financially in your family if you study and work as a student. Good news is: if you come as dependent, the single permit card that you will get will allow you to work as well (new rule for dependants active since apprx 2019): you will have unlimited access to labour market.
@@tasmianirjona5819 usually there cannot be possibility to bring dependent when you are studying … especially for a course like bachelor’s it wouldn’t be allowed. To know exactly what applies for your specific case better ask your university.
Hi, Belgian universities are very reputed and you will get a chance to meet people from all over the world. Jobs: it’s not very easy, it will be challenging as there will be many people who will stay ahead of you because they know the local languages. So naturally companies prefer them. It’s not impossible but it will be challenging for you to get a job. So if you think you are ready for this adventure and want to put efforts into language learning to stay ahead : sure go ahead.
I’m not agreeing with you about dark side of Belgium,Belgium is the best country for living and for everything ,,that appointments issue is not a problem you can make appointments online easily so please don’t make difficulties for the people who are coming to Belgium,,,so if you are right why you stay here
I tried to get an appointment yesterday (again) there is no appointment available till May 2023…strange right ? Anyways I’ll call them or visit personally to get my work done. See appointments facility depends on commune to commune - maybe you never encountered this issue . And why I stay in Belgium ? Hahahaha you haven’t watched all videos yet clearly, you should watch the one I made on the positive side of living in Belgium. Plenty of reasons 🇧🇪🥳 Merry Xmas 🎅🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉
@Javed, Radicalism is beneficial for you because you belong to the same community as them, but not for others because not every community is radical in Belgium 🌛
Let her speak! There are many videos that speaks benefit of living in Belgium or any countries.so it is also good to see someone speaking about loop holes. No country is perfect be it Uk Us or Europe Asia etc. also not many people speak about cons so i am on her side 🎉
I am watching this video because I am visiting to Portugal in September 2023. I have 12 hours layover in Brussels. I don't know what to do in 12 hours.
Cheap furniture? Kringwinkel in Flanders. Cheap(er) food? Colruyt. Cheaper rent? Don't live in Brussels. The energy was crazy last year, but fortunately I got a lot of money back from the energy company.
Thanks for your video. It was really helpful but I am feeling bit disappointed at the same time. I am moving to Brussels this January for work with my husband and we are also planning for a baby in coming months. Is it good to have a kid within one year of movement? Is hospital/medical service ok for pregnant ladies?
That's great that your are moving to Belgium. Hospitals and Medical services are fairly good if everything is good(You know what i mean). If something goes wrong then you might be disappointed as you may not get clear answers from the doctors. Having kids within one year of movement could be OK however i would suggest to first get familiar with the surroundings and then make your own choice. All the very best.
@@bonjourmansee Hospitals en Medical services are very good in Belgium, they rank among the best countries in the world. You are really talking a lot of bullshit, because salaries aren't higher in the UK, they are mostly a lot lower. Smart people do reseach before posting such a load of nonsense. Prices went up all over Europe and world wide in fact. I guess in your 3rd world country not.
@@littleprincess8526 your racist rankers can't change facts dudess, only you have to say yourself that your country is something big and nice. Horrible.
I delivered my baby in Antwerp govt hospital.. medical services and doctors were very helpful throughout my pregnancy journey and the mid wife services post pregnancy provided by mutuality were a cherry on the top..we didn’t have to pay anywhere and everything was insured
I wonder if there is one positive thing you can say about the country i live in? It's humiliating the way you talk about my country! I wonder when everything is so negative ,why you come to stay here ? There may be some negative points in our country, but live is good here. i have visited many countries in my life and lived there for a while. In many places in the world it is much worse. The only thing is that i would never insult another country. That is full of disrespect! I don't know if you are still in my country, but i hope you already know that what you say here in your videos is rude. As a Belgian i am proud of my country and i think it is desrespectful of you.Greetings André
In India everything is easy so more chances of bad drivers leads to the killing the innocent lives. You are very wrong about their system their system is strict which eradicates unskilled minds. You need to give very accurate information else you are into misleading people. So be careful before you come online and provide information about the system of the country. In India we have too many deaths mostly because of bad and harsh driving and most of the then do not have licence. It's always good of the society when the system is strict. You are Indian it's highly corrupted country and anything is available if you give money so system is too much weak kindly do not pass wrong information. If your intention is honest enough to educate minds better redo your research and spread online or else just keep it to yourself. Thank you
Hi Mansee, i have an offer of 50k euro gross. With 50 percent income tax, i am not sure if it will be a wise decision to move to Belgium. Considering i have 7 years experience in IT now and i am earning around 30 LPA here in India. Although i have a wish to move to europe for better lifestyle and opportunities but need some suggestion to make a decision. 😊 It would be helpful if you can share some suggestions
Sorry for late reply, this is indeed less as you might have got feedback, but still manageable if you are single. If your long term goal is to settle abroad in Belgium and you can't afford to wait - then I would propose to take the offer and then within next one year of staying in Belgium look for a better job. Sometimes all you need is an opportunity! well, thats my personal opinion - but I'm sure you will use your wisdom and take the best decision for you :)
the 50K is before taxes on an annual basis? Also what function in IT do you have? Are you 1st line / 2nd line / 3rd line service desk or you are a programmer or an IT manager or ... ? (Good pay depends allot on the specifics of your job within IT brother)
Taxes are progressive : You'll pay 25% on the first 14 000 €, 40% on your income between 14 000 € and 24 500 € and 45% beween 24 500 € and 42 000 €. You'll pay 50% taxes only on your income above 42 000 € If you make 50 000 €, you will pay about 19 575 € of taxes => it means about 39% of your gross income. You'll have 2500€/month to live, it's more than enough. Depending on your life style, you could save some money. For reference, I spend 1200€/month for housing, energie bills, internet, food, health.
Wel iam Belgium proberly when go in Pension i would go Asian countrys for pension becouse its 3 to 5 times cheaper ,but as someone from a other country i not understand why you complain ,if not happy realy move back to the country you came from, if its there alot bether in place to critisize the country where your a guest, if talked this way in some other countrys the would Black list you out the country ,Rode you complain about howexpensief ,please more back from where you came realy ,if i see your back ground you live alot more wealty then most of the Belgiums self and we live here or hole lifes ,we not have a (Ambasy ,diplomate life like you seems to have)
What about accounting jobs there Can u plz make detailed video about accounting and finance professional From basic Most of the videos on youtube are about IT professionals only
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yeah, I'm Belgian and I agree with basically everything. I could add some nuance though.
Regarding the English proficiency: the people (especially in Flanders) will be able to help you in English. But once you have to deal with any government institution, they are basically forbidden to use any other language than either Dutch, Fransh, or if you're in the tiny east cantons, German. But not even in all of Belgium they can use both French and Dutch, that's only in Brussels and to an extend in some "facility communes". As you can see government in Belgium works under the dogma: "why make it easy if we can make it overly confusing?". In shops goods have to be labeled in Dutch, French and German (except it's clearly import) and if you're lucky it's labeled in English too.
absolutely love such useful contributions from Belgian viewers, thanks for the nuance, pinned the comment! wishing you a good day 😀
@@bonjourmansee
It's a leftover of our history here.
First we were part of the Netherlands after Napoleon. The dutch king basically abused Belgium to siphon money from South to the North.
Which obviously resulted in the Belgian revolution.
Once that was done all those in power basically spoke french because, well, for a long time we were basically part of it so. The majority was and still is dutch though so they basically made it impossible to do higher education and such in dutch even in Flanders. They basically wanted to make Belgiun french.
But fun fact, no.
Took about a century before you could follow higher education in Ghent in dutch and things like the justice system for a long time was all french. You can imagine how that went.
So basically because of that allowing french in Flanders isn't a thing and the same applies to Walloon for dutch.
It's a tad silly in this day and age but it's a relic of the past.
It’s actually even more ridiculous. On the phone we can help people in English, but official communications such as letter need to be the administrative language. I.e Dutch in Flanders , French in Wallonië and Dutch or French ( according to the citizen’s preference) in Brussels and of course German in the German speaking administrative areas.
@@anndevries8267how is that ridiculous though? If your country chooses to use a foreign languague perhaps rediculous is your country.
@@thandie67 how on earth did Belgium chose to use a foreign language. I am sorry but perhaps try writing more than one sentence next time cause your post does not really make sense.
Belgium expensive ? Compared to what ? France ? UK ?
A certain part of this discussion is mostly aimed at Brussels (surroundings) or Wallonia. I lived in Gent (Flanders) and I never faced issues with commune etc. It was very beautifully planned in Gent. I can concur the driving license bit though. Also most of the key issues (security, cleanliness, traffic) exist in all major European cities. If you are a permanent employee a lot of stuff (Transportation, car, etc) is paid by the employer.
indeed there is a difference between the regions and diff cities. I did focus mostly on Brussels :) thanks for the meaningful comment!
the transportation cost is most of the times only partial refund by the employer though. And if you want high advantages such as a company car etc you're looking at upper level-skilled jobs such as IT, HR, Management, ...
Your average day to day worker doesn't get these unfortunately. :)
Most only get a € 0,42 / km refund for every kilometer you take traveling to your work and back again.
Wow! Generous employers!
€0.42/km sounds like the UK's £0.45/mile, only that's for special trips.
To have it paid for every journey is really generous!
£1=€1.17 and 1 mile is 1.6 km.
£0.45/ mile is about €0.33/km.
42/33=1.27, so 27%+ more generous.
So, either way, the Belgian employers are way more generous!
Ah, a few years ago, I heard that the Belgian employers give a lot of physical benefits (cars, electronics, etc.) because the tax rate is so high that money isn't as attractive.
@@bonjourmansee ...... For people in Flanders, Brussels is actually like another country with an estimated debt of 11.5 billion euros at the end of 2024... an extra financial millstone around the neck of the entire country...
if you compare with London, Ik, then you realised its quite reasonable country. Same things applied in Uk as well be it related to NHS or police.
Don't misguide people pls.
Listening to all these things as a Belgian citizen is honestly funny and depressing at the same time. Spot on with everything, Belgium is a country where you have to be able to fend for yourself, when you grow up here it's not that bad though. You learnt to live with everything, even when your country doesn't have a goverment during a covid pandemic, we were fine asside from the sickness
Some things are expensive, but some are cheap. Health care is notoriously cheap compared to other countries. Some groceries are cheaper, some are more expensive. Basic restaurants sell good food for an acceptable price.
Mostly cheap to my English eyes.
I just paid 250€ for two injections in my knee after insurance. Belgium has some of the most expensive healthcare in all of Europe.
@@benu_bird if is it 250 euro in Belgium it will be up to 2400 euro elsewhere
@@1001BalanceNot as high as in Germany, France, UK, or Scandinavia. In those countries it is basically free. And we pay high taxes and pay quarterly to the mutuality.
@@benu_bird yeah the UK is an excellent example of an ‘excellent’ health system. It works so well the Brits cross the channel for treatment.
I was born and raised here I can agree with everything.
thanks
Rent is cheap… used to live in London, Stockholm and Beijing. Seriously, it depends from where you are from. The worst is Stockholm. Big traumatic experiences…
Well, I moved to Belgium from Italy and I totally agree with what you said with the difference that compared to Italy all the negative sides you described are really positive.
How did you move from italy?
@@Nirojan17 I got a job and left Italy in less than 1 month after the signature of the contract
Ciao! Io sto pensando di andare a vivere un giorno lì. Tu che vivi già li e hai esperienza...secondo te merita? Si sta meglio rispetto all'Italia? Le persone come sono?
This is an amazing video !!! Honest and truthful. Europe is not a fairytale or a Yash Raj movie !! It is a hard life especially for the expats. We come here to work and get the European experience in our CV’s but in the process we are working hard not just in our proffessional front, but in the personal side too.... no one has ever told that story, except of course you. I am also referring to the cultural shock video that you had posted before. A big applause 👏.
Agree with each and every scenario that you have brought forward. I would like to add the situation of the Reticence that we expats feel frequently. While searching for rentals we faced awkward silences ,cold shoulders and no responses for no reasons ....!! Whoever comes to stay in Europe should get used to being treated as the ‘others’ !!
something even more amazing is YOU! thanks for your comments & support.
🤗🤗
@@sayonidas2979 I'm glad you told it like it is! I did meet some genuinely nice people who really helped me and I'm grateful, but generally the European humanitarian values are simply shallow and superficial - everything is measured in terms of money & they consider even the smallest gestures of kindness as some kind of favour that they're doing you. For example, sharing food or even asking someone for water are considered big things in these societies which is extremely strange to me. At the end, you get treated as a desperate expat from a "third world country" and they are truly very misinformed about India!
@@yadavkomal Belgium has far more values than India whose people still behave very violently, Indians are misinformed about India - it is a rough corrupt nation. Western nations are wary about loads of foreigners coming to take their jobs on VISA scams. So obviously they're not going to bow at your feet. Get realistic. It's a lie that sharing food or water is a problem in Europe. Look at how many foreigners they let in. I'd say food and water are more scarce in places like India.
you are clearly sharing your traumatic experience, which shouldn't be the case for everyone. I love Belgium.
It having unrealistic expectations.
Everything is about perspective, to which country are you comparing belguim ?
Rent in Brussels is extremely cheap for an international city, public transportation are extremely cheap compared to London.
Yea they are expensive if you compare to India maybe but that does not make any sense does it?
50% taxes and you have retirement job insurance universal healthcare.
Groceries are expensive again compared to which country? It is cheaper than France and way cheaper than UK and way way cheaper than switzerland
Yea it is more expensive than India but again that comparison does not make any single sense.
Crimes and thefts in big cities are common and you should take care of your stuff in London, New York, Barcelona, Chicago, Paris or Brussels. The only big international cities that are very safe are Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul and Hong Kong maybe, Doha, Dubai..
Pauverty and beggers, have you been to San Francisco?
And if you are comparing the prices to India you should probably also compare the level of misery and Pauverty to India just to be a bit coherent 😂
For driving having lived in south east asia and travelled to lots of countries, It is a great thing what is being done in Europe..Better than having psychopats and stupid people using their cars as a weapon. And if you are not completely dumb you can get your livcence in one year.
For healthcare I would personally prefer to get hospitlized in Belguim rather than India for example, it is my personal choice.
Agreed, housing is rather cheap in Belgium, even in expensive areas: compared with the UK, Switzerland and other really rich countries, California, New York...
Except around Brussels, the roads are mostly empty!
Very surprising, coming from the UK.
Apparently, Belgium is 20% cheaper than the UK.
So, the prices are the same but in a cheaper currency.
1 GBP = 1.17 EUR, currently.
ye i don't know why the complain ok its expensief ,people from expensief countrys should go ,Thailand ,Philippines ,taiwan alot cheaper there ,and here so complaining as a Guest of the country i hope Belgium Amasy see it and blacklist her ,that the do in alot Countrys where Guest Complaining on youtube and etc....
as a native Belgian I really feel that drivers license problem. Its so expensive. Although I agree they have to be strict. I got my license, but now I forgot to drive because there is so much traffic jams where I live and "one way" streets, its like a maze.
At least I can borrow mom's vespa now (motorcycle lol)
As a Londoner; Antwerp is Europe's best kept Secret...Cafe don avans(rip) to Red and Blue...and that's just the way we like it...
What year is this? 2005?
I only agree with the weather.
Ehm ehm... first of all, Belgium is a social country.
It's not perfect, but it's awesome.
You don't want to work? Fine... you'll get money, housing, free education, free healthcare, free internet subscription, free this and free that.
So you literally don't have to worry about starvation. Which country does that?
Unemployment benefits? The best in the entire galaxy.
Belgian people? Cold, rude, racist? Maybe... But hey, let's take a step back and analyze why.
It's because people go to Belgium to get all these benefits. Imagine someone coming to your couch and provide them with everything I have mentioned above.
Millions of people do that.
And hey, I am not originally from Belgium, but God bless this country and it's people as many people and families have strived.
It f0cking hurst my feeling b1tching about the things you mentioned. This is horrible. If you don't like it, just go to France or Germany and make another vide after you have lived more than a year in these countries and we'll see how your perspective will change :D.
Again, I am not of Belgian origin, it is just what I have observed and I really feel for Belgian people. God Bless BELGIUM and its people.
Well said. 😊
amen brother
As a thrue Belgian living in Asia since 7 years, I fully agree with your expression of your experiences. Thank you for daring to be clear.
You're probably not a fair haired woman living in India ... get real.
It's normal for a country that has Dutch, French and German as national languages to not provide English as a standard. If you want to come and take the job of a local person, at least learn the local language...
There are companies that have changed their standard language to English for a little while when calling or chatting with their helpdesk and because of complaints they had to rightfully change their standard language to their local language or one of the Belgian official languages.
Thank you for revealing the truth I’m Nigerian who lived for many years on Saudi Arabia snd planing to move to Belgium having to hear this made me have think twice
Its informative video to help people see pros and cons before making the big decision, I also made one with positive points, you can search it in my channel. Hope you do what is best for you dear
Belgium is a very fair country with wonderful, clever, tolerant people. Most of the cities are ver green and clean except heavily touristic places and I think it’s a problem of every place of that kind. Taxes are kind of heavy, but everybody protected thus the criminal level is very low. I feel like this video was filmed due to absence of previous negative side content. In order to bring attention to the channel.
Belgium is one of the top greatest countries and you can tell it only by visiting most of the world.
Clever and tolerand people who still have statues of king leopold....you guys are nothing more than sadists
@@pedjavukmirovic6770 ahh, okay)
Thanks for your opinion, and good luck with other better countries!
@@pedjavukmirovic6770 why taking down statues of people that made Belgium rich?
even as a foreigner living here, you indirectly benefit from Leopold's questionable exploits, since they provided funds that allowed to build up Belgium as we know it..
Belgian here: The Belgian system is unsustainable,
since it relies on a small workforce that is accepting the burden of very high salary taxes,
long working hours, 'burn out' situations in the workspace,
while at the same time Real Estate/multiple home owners/capital/multinationals get hardly taxed and are in a feedback loop of high capital return/expensiveness...
It's a great country if you already have bought a big house, and if you are in the top 10 percent, due to great public infrastructure/restaurants/safety (except brussels)
If you want to start from scratch, you can never make it due to the system limitations described above...
Agreed, Belgium is very clean and calm (not busy).
I'm Belgian but my girlfriend is a Turkish expat and what you say is true. For example; my GF went to HR when she got her first salary here and she asked "Why is it so low". 😅
Low in relation to Turkey?
I just got back from Bruxelles (Brussels) and the homeless problem is bad, it was so sad
Brussels is flooded by gangs who use children (!) to invoke 'Pity'. Not that slightest bit different from other cities around EU. I've been to e.g. London multiple times and never seen more people sleeping in boxes in parks, streets, just about everywhere.
I'm from Belgium and this is spot on. The burocracy is really depressing. If you have admnistration to be done or if you want to reach an institution by phone, it's very hard to get in. Basically you have to search for everything on your own here, figuring out yourself cause the info is not delivered to the citizens. Sometimes you can't even get a hold of someone by phone. You have to find another way to contact them. On the English matter, most people do know English here (in Flanders anyway, don't know about the French part of Belgium), they are able and willing to help you out. And yeees, the weather here can be really depressing in the fall and winter months
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION ♥️
Welcome, thanks for watching, keep supporting the channel ❤
You pretty much answered all my questions with 50% taxes?!?!?! and 5 euros for 1 euro cooking oil. I'm staying where I'm at. The taxes are low and reasonable just to start with. And on that note I'll NEVER complain about my taxes ever again. I have family that lives in Brussels Belgium. I can not imagine how difficult it is there.
I'm sure it's a pretty place to visit, but clearly not live there if you can help it.
What she said is not exact :
Taxes are progressive : You'll pay 25% on the first 14 000 €, 40% on your income between 14 000 € and 24 500 € and 45% beween 24 500 € and 42 000 €.
You'll pay 50% taxes only on your income above 42 000 €
If you make 50 000 €, you will pay about 19 575 € of taxes => it means about 39% of your gross income.
And we have an amazing social security that covers everyone. So you definitly get back some of that money by not paying for school, medical care, etc.
Quite a lot of false or exaggerated information (crime has been dropping, there are website and apps for almost all government instances, hospitals and doctors have websites for online appointment-which do not take 2 weeks and if urgently you'll hear a doctor the same day, houses are one of cheapest in Western Europe, public transport is more than decent and cheaper than the UK or Netherlands). You will encounter most of the issues in any other European country btw, don't be naive...
So life is pretty cheap in belgium compared to the other european coutries right ? How about the salary ? I'm actually an engineering student and i'm willing to build a life in europe becuz i feel like the culture of my own country doesn't suit me, i've been thinking about moving to belgium or the Uk since i'm competent enough in both english and frencg languages, but it seems to me that it's pretty expensive living in the UK and people are kinda gloomy over there ? Can you please enlighten me about life in Belgium. Thank you so very much if you do 🤍
@@Malake5909 well difficult to define "cheap" of course. Rent is around 700-800. Groceries are not cheap but if you shop smart then it's not a problem. Salary for engineer will be around 3-4000 (I don't know your experience or field) with often lot of benefits like company car etc. Most people I know save around 1000-1500 a month (Belgians are median richest people so no surprise, even more so for engineers). Belgians are open-minded but a bit to themself and don't like arrogant people. In the northern part basically everyone speaks English, southern part you'll need your French. For me it's the best part in the world to live, we have everything except the weather ;)
Very true Mansee! We are one of the Highest tax payers in the world.....and they are coming with more in other forms of payments. Salary in Belgium is ok I guess. Most of my Belgian friends here are middle class and lead a good quality life with all comforts! But as you know, they dont keep saving money like us Indians as they dont waste money on weddings and jewellery like us Indians. The only savings/ investment they do is to buy a house, and travel around. I know in cities like Amsterdam, Berlin etc IT workers/ engineers, Medical professionals earn more! But such cities are also very expensive to live in ( rent and real estate), compared to Belgian cities. Since the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, shopping, eating out etc have become expensive! Post pandemic, I shopped groceries for 25 to 30! Now it is almost 50 Euros for the same quantity . Money just flies away from the pocket! I got an extra bill of more than 2000 Euro for electricity consumed last year! 🥺🥺
omg, thats scary. I hope salaries have sufficient indexation next year and also govt provides sufficient subsidy on energy - nevertheless, we all know things are going crazy and our pockets are going to hurt (and are hurting!). your detailed comments provide good insights! thank you. I hope this info will make it worthy for fellow Indians or other people to make wise judgement if they should really come here or not.
@@bonjourmansee . Yes, coming here or even the UK and starting a life here from scratch would be not easy...as prices are only increasing , essential commodities. Especially people/ students ( KU Leuven, Gent university etc) who have taken loans
@@bonjourmansee
Most Belgian salaries are indexed (depend of the trade negotiation agreement).
Doesn't life-changing 360 degrees mean continuing whatever is already happening? :D
I just want to know if you left Belgium after pointing out so many negative things about this country or if it is just preaching.
Completely agree with each point !
Thank you Umang ❤😊
@@bonjourmanseehi
I'm not agreeing with you??? I agree with you completely, girl. I pray for your safety and success in that difficult country. Blessings!❤
Thanks for the warnings.
Traffic around Brussels! Bad, yes.
The weather is excellent. I love NW European weather.
That's why it's so green and it's not hot, except in the worst times in summer.
No freezing to death in -30° C winter nights either.
Thanks for saying this was only the negative side.
Housing is cheap in Belgium.
The roads generally seem empty, except around Brussels.
Cycling is very easy.
I love the languages!
Can't get enough of the Vlaams, Français and Deutsch.
Plenty of English too.
The health service cannot be as bad as the UK?!! Please!
Or South Africa.
True but prices are increasing everywhere around world. Still benefits are over weighing than dark sides.
your are right. I am also of the same opinion, and even if there are all these negative points : the positive points outweight , atleast till now 🤞😉
@@bonjourmansee Pros will be more in coming years. But still if you compare only money saving aspect then it’s truly not a good option but savings,safety and living standards are far better here than USA.
@@deepaksharma-nn1qw You're way off. She's talking about the situations a prospective Belgium resident might be facing in Belgium especially in Brussels. She's not trying to compare Belgium to the USA. Savings depends on the person not on the country. Safety depends on the area not on the entire city or country....Living standard depends on the person and it's not a general rule that applies to everyone. I would say, here in the the US, it takes you about four weeks to get your driver license for about $30. An American who plans on relocating in Brussels, Belgium should be aware of the process of getting a driver license there.
Just subscribed! Looking into living in Belgium with my boyfriend in the future. Thanks for the helpful videos!
Living in Berlin, Germany too has refugee crisis but other things are good here
Public transport is gud
Thefts.. bike thefts are common but house thefts? Only in one particular area in Berlin i heard of. Pick pocketing? I have never seen it happening not heard about it happening
Paper work takes time here as well, as they do it very thoroughly but once they are done they’ll send it. Its not like we have to followup nd escalate it only then the work is started.
Made good decision choosing Berlin its ❤
Thats really good information about Berlin 😊. Thanks for sharing. but still I would prefer Brussels
There are certain points that are correct but still some like appointments with communes & hospitals that could be taken out easily online …. But still agree with most of them
Your are right that in some communes it’s possible. But only some. 😢 anyways indeed this video résonantes a lot with the pain area of many expats living here. Thanks for your comment, keep supporting the channel ❤
Thanks for this great video !
You cleared up my perception 💯
yay grt!
Wages are automatically indexed to correct for inflation.
When an Indian says traffic and pollution is horrible in Belgium I wonder tot akr that video serious or not ...
Lol. I have a lot to say about Belgium but man, it's like I'm listening to a clueless princess complaining about the difficulties of the real life outside of her rich people's bubble.
I think the flemish side knows their English a lot better than the french speaking side. That would be more accurate to say.
more negative things eg the cost of services for an electrician or plumber ; they charge a lot without giving any receipt; 15-20 police agents are assigned to control the tickets at metro to impose a fine but they have not caught the burglars who enter and sleep at my house taking everything using transport company; if you have not installed an alarm system at home or pay each month the remote surveillance company you are not safe etc etc
It's very scary what you are talking about the thefts and burglary.. is it happening in daylight?? What precautions one can take to avoid being a victim of it.. plz suggest
Being aware is the first preparation. Have good locks at home, don’t open (even the society’s door)without verifying if the person is genuine.
Due to economic crisis many refugees and bpl are trying to resort to these things.
And in general as well since Europe is touristy, one has to be very careful of pickpockets in crowded areas. I have real examples from ppl I know..they lost their laptops, phones, iPods, or their apartment was attempted to be broken into … or someone trying to snatch their chain…huh .. and all this in last 3 months.
In short: just be careful of your surroundings. But no one will come straight to your face and snatch your things - only if you lose that awareness or do some mistakes: remember someone is watching you and waiting for that opportunity!
@@bonjourmansee does mugging happen in Belgium also currently??
@@balu9618 no no, in that it’s 1000 times better than 🇺🇸 USA.. relax. But offcourse there are some areas that are not advised to go to.. and if you go their alone at night - you never know. But normally: no mugging , stay relaxed.
Thanks for such deep insights about Belgium ❤ thanks again for shari it ❤😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
360 degree = returning to where you started. Good video. Thanks
And I thought Belgium is one of the safest country
Still better than many countries 💁🏻♀️
I think it's changing a lot. I used to go for a run in the evening, but after lockdown after dark homeless people on drugs (that can be aggressive) are roaming the city since then. (in Ghent)
Neighbourhoods have been taken over by muslim immigrants. A lot of crime, drugs and litter Belgians don't feel safe anymore and that explains the polaristion and the politics they prefer.
Hello Mansee, i can't help but to say that your neutral opinion is rather narrowed to the capital area of Brussels. If you were willing to pay the same amount of rent and charges you should be able to rent a 2 story house in the commutes around Brussels. Transportation by train could even be refunded 100% by your employer in combo with TEC and local Brussels public transport. I would kindly suggest you take a trip to places as Oostende or even De Panne, near the French border, at the coast area to see what life is about there. Nowadays the energy prices are dropped a little more than expected and life is gaining more quality again. I love to hear how expats think about my country and now i have seen some of your videos I conclude you have been totally honest all the way except our food... We like to believe we offer the largest variety in take away cuisines here from local to French, Greek, Italian, Asian and even Indain cuisine but I do recon that quailty is not always top notch :-)
Best of luck on your channel and I hope you continue to enjoy your stay with your partner here in my country
if u have so much problems and hate to Belgium, just leave then!
Easy there tiger, she just wants to point out that not all is sunshine and rainbows.
We have allot of awesome stuff here but lets not deny that allot of stuff is broken as well. :D
With 3400 euro can i be able to manage with my 2 kids(5yrs and 1yrs old) and wife . Planning this September.
Yes you can manage if this is what you get in hand .
Hi, if I come to Belgium with a limited work permit, can I change employer and is this will make me lose my single permit ? How did you change your work first time in Belgium ? Thanks for the help :)
Hi, yes you can change. Its normal. Your new employer will start the documentation for it - while you stay in Belgium and continue your work normally with the previous employer. When your new work permit arrives, based on it you can request the updated ID card and surrender the old one. Hope you get a nice opportunity soon! Keep supporting the channel :)
I love Belgium 🇧🇪 Brussel is a nice city but it’s very international.
It is very african🤮🤮🤮
I am moving there in Jan 1st week. and you made me depressed...😮💨😮💨😮💨. Anyway as being an Indian and being all new to the country, may I expect any help from you guys if required? Thanks for the updates through the videos..
Hahahah I didn’t intend to make my viewers feel that way but only to make them aware, alert so they can be ready. We Indians anyways are very adjusting and adapt well!
Offcourse you can expect help from us, but we want sweets in return 😂😂😂kidding! we will try our best to help. Bdw, Indian community here is very helpful and when you connect to various fb groups you will always find answers. So that’s another positive side! Wishing you a happy upcoming journey !
@@bonjourmansee Thanks a lot. yeah lets see if can carry some Kolkata special sweets for advance help. will get in touch with you on insta as I am not there in FB. thanks again.
How did you settle in ?
@@aneekchatterjee5387 can we connect
I have offer with 40 LPA and 50k euro from Belgium. I am looking better living standards. can please guide me which one I can choose?
Hi Dhinesh, If you have offer of 50K euros NET, then its good offer. go for it, but if its gross then its less you should consider taking 40 LPA in India.
@@bonjourmansee thanks a lot 👍👍
I think, it's a good thing to travel and see the world firsthand, just calibrate your expectations. People are going to be people no matter what culture or country, and especially these days, everyone is struggling to get by. Europe has been war-torn for the better part of its existence. The last influx was in the '90s during the Yugoslav war. Nazi movements have also always been a part of Europe; it's only because of social media that people internationally are becoming more aware of it.
The weather affects everyone, of course, and you have to adapt to the new environment. So, do as the locals do; spend time with indoor activities like ice skating or going on hikes don't sit at home and ponder about your life's descisions. But don't expect life in Europe to be exactly like at home. Europe as a whole (not just Belgium) isn't easy. The very first wave of migrants was well aware of this, probably thanks to their firsthand experience with European colonizers. They essentially sacrificed their personal well-being for their children and their children's children. So, if you're looking for immediate personal fulfillment, it's probably better to look elsewhere.
Meri didi I'm studying master's in Data Science in UK 🇬🇧 but I wanted to move to Europe So, do you advise me to choose Belgium or Netherlands because These Countries are giving PR in 5 Years So, please say me that can I choose Netherlands or Belgium didi 🙏 Jai Hind 🇬🇧🙏🇮🇳
Very nice descriptive massage for those who are deciding to settle in Belgium
many thanks 🙏
Thanks, as a Belgian i see the negatives as well,
compared to 20 years ago the inequality has now exploded, certainly in the housing/capital markets...
this is a result of 30 years of very low capital/RealEstate taxes ,
combined with very high salary taxes
right now:
-around 50 percent of Belgians are struggling to pay monthly bills,
-10 percents of Belgians (mostly in Flanders) are so well off financially,
that they technically never have to work again...
-20 percent of the workforce has a burnout or long term unemployment
-20 percent works in well paid 'nonsense' jobs, such as Consultancy, Real Estate Sales, StockMarket advisory,Recruitment,...
This polarisation leads to a big shortage in people that want to work 'real jobs' : police, teachers, doctors, nurses,
as these jobs don't allow financial stability,
As a result of this 'ratrace' situation, people turn to extreme political parties (Vlaams Belang, PVDA) which makes it even worse...
Strange you forget the main cause of the degratation of our cyties: the mass immigration.
Just to clarify something, in the Flanders (dutch speaking part of Belgium which equals 60% of the population) knows how to speak English (people from all layers, so from workers up to people who have studied).
Next to that, yes crime is insane in Brussels (also in Antwerp and Gent) but all the other areas are in general very safe.
I personally prefer to take a train instead of going by car to Brussels (also Antwerp) because of how hectic the traffic is over there.
I aggree with the bureaucratic way of handling administration in Belgium. Although I personally can go to a doctor the day I made an appoinment, which is necessary because if you have to stay at home because of sickness you have to bring in a doctor's note in 48 hours to get your wage for those days you were absent at work.
I hope you're enjoying your stay over here in Belgium, but please realise that the life in Brussels is not representing for the whole of Belgium.
(I have to admit that we have a depressing weather and we are also quite a closed type of people)
Crime is not "insane" in Brussels, and certainly not in Antwerp or Ghent! What are you talking about? You should travel more.
@@jackf1841it is definitely high in Brussels
@@jackf1841You are correct.
4:11 Is there an upper cap of temp put for households as well? If yes, would you know the temp? I am moving from India to Brussels this winter and quite anxious about the cold there.
Hello, dont worry! Yes the situation is not very good when we talk of energy bills. But the govt has extended efforts to reduce the tva from 21% to 6% on electricity and mazout .honestly, I don’t know if the prime of 100-200 euros will be applicable to new arrivals. However, you can be 100% assured that there is no cap for domestic use. Naturally, if you are moving from India to here you will use more energy than people here because you would still be adjusting to the temperature- but I’m sure you will adapt and adjust. Wishing you a great journey and good time in Belgium 🇧🇪. Keep supporting the channel ❤
Lolz! I just happened to watch this and I'm flying from Delhi and landing in Brussels on 25th morning (25th Oct 2022)...to get married and live there!!
Congratulations on your wedding soon! 😍hahahaha I can understand your disappointment, but there are a lot of positives too: so I hope the country brings lots of happiness and luck for you and your partner, keep supporting the channel ❤
@@bonjourmansee Thank you! 🙏🏻
excellent political analysis :) well done
All good for a short vacation! Nothing like home sweet home 🇮🇳
If you don't like Belgium, leave it. My country, you like it or you leave it !
Wooow thank you, you got yourself a subscriber
Thanks dear u had date to show the dark side as well - it helps a lot to mentally prepare ourself
I am glad you liked it, keep supporting !
You're talking about your personal experience, not reality.
I am Belgian by birth, I live in the Liège region, I can see my doctor the same day or the next day, I can make an appointment at the hospital via an application or website, I have never been robbed in 36 years and neither do my loved ones (none).
The extreme right only concerns Flanders. There is not a single far-right elected official in Wallonia.
You talk about salaries, you compare with the USA, it's grotesque. Here taxes are used for many things (pension, unemployment, medical expenses, child allowances, etc.). In the USA you have nothing.
You can get around Brussels easily with public transport. Outside of Brussels, the car is very practical.
The price of real estate in Belgium, and particularly in Brussels, is very cheap compared to our neighbors (Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg)
So stop making people believe that your opinion is that of all Belgians.
You didn't say any lies, it's all true.
It might not be fun to hear for people wanting to come here (to Belgium), but all of it are things to be taken into consideration to avoid being desillusioned upon arrival.
As a result of far right gaining popularity there are also groups of radicals that are very offensive or even agressive towards immigrants, and as such harrasment is becoming more and more of a problem. Don't get me wrong there are allot of friendly caring people in Belgium, and I believe they are still the vast majority, but be prepared for some less than welcome interactions as well as most immigrants do get confronted with such situations at one point.
Another tip for people visiting or moving to Belgium is to learn from locals what to look out for before actually coming here. I visit Brussels allot and there are stories by the dozens of tourists getting robbed or taken advantage of because they entered a wrong part of the city or put their trust in the wrong people. It's not like a ghetto there but as always just be cautious and inform yourself when going to a foreign country to avoid this happening to you.
I am Belgian and you are right, take a look, Belgium is not made for you !
I would say choosing a right commune saves lot of energy and time later on. SJTN is one such awesome commune.
indeed, but its a surprise to see such delays from WSL-1200. The employees from the population department did accept that the Foreign services of the commune are seeing exceptional delays. + obviously no online appointments. I lived previously in Etterbeek and they had actually begun with online appointments. Good to know SJTN is also a good one.
@@bonjourmansee WSL is a posh n beautiful area :D. But yes, Evere and 1000 takes too long time to process especially RP cards.
@@bonjourmansee WSP - 1150 took me 7 months to get a residence permit and that too after several visits. The administration is too lazy in certain communes!
@@yadavkomal omg 😱 kudos to your patience!
@@bonjourmansee I had no other option 🙃
Oh dear... yes... Belgium is known for its bureaucracy but once you are established here and take time to put your affairs in order with the city hall and such - everything becomes super easy and fast. You are not yet established after only 1 year... I have been able to get various documents electronically at a touch of a finger so I really don't know what you are talking about sometimes... patience is key. Also... there are huge tax benefits upon buing your first home...
True 💯
Yes 😢
the french part of Belgium does not speak English
the Dutch part tho, 90% of them do
Great video 🙏
Clickbait much?
Helpful information. Can u share information on jobs for Dubai on Banking and Insurance. Also for Europe other countries.
Hello, I wish I could, right now I don't have that knowledge. I'll try to do it some day. thanks
Where re u living now?
Thanks for such a descriptive video... my husband just got an offer to move brussels for 2 years. We both are working here and earning decent but I will need to quit job if we will move there. We have 2.5 yrs old daughter. If he is offered around 4k euros after tax, is it advisable to move there. Also how much can be saved there?
if its just for 2 years and then you will move back - i don't see any point in moving and starting from scratch twice - when you both have good jobs in India. It will also be a big change for your little one(twice). However if you have long term plans - then its a good opportunity as money your husband will get is good, meanwhile you can (you must) find a new job for yourself. if you both will be earning here and have a kid - its great for long term. well, this is my opinion, I hope you will also discuss with you family and make a wise decision that suits you the best.
Hi @shailaja , i have got the same offer . Can we connect?
I so agree...I know...This is why I miss India
yea, same here. but its a strange situation there are some positives of staying here as well.
@@bonjourmansee Yes, such as PARADISE as an lgbt compared to a country like India and healthcare is better and more affordable imho.
I was thinking to do bsc program from Belgium.. As a student is it possible to go with spouse? And can spouse do any job or delivery job? Can we bear all the expenditure by doing part time job? Please reply🙏
Honestly, student jobs are not very rewarding, you will not help a lot financially in your family if you study and work as a student. Good news is: if you come as dependent, the single permit card that you will get will allow you to work as well (new rule for dependants active since apprx 2019): you will have unlimited access to labour market.
@@bonjourmansee appi, if I get student visa, can I take my husband? And can he does any part time job ? Please I need this info badly.
@@tasmianirjona5819 usually there cannot be possibility to bring dependent when you are studying … especially for a course like bachelor’s it wouldn’t be allowed. To know exactly what applies for your specific case better ask your university.
Hi, Is it good to study in Belgium and is there jobs easily available for students.
Hi, Belgian universities are very reputed and you will get a chance to meet people from all over the world. Jobs: it’s not very easy, it will be challenging as there will be many people who will stay ahead of you because they know the local languages. So naturally companies prefer them. It’s not impossible but it will be challenging for you to get a job. So if you think you are ready for this adventure and want to put efforts into language learning to stay ahead : sure go ahead.
I’m not agreeing with you about dark side of Belgium,Belgium is the best country for living and for everything ,,that appointments issue is not a problem you can make appointments online easily so please don’t make difficulties for the people who are coming to Belgium,,,so if you are right why you stay here
I tried to get an appointment yesterday (again) there is no appointment available till May 2023…strange right ? Anyways I’ll call them or visit personally to get my work done. See appointments facility depends on commune to commune - maybe you never encountered this issue .
And why I stay in Belgium ? Hahahaha you haven’t watched all videos yet clearly, you should watch the one I made on the positive side of living in Belgium. Plenty of reasons 🇧🇪🥳 Merry Xmas 🎅🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉
@Javed, Radicalism is beneficial for you because you belong to the same community as them, but not for others because not every community is radical in Belgium 🌛
Let her speak!
There are many videos that speaks benefit of living in Belgium or any countries.so it is also good to see someone speaking about loop holes. No country is perfect be it Uk Us or Europe Asia etc. also not many people speak about cons so i am on her side 🎉
Everyone knows the Netherlands are much better.
Thanks for the video... Got a lot of information...
Could you help me out by letting me know how the current situation is?
I am watching this video because I am visiting to Portugal in September 2023. I have 12 hours layover in Brussels. I don't know what to do in 12 hours.
These days, "far right" is anything that's not extremely far left.
Cheap furniture? Kringwinkel in Flanders.
Cheap(er) food? Colruyt.
Cheaper rent? Don't live in Brussels.
The energy was crazy last year, but fortunately I got a lot of money back from the energy company.
It scares me sometimes so calculate and realise the amount of rent I've spent in Brussels. However thanks for your comment! good day.
How about euros value constantly going down?
Hope it gets better! :(
Thanks for your video. It was really helpful but I am feeling bit disappointed at the same time. I am moving to Brussels this January for work with my husband and we are also planning for a baby in coming months. Is it good to have a kid within one year of movement? Is hospital/medical service ok for pregnant ladies?
That's great that your are moving to Belgium. Hospitals and Medical services are fairly good if everything is good(You know what i mean). If something goes wrong then you might be disappointed as you may not get clear answers from the doctors. Having kids within one year of movement could be OK however i would suggest to first get familiar with the surroundings and then make your own choice. All the very best.
@@bonjourmansee Thanks for the reply 😊 I will keep these points in mind.
@@bonjourmansee Hospitals en Medical services are very good in Belgium, they rank among the best countries in the world. You are really talking a lot of bullshit, because salaries aren't higher in the UK, they are mostly a lot lower. Smart people do reseach before posting such a load of nonsense. Prices went up all over Europe and world wide in fact. I guess in your 3rd world country not.
@@littleprincess8526 your racist rankers can't change facts dudess, only you have to say yourself that your country is something big and nice. Horrible.
I delivered my baby in Antwerp govt hospital.. medical services and doctors were very helpful throughout my pregnancy journey and the mid wife services post pregnancy provided by mutuality were a cherry on the top..we didn’t have to pay anywhere and everything was insured
We are coming thats your opinion 😅
I wonder if there is one positive thing you can say about the country i live in? It's humiliating the way you talk about my country! I wonder when everything is so negative ,why you come to stay here ? There may be some negative points in our country, but live is good here. i have visited many countries in my life and lived there for a while. In many places in the world it is much worse. The only thing is that i would never insult another country. That is full of disrespect! I don't know if you are still in my country, but i hope you already know that what you say here in your videos is rude. As a Belgian i am proud of my country and i think it is desrespectful of you.Greetings André
In India everything is easy so more chances of bad drivers leads to the killing the innocent lives. You are very wrong about their system their system is strict which eradicates unskilled minds. You need to give very accurate information else you are into misleading people. So be careful before you come online and provide information about the system of the country. In India we have too many deaths mostly because of bad and harsh driving and most of the then do not have licence. It's always good of the society when the system is strict. You are Indian it's highly corrupted country and anything is available if you give money so system is too much weak kindly do not pass wrong information. If your intention is honest enough to educate minds better redo your research and spread online or else just keep it to yourself. Thank you
I pay 25 % tax and I never pay more i always get back from my tax
You and your speaking is very sweet mam
sounds like you talking about third world country.......
No its not that bad 😅
Hi Mansee, i have an offer of 50k euro gross. With 50 percent income tax, i am not sure if it will be a wise decision to move to Belgium. Considering i have 7 years experience in IT now and i am earning around 30 LPA here in India. Although i have a wish to move to europe for better lifestyle and opportunities but need some suggestion to make a decision. 😊 It would be helpful if you can share some suggestions
Sorry for late reply, this is indeed less as you might have got feedback, but still manageable if you are single. If your long term goal is to settle abroad in Belgium and you can't afford to wait - then I would propose to take the offer and then within next one year of staying in Belgium look for a better job. Sometimes all you need is an opportunity! well, thats my personal opinion - but I'm sure you will use your wisdom and take the best decision for you :)
the 50K is before taxes on an annual basis? Also what function in IT do you have? Are you 1st line / 2nd line / 3rd line service desk or you are a programmer or an IT manager or ... ? (Good pay depends allot on the specifics of your job within IT brother)
Taxes are progressive : You'll pay 25% on the first 14 000 €, 40% on your income between 14 000 € and 24 500 € and 45% beween 24 500 € and 42 000 €.
You'll pay 50% taxes only on your income above 42 000 €
If you make 50 000 €, you will pay about 19 575 € of taxes => it means about 39% of your gross income. You'll have 2500€/month to live, it's more than enough. Depending on your life style, you could save some money.
For reference, I spend 1200€/month for housing, energie bills, internet, food, health.
Wel iam Belgium proberly when go in Pension i would go Asian countrys for pension becouse its 3 to 5 times cheaper ,but as someone from a other country i not understand why you complain ,if not happy realy move back to the country you came from, if its there alot bether in place to critisize the country where your a guest, if talked this way in some other countrys the would Black list you out the country ,Rode you complain about howexpensief ,please more back from where you came realy ,if i see your back ground you live alot more wealty then most of the Belgiums self and we live here or hole lifes ,we not have a (Ambasy ,diplomate life like you seems to have)
I'm sure India is so much better lol
What about leuven.? Is it good for health professionals like nurses
Leuven is a very nice and liveable city.
Rubbish talk. Leave Belgium if you hate this country. Don't misguide others.
What about accounting jobs there
Can u plz make detailed video about accounting and finance professional
From basic
Most of the videos on youtube are about IT professionals only
you said the fact