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Ghent, Belgium 🇧🇪
#988 ,

Nomad Score: 66%

Essentials

🏙️ City Ghent is a historical city located in East Flanders, Belgium, known for its medieval architecture and vibrant cultural scene.
👥 Population Approximately 260,000
💻 Internet Speed Average speed is around 100 Mbps, with good Wi-Fi accessibility in cafes and coworking spaces.
💸 Currency & Banking 1 EUR ≈ 1.07 USD; ATMs widely available, and major credit cards accepted.
🚰 Tap Water Drinkable; Ghent's tap water is of high quality and safe to drink.
🔌 Power 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets commonly used.
📶 SIM Card Proximus and Orange are popular mobile providers, offering good prepaid options.
💳 Banking for Expats KBC and ING are expat-friendly banks with English-speaking services.
🛌 Accommodation Options include Airbnb, rental agencies, and long-term rentals through platforms like Spotahome.
💳 Cashless Friendly Yes, cards are accepted widely in shops and restaurants.
🏠 Short Term Rentals Airbnb, Homelike, and Spotahome offer various short-term rental options.
🛏️ Budget Accommodation Hostel Uppelink is a popular budget lodging option with reasonable rates.
🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists Historical center near Gravensteen castle and St. Bavo's Cathedral is recommended.
🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads City Center and the neighborhoods of Miljoenenbuurt and Sint-Amandsberg offer great amenities.

Working and Networking

🏢 Best Coworking Space Bar d'Office Ghent, a popular coworking space with a relaxed vibe.
Best Cafe for Work OR Coffee is known for its excellent coffee and conducive working environment.
💼 Networking Events Meetups at De Krook offer great networking opportunities for professionals.
🥂 Social Events for Expats Join the Expats in Ghent Facebook Group for community events and meetups.

Transportation

🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App Bolt and Uber are available for on-demand transportation.
🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental Rent bikes from De Fietsambassade Ghent or use Donkey Republic for scooters.
🏖️ Best Beach Nearby Ostend Beach is 50 minutes away by train.
✈️ Top Regional Airline Brussels Airlines serves regional and international flights.
✈️ Top International Airline KLM and Lufthansa are major carriers operating from nearby airports.
🛣️ Highway Access Easy access to E17 and E40 highways for regional travel.
🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub Gent-Sint-Pieters Station is the primary transportation center for the city.
🚍 Public Transport Passes De Lijn offers day passes and monthly cards for local transit use.
✈️ Regional Travel Train (NMBS) and bus (De Lijn) services link Ghent to nearby cities.

Health and Wellness

🏥 Best Hospital UZ Gent University Hospital is the primary healthcare facility.
🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers Places like Yoga-on-Call and Yoga Studio Ghent offer various classes.
🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers Basic-Fit and JIMS have branches in Ghent for fitness enthusiasts.
🧺 Laundry Services Wasbar Ghent provides laundromat services with a café setting.

Food and Drink

📱 Best Food Delivery App UberEats, Deliveroo, and Takeaway.com operate in Ghent.
🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try Waterzooi, a creamy chicken or fish stew, is a must-try.
🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options Restaurants like Komkommertijd and Greenway cater to plant-based diets.
🍫 Best Dessert Spots Yuzu chocolates and Himschoot Bakery offer delightful sweet treats.
🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots Vrijdagmarkt is known for its budget-friendly options and local products.
🛒 E-commerce/Online Store Bol.com and Coolblue are popular for online shopping.
🛒 Grocery Delivery HelloFresh and Albert Heijn provide grocery delivery services.
🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area Overpoortstraat is the well-known nightlife district in Ghent.
🍻 Local Brewery Gruut Brewery offers tours and tastings of local beers.
🍷 Wine Bars ONA Wine Bar is favored for its extensive wine selection.
🍲 Street Food Stalls Pakhuis hosts various food stalls with local and international cuisines.
🍕 Popular International Cuisine Eetkaffee Multatuli offers a versatile international menu.

Culture and Attractions

🎟️ Must-See Landmarks Key attractions include Gravensteen Castle, St. Bavo's Cathedral, and the Medieval Castle.
🏛️ Museums & Art Venues Cultural hotspots include S.M.A.K. and STAM.
🏰 Historical Sites Visit St. Nicholas' Church and the Belfry of Ghent for historical insight.
🕍 Religious Sites St. Bavo's Cathedral and St. Peter's Abbey are significant religious landmarks.
🎉 Annual Events Gentse Feesten is an annual cultural festival held in July.
🎨 Cultural Districts Patershol is a charming cultural neighborhood to explore.
🎭 Theater Venues NTGent and Capitole Gent are popular for live performances.
🛍️ Local Markets Visit Vrijdagmarkt for a vibrant market experience.
🎼 Music Scene Venues like Hot Club Gent and Charlatan host live music events.
🎨 Street Art Check out Werregarenstraatje, known for its vibrant graffiti street.
🧑‍🍳 Cooking Classes L'atelier de Mieke offers culinary classes in Ghent.
👩‍🎨 Art Galleries Independent galleries like A&Gallery and Croxhapox feature local artists.
🕰️ Historic Buildings Ghent City Hall showcases stunning architecture.
🏴 Local Heritage The Black lion flag, representing Flemish heritage, is a cultural symbol of the area.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen Nature Reserve offers a peaceful escape near the city.
🏞️ National Parks Nearby Hoge Kempen National Park is accessible for nature lovers.
🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths Leie River Path and Blaarmeersen provide scenic routes for outdoor activities.
🌄 Scenic Viewpoints Graslei and Korenlei along the river offer picturesque views.
🦉 Birdwatching Locations Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen is also a popular birdwatching location.
🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots Designated bonfire areas can be found at Blaarmeersen.

Other Services and Amenities

📦 Parcel Delivery Service Services like Bpost and DHL are reliable for shipping needs.
🛠️ Tech Repair Services Switch and Proximus Shop offer electronics repair services.
🏓 Table Tennis Spots Ping Pong Club Ghent is a social spot for enthusiasts.
🧑‍🏫 Language Classes Encora offers Dutch language classes for expats.
📚 Libraries & Study Spots De Krook main library is a great study space.
🏘️ Community Centers De Centrale hosts various cultural and community activities.
🕹️ Gaming Lounges Gameswap Gent is popular among gaming enthusiasts.
🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls Grand Casino Knokke offers a range of gaming 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 25% corporate tax rate applies.
💵 Dividend Withholding Tax 30% rate for dividend distributions.
🏦 Tax System Belgium operates on a worldwide income basis for tax residents.
📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket Maximum personal income tax rate is 50%.
🧾 VAT Standard VAT rate is 21%.
🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules Yes, strict rules are in place regarding foreign subsidiaries.
🏠 Property Tax Yes, property tax is based on cadastral income.
🏠 Property Transaction Tax 10% standard rate for property purchases; 6% for primary residence.
💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads 0% tax on worldwide income is available for eligible digital nomads under specific conditions.

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