Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪
#986
,
Nomad Score:
64%
Essentials
| 🏙️ City | Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, known for its historical architecture and rich culture. |
| 👥 Population | Approx. 1.2 million residents. |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Average internet speed is 70 Mbps. |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | 1 EUR ≈ 1.07 USD, with major banks including BNP Paribas Fortis and ING. |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Drinkable and safe to consume. |
| 🔌 Power | 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets. |
| 📶 SIM Card | Major providers include Proximus, Orange, and BASE. |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Popular options include KBC, ING, and online banking with Revolut. |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Airbnb and Spotahome are widely used for renting units. |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Yes, cards are accepted widely across businesses. |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb and local hostels for short stays. |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | Options like MEININGER Brussels City Center and HI Hostel Brussels. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Grand Place and the historic city center are recommended. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Neighborhoods such as Ixelles and Saint-Gilles are favored for their vibrancy and coworking spaces. |
Working and Networking
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | The Office, located in the city center, popular for remote work. |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Café de la Presse, known for its excellent coffee and work-friendly atmosphere. |
| 💼 Networking Events | Meetup.com hosts many events for professionals with diverse interests. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Expats in Brussels Facebook Group organizes regular meetups. |
Transportation
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Uber is widely used in Brussels. |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Villo! offers bike rental services across the city. |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Ostend Beach is about 1 hour away by train. |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Brussels Airlines, offering extensive regional connections. |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Major carriers include Air France, KLM, and Lufthansa. |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | E19 and E40 highways provide access to major routes. |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Brussels Central Station is the main transit hub. |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | STIB/MIVB offers various transit passes, including monthly options. |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | Train services by SNCB/NMBS connect to nearby cities. |
Health and Wellness
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Erasme Hospital is one of the major healthcare facilities. |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Yoga in the City offers a range of classes. |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Basic-Fit and Fitness Palace are popular gym chains. |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | The Laundry Room offers reliable laundry services. |
Food and Drink
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | Deliveroo and UberEats are the most popular food delivery options. |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Don't miss out on Belgian waffles and moules-frites (mussels and fries). |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Restaurants such as Blossom and Le Pain Quotidien offer good plant-based options. |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Pierre Marcolini and Neuhaus chocolates are a must-try. |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Visit Marché Matongé for budget-friendly food shopping. |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Bol.com and Amazon Europe are popular for online shopping. |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Olio offers grocery deliveries in Brussels. |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Place Saint-Géry is famous for its vibrant nightlife. |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Brasserie Cantillon offers brewery tours and tastings. |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Les Filles Wines is a quaint wine bar for tastings. |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Food trucks and stalls at Place Flagey offer diverse street food. |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Toukoul specializes in Ethiopian cuisine and is recommended. |
Culture and Attractions
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | The Atomium and Grand Place are iconic landmarks. |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium is a highlight. |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | The Manneken Pis and the Royal Palace of Brussels are key sites. |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Visit the beautiful Notre-Dame du Sablon. |
| 🎉 Annual Events | The Brussels Flower Carpet event takes place biennially in August. |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | The Sablon district is known for its antique shops and chocolatiers. |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | La Monnaie is the renowned opera house of Brussels. |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Visit the Sunday market at Place Flagey for local crafts and food. |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Brussels has a vibrant music scene with venues like Botanique. |
| 🎨 Street Art | The Canal district showcases impressive street murals. |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Cook & Bubbles offers classes focusing on Belgian cuisine. |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | White Cube and Zola are popular contemporary art galleries. |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | The Brussels Town Hall on Grand Place is an architectural marvel. |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | The Atomium symbolizes modern Brussels and is part of its heritage. |
Nature and Outdoor Activities
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | For a nature escape, visit the Sonian Forest located just outside the city. |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | The Hoge Kempen National Park is approximately 1.5 hours away. |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | The Brussels Canal offers scenic walking and cycling paths. |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | The terrace at Mont des Arts offers stunning views of the city. |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | The Planckendael Zoo nearby has areas for birdwatching. |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | There are designated bonfire-friendly areas in the Sonian Forest. |
Other Services and Amenities
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | Bpost is the national postal service providing reliable delivery. |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | Repair shops like Mr. Fix offer a variety of tech repair services. |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Table Tennis Club Brussels organizes regular play sessions. |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Language schools like Berlitz offer courses in French, Dutch, and English. |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Bibliothèque royale de Belgique is a major library for study. |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Centre Culturel de Wallonie-Bruxelles hosts various community events. |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Gaming hub Le 8 offers spaces for gamers to meet. |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Casino Brussels offers gaming and entertainment options. |
Business
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €140,000). |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €112,000). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €192,000). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €150,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €240,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €184,000). |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | The standard corporate tax rate is 25%. |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | The rate is 30% on dividend distributions. |
| 🏦 Tax System | Belgium implements a worldwide income basis for residents. |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | The maximum personal income tax rate is 50%. |
| 🧾 VAT | The standard Value Added Tax rate is 21%. |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, strict rules exist governing taxation of foreign subsidiaries. |
| 🏠 Property Tax | Annual property taxation is based on cadastral income. |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | 10% standard rate, reduced to 6% for primary residences. |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | 0% tax on worldwide income for non-resident digital nomads. |