Ghent, Belgium 🇧🇪
#988
51.101595, 3.7395
Nomad Score:
66%
Essentials
| 🏙️ City | Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium |
| 👥 Population | Approx. 260,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Average download speed of 80 Mbps |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | 1 EUR ≈ 1.07 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.84 EUR |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Drinkable |
| 🔌 Power | 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets |
| 📶 SIM Card | Major providers include Proximus, Orange, and BASE |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Banks like KBC and ING, as well as digital options like Revolut |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Options include Airbnb and local estate agencies like Immo Cazal |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Yes, cards accepted widely |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Available on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | Hostel Uppelink offers affordable stay options |
Working and Networking
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | Bar d'Office Ghent, known for its creative environment |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | OR Coffee, offers a cozy atmosphere with Wi-Fi |
| 💼 Networking Events | Meetups at De Krook and various events listed on Meetup.com |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Expats in Ghent Facebook Group hosts regular events |
Transportation
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Bolt is the most widely used for rides |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | De Fietsambassade Ghent for bikes, and scooters via Dott |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Ostend Beach, approximately 50 mins by train |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Brussels Airlines operates regional flights |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | KLM and Lufthansa are major carriers |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | E17 and E40 highways provide good connectivity |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Gent-Sint-Pieters Station is the primary hub |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | De Lijn offers day passes and monthly cards |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | Trains (NMBS) and buses (De Lijn) connect to nearby cities |
Health and Wellness
| 🏥 Best Hospital | UZ Gent University Hospital, a modern healthcare facility |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Yoga-on-Call provides various classes |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Basic-Fit and JIMS cater to fitness enthusiasts |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Wasbar Ghent offers laundry and café services |
Food and Drink
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | Deliveroo and UberEats for quick food delivery |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Waterzooi, a traditional Flemish stew from Ghent |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Komkommertijd and Greenway are popular options |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Yuzu chocolates and Himschoot Bakery for treats |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Vrijdagmarkt is a vibrant food market |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Bol.com and Coolblue are favored online marketplaces |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | HelloFresh and Albert Heijn offer grocery delivery services |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Overpoortstraat is the nightlife hub of Ghent |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Gruut Brewery, known for its unique beer recipes |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | ONA Wine Bar is popular for wine tastings |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Pakhuis features various street food vendors |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Eat Love Pizza and Eetkaffee Multatuli serve diverse cuisines |
Culture and Attractions
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Gravensteen Castle and St. Bavo's Cathedral are iconic sites |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | S.M.A.K. and STAM host impressive exhibitions |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | St. Nicholas' Church and Belfry of Ghent showcase history |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | St. Bavo's Cathedral and St. Peter's Abbey are noteworthy |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Gentse Feesten, a vibrant festival every July |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Patershol is known for its historic charm and restaurants |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | NTGent and Capitole Gent offer various performances |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Vrijdagmarkt and Kouter Flower Market are must-visits |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Hot Club Gent and Charlatan are key venues |
| 🎨 Street Art | Werregarenstraatje/Graffiti Street is famous for urban art |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | L'atelier de Mieke offers fun culinary experiences |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | A&Gallery and Croxhapox showcase local art |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | Ghent City Hall is an architectural marvel |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | The black lion flag symbolizes Flemish heritage |
Nature and Outdoor Activities
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen Nature Reserve is great for walking |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Hoge Kempen National Park is accessible for day trips |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | Leie River Path and Blaarmeersen are perfect for cycling |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Graslei and Korenlei are scenic riverside spots |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen offers excellent birdwatching opportunities |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Blaarmeersen has designated fire areas for gatherings |
Other Services and Amenities
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | Bpost and DHL are reliable options for shipping services |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | Switch and Proximus Shop offer repair services |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Ping Pong Club Ghent caters to table tennis enthusiasts |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Encora offers Dutch language courses |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | De Krook main library is a great study venue |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | De Centrale hosts cultural events and workshops |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Gameswap Gent is a popular gaming venue |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Grand Casino Knokke is within reach for gaming |
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 | 25% |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 30% |
| 🏦 Tax System | Worldwide income basis |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 50% |
| 🧾 VAT | 21% |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, strict rules |
| 🏠 Property Tax | Yes, based on cadastral income |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | 10% standard rate, 6% for primary residence |