Essentials
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- City
- Tournai (Doornik), Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and safe
- Population
- Approximately 70,000
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber connectivity available, average 95 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks include BNP Paribas Fortis and ING Belgium on Rue Royale.
- SIM Card
- Proximus, Orange, and Telenet; available at shops in Les Bastions shopping center.
- Banking for Expats
- BNP Paribas Fortis, Revolut, and Wise are commonly used.
- Accommodation
- Mix of historic townhouses and modern apartments via Airbnb and local agencies like Immo de France.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and contactless payments (Bancontact/Maestro) accepted almost everywhere.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and Appart'Hôtel Tournai (Approx. €900-€1,400/month).
- Budget Accommodation
- Auberge de Jeunesse de Tournai (Rue du Pont 8), roughly €30 per night.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Grand-Place area for proximity to the Belfry and Cathedral.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Quartier Saint-Piat or the area near the Train Station for transit and local cafes.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Wapi-K (Rue du Progrès 13); Day rates approx. €20, Monthly €180.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Le Déclic (Grand Place 50) and L'Instant Thé (Rue de la Tête d'Or 11).
- Networking Events
- Events organized by Entreprendre.wapi and local CCW (Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Wallonie Picarde).
- Social Events for Expats
- Internationals in Tournai Facebook Group and local board game nights at 'La Taverne de l'Ankou'.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Local taxis (Taxis Tournaisiens - +32 69 22 55 55). Uber is limited; Bolt is not active.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Blue-bike at Tournai Railway Station; €3.50 per 24h with membership.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ostend Beach, accessible by train in approx. 1 hour 15 mins.
- Top Regional Airline
- Brussels Airlines (operating from Brussels Airport, 1 hour away).
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair (operating from Brussels South Charleroi Airport, 45 mins away).
- Highway Access
- Easy access to E42 (Mons/Liège) and E429 (Brussels/Lille).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare de Tournai (Place de la Gare).
- Public Transport Passes
- TEC (Transport En Commun) MOBIB cards; Single ticket €2.10, Daily pass €5.00.
- Regional Travel
- SNCB Trains to Lille (30 mins), Brussels (1 hour), and Mons (35 mins).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- CHWAPI - Centre Hospitalier de Wallonie Picarde (Avenue de la Drève 3).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Centre de Yoga de Tournai (Rue de l'Abbaye d'Anchin).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Basic-Fit Tournai (Avenue de Maire 139) and JIMS Tournai.
- Laundry Services
- Lavoir Automatique (Rue Saint-Martin or Rue de la Station).
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Takeaway.com and Deliveroo.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Lapin à la tournaisienne (Rabbit with prunes and raisins).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Bofinger (Grand Place) and various salad bars near the Cathedral.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Le Quenoy (Rue du Quesnoy) for traditional 'Clovis' cake.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Friday morning market at Grand-Place; supermarkets like Colruyt and Lidl.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Bol.com, Amazon.com.be, and Coolblue.
- Grocery Delivery
- Carrefour et Delhaize delivery services available.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Grand-Place and Rue de la Soif (various student bars).
- Local Brewery
- Brasserie de Cazeau and Brasserie de Tournay (located just outside the city center).
- Wine Bars
- Vin d'Ou? (Rue de l'Hôpital Notre-Dame 11).
- Street Food Stalls
- Friterie de la Gare for authentic Belgian fries.
- Popular International Cuisine
- L'Art de l'Oiseau (French-Belgian) and various Italian spots near the station.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Notre-Dame Cathedral (UNESCO) and the Belfry (the oldest in Belgium).
- Museums & Art Venues
- Musée des Beaux-Arts (designed by Victor Horta).
- Historical Sites
- Pont des Trous (medieval bridge) and Rue des Orfèvres.
- Religious Sites
- Saint-Quentin Church on the Grand-Place.
- Annual Events
- Procession de Tournai (September) and Tournai Jazz Festival.
- Cultural Districts
- The Quartier de la Cathédrale.
- Theater Venues
- Maison de la Culture de Tournai (Boulevard des Frères Rimbaut 2).
- Local Markets
- Square Reine Astrid flower market.
- Music Scene
- Water Moulin (alternative/underground music venue).
- Street Art
- Statue of Martine (comic book character) and various murals near the Escaut river.
- Cooking Classes
- L'Atelier Cuisine (Check local community centers for seasonal workshops).
- Art Galleries
- GALERIE d'art (Rue de l'Hôpital Notre-Dame).
- Historic Buildings
- Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) set in a former monastery.
- Local Heritage
- The 5 towers of the Cathedral, representing the city's skyline.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Parc de l'Hôtel de Ville and the banks of the Escaut (Scheldt) river.
- National Parks Nearby
- Pays des Collines Natural Park (20-30 mins drive).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- RAVeL network paths along the Escaut river towards Spiere-Helkijn.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of the Belfry for a panoramic view of the 5-tower cathedral.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Marais d'Harchies (30 mins drive).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- None in city limits; restricted to private areas or specific local festivals (Feu de Saint-Jean).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Bpost (Rue du Parc 1) and Point Relais Mondial Relay locations.
- Tech Repair Services
- PC Clinic (Avenue de Maire).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Local clubs such as CTT Tournai-Wapi.
- Language Classes
- CPFB (Cours de Promotion Sociale) for French as a second language.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliothèque de Tournai (Stade Luc Varenne area/Rue de la Culture).
- Community Centers
- Centre de Lecture Publique.
- Gaming Lounges
- Various local gaming cafes near the Grand-Place.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Carousel Games (Rue de l'Hôpital Notre-Dame).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €88,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €72,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €120,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,650 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €99,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €152,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €120,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard Belgian rate of 25%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Standard rate, reductions possible via VVPR-bis)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 50% for income over €46,440
- VAT
- 21% (Standard); 6% or 12% for specific goods/services
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Belgian tax code includes CFC measures
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual 'Précompte Immobilier' based on indexed cadastral income
- Property Transaction Tax
- 12.5% in Wallonia (Registration duties)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard high-tax Belgian environment applies.