Belgium: about climate, population, work, taxes and methods of emigration

Emigration to Belgium

In general, emigration to Belgium is more difficult than to other European countries. The reason for this is the fairly high level of unemployment during the economic crisis, even among compatriots. Another factor is the relatively low tolerance for foreigners.

Work permit

According to Belgian laws, the employer must prove that the country does not have a specialist of the required level or possessing a particular set of knowledge and skills.

There are three types of work permit:

• A-category (employment in any company at your own discretion);
• B-category (work for a specific employer for a period of 1 year);
• C-category (work simultaneously in several organizations).

Business emigration

Popular among people with incomes and is considered the fastest form of obtaining a residence permit in Belgium.

Refugee

A popular type among those who want to live in the EU, but do not have the funds to start their own business. You must provide a history of oppression in your own country. In addition, you will be asked to explain your motivation for coming to Belgium. If you can prove your refugee status, you will be provided with a room and an allowance of approximately 450 euros.

How I moved to Belgium

My name is Anton, I'm 30 years old.

In Moscow I worked as an engineer in a large company. I have always dreamed of moving to one of the countries of the European Union. It so happened that my classmate, almost immediately after graduating from university, left for Belgium, the city of Brussels. And I decided to contact him. I didn’t have any other acquaintances abroad, but he had been living there for a long time and knew a lot of things.

I didn’t have much hope for companies looking for work abroad. I found a job in the company where he works - a classmate talked to the director, and he sent me an invitation to work. Without such an invitation, it is almost impossible to get a job. It was necessary that the vacancy provided to me be officially registered in Brussels, with the employment service. Copies of diplomas are required, which confirm that I can work here and that I have such qualifications.

Monument to Patria Brussels (photo by the author).

The visa cost 50 euros. This visa was registered at the migration service department after I arrived in the country at my place of work.

Climate

To paraphrase a famous expression, many believe that “Belgium has no bad weather.” The maritime climate dominates here, but the north wind brings humidity and cold. That is why in winter it is clear here, but tourists and residents are frozen to the bone. Like other Western European countries, rain is a common occurrence.

The average temperature in January is -3 °C, and in July - 18 °C.

Belgium. Bruges. Duinenbrug Bridge. Photo by Alexey M. (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/rethimno/)

The country has two official languages: French and Flemish.

The population of Belgium consists of Walloons - descendants of the Celts and Flemings - descendants of the Frankish, Frisian and Saxon tribes.

Interestingly, the Walloons and Flemings live in different parts of the country. So, for example, the first live in the south, and in external characteristics they resemble the French. The Flemings live in the north of the country (in East and West Flanders). They have more similarities with the Dutch. Approximately 58% of Belgians live in Flanders, 32% in Wallonia, 9% in Brussels, and another 1% in the area where German was spoken.

In the old days, conflicts broke out between the Walloons and the Flemings. Rumor has it that these two peoples, who are essentially one, still snort contemptuously at each other.

What complaints do you have against each other now?

The conflict, which arose several centuries ago, is still relevant today.

Non-poor families

Barclays Wealth experts came to sensational conclusions. Every tenth Belgian family has a fortune of 1 million dollars or more! According to forecasts, by 2021 every sixth cell of Belgian society will be able to have this amount of money. Just read this: the well-being of Belgians improved by 80% from 1992 to 2009. In terms of the number of rich families, Belgium is ahead of several European countries.

The structure of the financial situation of society now looks like this: 15% are poor, 75% are the middle class, which is confidently standing on its feet, and 10% are rich.

All this leads the authorities to think about introducing a property tax (however, Belgium already ranks third in the world in terms of the number of taxes), and also reminds us of its high position in the world in terms of corruption.

Taxes

The international organization KPMG monitored the level in 87 countries around the world. Belgium was the third highest tax rate (50%). In first place is Denmark (59%), second place is shared by Sweden and the Netherlands.

It should be noted that this rate does not include the mandatory social tax of 17%, which is levied on all income. The road tax and vehicle registration tax stand out.

Character

Not only the Germans engage in denunciation, the Belgians also find it acceptable. After all, all this is to achieve common goals in work, some important project. Snitching begins to be encouraged in schools, and with age it becomes the rule.

Residents of this country will always find something to complain about. The reason could be bad weather or a neighbor's dog. If Americans look at the world through rose-colored glasses, then Belgians look at the world through the prism of reality or pessimism.

Despite the wording “Everything is bad,” the Belgians are responsive people. They will definitely help in a difficult situation and try to understand you. They are friendly to foreigners until they move to their country. Well, active immigration causes fatigue among its own population.

There are no generous Belgians a priori. It is also not customary here to pay for a girl in a cafe. Even if the couple is dating, the young man will not find it strange that he has to pay separately.

Number of immigrants

The total number of visitors with temporary residence status living in Belgium is approximately 13% of the general population. The country is not very popular among Slavic peoples. To obtain permanent residence here, you need to invest a considerable amount and a lot of time and effort.

Moving to Belgium is a long, expensive and complex process. It is possible that you will have to fork out not only for experienced lawyers, but also for the existing bureaucracy.

What nationalities do people live in Belgium?

The two main groups that make up the country's population are the Flemings and the Walloons.

The following national minorities live in the Kingdom:

• Germans;
• French people;
• Spaniards;
• Dutch;
• Turks;
• Moroccans;
• Slavs.

The country is inhabited by many emigrants from different parts of the world.

Russian communities

According to statistics, there are about 50,000 Russians in Belgium. However, according to other unofficial data, there are about 80 thousand.

The emigration of Russian citizens to Belgium began when the intelligentsia fled the revolution in 1917. The second wave took place in the 90s, when Soviet girls went here in search of foreign husbands and a better life.

In Belgium, there is officially a Coordination Council that unites all organizations within the Slavic Union, such as:

• European Russian-speaking Community;
• Association "Russian Word";
• union of nobles, etc.

Read also: Studying in Belgium Immigration to Belgium from Russia

It is worth noting that the former Russian intelligentsia is not very welcoming to immigrants from the USSR now.

The attitude of Belgians towards visitors

Foreigners are treated well here. If you need help, they will definitely provide it and even help you financially.

Despite their kind attitude, the Belgians will never accept a foreigner as one of their own, even if the person has lived in the Kingdom for 10-15 years. A migrant will not be able to climb the career ladder the same way as a Belgian.

But there is also a nuance here. Many Belgian men choose a foreign woman as their wife, beautiful and feminine, a homemaker, which cannot be said about local ladies who look masculine and strive to build a career.

Job

It also has a lot of bureaucratic delays and other office hassles. The working day lasts 8 hours, but there is a short break every 2.5 hours.

When applying for a job, you must attend an interview, for which it is not recommended to be late. Belgians love to inquire about the positive and negative qualities of a potential employee. Naturally, it’s better not to talk about your shortcomings. You should not be shy about asking for a salary and hinting at additional expenses: gasoline and food. In any case, you shouldn’t lower the bar for your desired salary; a thrifty Belgian boss will do it for you. The average salary in Belgium is 2,739 euros per month. However, they have to pay a lot of taxes. For rough calculations, you need to divide the indicated amount by two - this will be your net salary.

Who earns how much per month (without taxes?)

• Neftekhimik (4.193 euros)
• Banker (3.699 euros)
• Energetik (3.493 euros)
• Laundry attendant and hairdresser (1.761 euros)
• Cook (2.026 euros)
• Seller (2.107 euros)
• Lawyer (4.111 euros)
• Architect and engineer (3.915 euros)
• IT specialist (3.601 euros)
• Librarian (1.994 euros)

Salaries are higher in cities such as Brussels and Antwerp.

Nowadays, specialists of a narrow profile are valued in the country. Bricklayers, welders, plasterers, drivers with category C, cleaners, and waitresses will always be able to find work. It is quite obvious that this work, unlike office work, is dustier, but less paid. It is not at all easy to get a job in intellectual specialties - the crisis has not escaped the small but proud country.

Russia and Belgium: where is it good to live?

According to Russian emigrants, in Belgium a family with two children can live modestly, earning 3 thousand euros per month (or 36 thousand per year). Mandatory expenses:

• From 800 euros (per month) it will cost to rent an apartment, 20–25% will go to utilities;
• about 500 (per year) - medical insurance, but you will have to pay for each visit to the doctor;
• car insurance and tax - 800–900 euros.

Products in Belgium, compared to Russia, are expensive, but earnings are much higher.

More than 800 types of beer are produced in Belgium, which is probably why the price of the national drink is not so high

It is difficult to compare the standard of living of a Russian and a Belgian. The incomes and expenses of Muscovites and provincials differ too much. Prices for the same goods in the center of Russia and the Far East can vary significantly, not to mention the cost of housing. In little Belgium there is no such variation. In the northern regions, the standard of living is only slightly higher than in the south.

Table: cost of living of Russians and Belgians (in euros)

Video: how much does life cost in Belgian

Pregnancy

In Belgium, it is advisable not to delay talking “about this” with your boss. He has the right to fire an employee if he understands from her rounded tummy that a stork will soon fly to her. Then no courts will help.

When a woman reaches 6 months of pregnancy, she has the right to apply for benefits, which are issued only once. Its size decreases with each subsequent child. However, the amount is offset by the child benefit that you will receive every month after the birth of the child.

If a woman works, she can stop performing her duties one week or a maximum of 5 weeks before the expected birth. The maternity leave lasts 15 weeks in total. Those. If a woman goes on maternity leave 3 weeks before the birth of her child, she will have to go back to work after 12 weeks. If you want to extend your vacation, then you will live only on your personal funds. After the birth of a child, a woman has social privileges and discounts.

Housing

In Belgium, renting a one-room apartment costs approximately 450–500 euros per month, for a three-room apartment it costs 900–10,000 euros.

The price per square meter is about 600 euros. This is considered the average price in Europe. You can get a mortgage to buy a home only if you have the opportunity to immediately pay 40% for the “family nest.” Loans in Belgium are issued for a maximum period of 30 years, and the interest rate is 6% per annum.

Accommodation in Brussels

Brussels seems like a capital only within the historical center: glass-concrete buildings, Empire-style houses from the 30s. In the periphery there are mainly one- or two-story houses and townhouses.

If they say about Moscow that it is not rubber, then no one is eager to live in Brussels. The city's population is gradually declining. A typical apartment is 100 sq. meters costs 85 thousand euros.

Hort House in Brussels

Accommodation in Antwerp

Interestingly, unlike Brussels, the population of this city has doubled over the past fifty years! This factor has the best impact on prices in the real estate market. The cost per square meter is already 880 euros.

In this situation, most Belgians prefer to rent apartments rather than take out a loan: it is better to be lifelong tenants and not pay fees with rather high taxes.

What does permanent residence in Belgium give?

Having learned how to obtain permanent residence in Belgium, foreign citizens immediately begin collecting the necessary documents, rarely thinking about why this status is needed. The main advantage of permanent residence is the possibility of legal residence in the country without the need to extend this status. In addition, permanent residence almost in the center of Europe gives immigrants significant advantages. They can use high-quality medical services, receive social benefits, and work in well-paid positions. At the same time, some foreign citizens, having lived in Belgium for some time, decide not to stay in the country for permanent residence. There are several reasons for this:

• Quite high taxes.
• Paid medical services.
• Expensive rental housing and its cost to purchase.
• The need to know several languages ​​for a comfortable stay.

If the features of permanent residence in Belgium are suitable for a foreign citizen, then life here will not cause him hostility. The most important thing is to find a good, well-paid job in the country. In this case, living in Belgium with dignity will be much easier.

Housing and communal services and other expensive expenses

The average Belgian house is heated using a gas boiler. The kitchen most often has a gas stove. The apartments have double glazed windows, the roof is well insulated, so there is no unnecessary energy loss. This is especially important to avoid spending extra money on heating systems in winter.

Monthly payments for light and heat are 100-150 euros. As a rule, when concluding a contract, the company fixes a certain amount of monthly payments, which depend on the size of the apartment and the number of people living there. At the end of the year, actual consumption and recalculated. Those. you will have to both pay extra and get the balance back.

50-70 per month for water. There is an additional charge for garbage. Each city and region has its own waste collection system, therefore, a different payment system. The average bill for a home phone is 30-50 euros per month, and for a cell phone - 20-40 euros.

Television in Belgium, like in Germany, is also paid and only cable. The price for the basic package is 12 euros. Internet in Belgium is expensive - 40 euros!

According to Belgian law, housing must be insured against fire. And that’s another 150-200 euros per year!

Housing

Housing in the kingdom is relatively affordable. The cost of 500-600 € per 1 m² may be daunting at first, but after comparison with other countries in Europe it becomes clear that the situation is not so sad. After several years of work, almost every resident of Belgium is able to purchase a house or apartment.

A mortgage for the purchase of housing is issued if a person pays 40% of the cost. The term for which the loan is received is up to 30 years, the interest rate is 6% per annum.

A studio apartment in a good area is rented for 500-600 € per month, a one-room apartment for 600-800 € (the size of such apartments here is 50-70 m², by Russian standards they would pass for two-room apartments). The cost of a two-room apartment starts from 800 €. It has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room, which can be combined. When comparing the cost of rent and the average salary of Belgians, it is clear that 30-40% of their monthly income is spent on housing.

The demand for rental housing is huge. Dozens of families apply for 1 apartment.

One caveat: often there is no furniture in rented apartments. Therefore, prepare for additional costs in advance.

The standard lease agreement is concluded for a period of 9 years. Short-term - for 3 years. You should choose an apartment responsibly, because violating the conditions will result in a fine. If a person moves out during the first year of rent, he will have to pay an amount equal to three rents per month. If you move for the second year - 2 monthly costs. On the third - one. Similar rules apply to nine-year contracts.

Without permanent residence

A problem that is painfully familiar to Russia. The number of illegal immigrants living in Belgium reaches several hundred thousand. The Flemish association Dakloze Aktie Komité (DAK) is forced to admit that the authorities are not yet able to combat this problem.

The economic crisis also contributed to the increase in the number of people without permanent residence. Possible ways to solve this problem include building social housing or reducing real estate prices.

Real estate market

Housing options in the Kingdom are very diverse, but the buyer can always be completely confident that they will purchase high-quality housing, regardless of whether they are considering an old building or a new apartment.

You can buy a house in Belgium either in a small village on the outskirts of civilization or in a big city. The latter will most likely be built no later than the beginning of the 20th century and has many cozy furnished rooms and a garden.

Housing prices

You can buy an apartment in Belgium much cheaper than in neighboring France or Germany, and the quality of housing will not be worse. However, prices here are significantly higher than in Western Europe. The cost of real estate in the capital will be more expensive than in small towns.

Renting an apartment in Belgium is not an easy task, especially for a foreigner. As a rule, the owner wants to rent out the apartment:

• family without children;
• that any animals are absent;
• residents without bad habits.

You can rent an apartment from 500 euros, and a house from 650.

Nutrition

We present the cost of food prices in Belgium

In general, it can be noted that the level of food prices in Belgium is average in Europe. As a rule, large supermarkets are located outside the historical centers of large cities. You just need to take into account that going to even mid-level restaurants can be expensive for the family budget. The food here is delicious, but even the simplest lunch can cost 30 euros per person.

The gastronomic feature of Belgium is its chocolate boutiques and... beer.

It should be noted that this country has never been afraid to experiment: to create new compositions, olive oil, orange, pepper or basil are boldly added. The basis of chocolate is only real cocoa products, because this is the only way to be enriched with useful substances along with the candy. The Belgians completely disagree with the statement that eating chocolate leads to tooth decay. On the contrary, it is very useful due to the beneficial substances it contains: iron, potassium, magnesium. What if not a chocolate bar will save you from the winter blues!

The love for chocolate is best confirmed by specialized stores. They offer a variety of flavors of melt-in-your-mouth bliss.

Chocolate

The Belgians came up with French fries, a saxophone, lace and... chocolates. Local chocolate has always been famous for its incredible taste. Pharmacists were the first to produce chocolate. Two centuries ago, this sweetness was recognized as a cure for many diseases. It was the Brussels pharmacist Johann Neuhaus who created dark chocolate when he was trying to invent a new cough medicine. And it was the Belgian wizards who came up with praline - a chocolate mass with nuts. Now beautifully packaged in ballotin boxes, Belgian sweets are a great gift!

Bruges is considered to be the Belgian capital of chocolate. The so-called “Dolce Vita” festivals are held there every year. Local craftsmen will prepare sweets according to your wishes, even in the most bizarre form. Despite the danger of getting diathesis and gaining extra calories, you don’t want to leave this celebration of life and pleasure.

Chocolate prices vary: on average, 2-4 euros per 100. Chocolate in a box will be cheaper, since it is produced not by artisans, but by large factories. An exquisite box can be purchased for 2.5 euros.

Beer

Belgian beer deserves a separate discussion. The main reason is the large assortment of brands, varieties and flavors. It is the taste that will be remembered for a long time. Famous ones include: Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Duvel, Grimbergen, Maredsous, Palm, Leffe, Westmalle, Chimay.

Special mention should be made of fruit beer.

Kriek is considered one of the most famous lambic varieties in the world. Kriek means a variety of cherry that grows in one of the areas of Brussels. Cherries should be added when brewing beer. As a result, the drink gets a rich color and fruity taste. Because of its intense fruity taste, such beer is often called feminine. However, it is also popular among the stronger sex. This drink is incredibly invigorating during the warm season. And it itself is perceived by many as non-alcoholic.

However, lambic is made not only with cherries. We said earlier that the Belgians have never been afraid of experiments. As a result, beer with raspberries, strawberries, peach, grapes and black currants appears on store shelves. Less commonly used are pineapples, apricots, apples, bananas, lemon or plums.

Table of pros and cons of living in Belgium for Russians

Immigration to Belgium is attractive for Russian-speaking people. This is a prosperous country in which the standard of living is higher in a number of indicators than in Spain, Italy or Greece, but its cultural heritage is no less great and interesting. There are good conditions for doing business, and citizenship can be applied for after five years of permanent residence. The state will protect a resident of the country if he finds himself in an unpleasant situation, for example, loses his job. Medical services in Belgium are very high quality, even compared to neighboring France. And the fact that Brussels is an international and European center makes it possible to travel around Europe easily and relatively cheaply - after all, it is an important hub of all transport routes. Stability of life and low crime rates, despite strong migration growth, indicate that Belgium is coping well with new problems and adequately responding to the challenges of the modern era.

About children

Parents give their children pocket money, but if they start working part-time, the subsidies end. In addition, children pay a kind of rent (from money they have already earned) while in their parents’ nest. This is considered quite normal.

It’s interesting that children practically don’t go outside after school. Psychologists say that this is due to the heavy workload at school. Belgian teenagers do not socialize much outside of school. A characteristic European quality is isolation with a hint of personal territory.

Nursery

It is quite obvious that 15 weeks of maternity leave will fly by quickly, and you will have to go to work. At the same time, the question arises: who will entrust the child? Business Belgians, without hesitation, choose a nursery.

Usually the nursery is at the home of the teachers, and the number of children does not exceed eight. Here you can choose a full-time nursery or just a few hours. The cost of the services provided depends on the chosen institution, the number of hours spent, or may simply be fixed per day.

Secondary education in Belgium

It begins at age 12 and is considered compulsory until age 18. Thus, secondary education means 6 grades. There are four types of schools:

1. Secondary General Education (ASO). After completing training at this school, the young man must enter a university to obtain a specialty. In schools of this type, languages, economics and exact sciences are actively studied.
2. Technical Secondary Education (TSO). The child is faced with the task of choosing a specialty. To receive it, he must study at school not 6 years, but 7. If a student completes only 6 classes, then he goes to a university.
3. Vocational Secondary Education (BSO). After graduating from school, a young person has the right to get a job. However, if you want to study at the university, you will have to finish the seventh grade.
4. Secondary Art Education (KSO). This is a synthesis of general secondary education with art.

Universities in Belgium

Young people willingly go to study in Belgium, because they are attracted not only by the quality of education, but also by the prospect of completing an internship at an international organization or headquarters in Brussels.

Leuven (Louvain) is one of the university centers of Belgium. Photo by tryzhik (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/tryzhik/)

Training is conducted in English, French and Flemish (i.e. a dialect of Dutch). Among the few universities in the country, we note:

• University of Mons-Hainaut;
• University of Liege;
• Ghent University;
• Free University of Brussels;
• Louvain Catholic University.

In 2004-2005 In Belgium, a reform was carried out: now education at universities corresponds to the international “bachelor-master” system.

Transport

Belgium has a fairly well-developed railway connection, and local trains are considered to be among the fastest in Europe. There are two main types: IC (intercity) and IR (high-speed).

A system of discounts is provided here, taking into account the age of the passenger and the number of trips. For example, a ticket for 10 trips costs 62 euros. A monthly EuroDomino Belgium pass, which includes an unlimited number of trips for any 3 days, will cost 46 euros. If the passenger is under 26 years old, then he will pay only 34 Euros for this pass. For pensioners, the price of any return ticket (in Belgium) costs only 3 euros.

Eurostar train. Connects three European capitals, including Brussels. Photo by Liposha (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/liposha/)

City transport is represented by buses and trams. Brussels and Antwerp also have a metro system. A single ticket for any type of transport costs 1.4 euros. It is possible to purchase tickets for 5 and 10 trips, which will cost 6.5 and 9.8 euros respectively.

One of the trams in Ghent. Photo by s30051959 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/s30051959/)

Traveling in your own car is a pleasure. There are free roads here, which are recognized as some of the best in Europe. In cities, the speed limit should not exceed 50 km/h, on national roads - 90 km/h, and on highways - 120 km/h. If there is a child under 12 years of age in the cabin, he is prohibited from sitting in the front passenger seat. As for alcohol, its permissible limit is −0.5 ppm.

Life in Brussels

Brussels.

All about transport

A couple of times I rented a car for my trips, since I don’t have my own yet. The cheapest car can be rented for a day for 60 euros. The car is delivered fully fueled. It is also necessary to return it only if the tank is full. I rented the car for the weekend, so I was given a discount of 20 euros.

Sometimes I have to use a taxi. Usually the trip costs around 12-30 euros. The cost of 1 km is 1.7 euros. There are a lot of taxis here. Prices in almost all companies are the same.

At the very beginning, upon arrival, I spent my weekends traveling by public transport. So I decided to study the city, what is where, and at the same time look at the sights, because I was going to settle here and stay on a permanent basis. You can drive in the morning, from about 5 o'clock, until 12 at night.

The main transport in Brussels is trams, metro, buses and even city trains.

1. Metro. When you enter the metro, you need to scan your ticket at the entrance, and you also need to show your ticket when exiting.
2. Trams. The carriages are very comfortable: there is even a special button, by pressing which passengers can open the door themselves. Trams even run underground in certain places.
3. Buses. Buses can travel in areas that cannot be reached by metro or tram. Some buses also travel at night, up to 3 hours.

Ticket prices

• For one trip - 2 euros.
• For one day - 8 euros. You can ride as many times as you like. It is very profitable to buy such a ticket if you plan to make more than 4 trips per day.
• For 10 trips - 13 euros, there is the possibility of changing the line.
• For one-way travel and back within 24 hours - 4 euros.

Tourist tickets are still on sale:

• for a day - 7 euros;
• for two days - 13 euros;
• for three days - 17 euros.

These are very convenient options if you plan to travel by public transport every day and more than once.

At the very beginning, upon arrival, I spent my weekends traveling by public transport.

Flat rent

When I arrived, my new company helped me rent an apartment. It was not quite near the center, but not very far either. We paid about 600 euros per month for the apartment and gave half of this cost to the real estate agent who was looking for an apartment for me. The company decided that from the first salary I would give them the amount for the apartment, and it decided to take over the amount that was given to the agent.

Pearls of Brussels - her city

Brussels

The city has a total population of more than 1 million inhabitants. Brussels is primarily the headquarters of NATO, the headquarters of the European Union. A real pleasure will be a walk through the central square of the city and its quiet European streets, which will lead you to Manneken Pis (“Pissing Boy”). It is believed that the monument was erected by a wealthy resident of the city who discovered his son on the street relieving himself.

According to another popular legend, in the 14th century, Brussels' enemies tried to capture the city. The enemies decided to plant a charge at the base of the city walls, but a boy named Juliaanske urinated on the fire in time and was thus able to save his hometown.

Monument to a boy in Brussels

Whatever the history, interest in the monument has never diminished. Especially on weekends, when there is an influx of tourists in the city, it is not so easy to approach the “famous boy”.

Antwerp

Antwerp is considered not only one of the largest seaports in the world, but also a city of art. Arriving here, you will plunge into the atmosphere of galleries, museums and art workshops.

Ghent

This amazing architectural ensemble will not leave indifferent even those who do not understand the intricacies of art. It is here that Jean Van Eyck's famous masterpiece "The Adoration of the Lamb" is kept.

Bruges

Bruges is called medieval Venice. In terms of the number of bridges, canals and attractions, it can clearly compete on equal terms with the Italian city on the water.

Belgium. Bruges. Photo by v.bond22158 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/v-bond22158/)

City of cats

Ypres holds memories of the First World War. There were fierce battles on the territory of the city, and in its surroundings there are many cemeteries with buried soldiers.

Ypres is also famous for its park, located on the remains of the wall, and the beautiful chamber of clothiers and beffrois in the main square.

Some call Ypres the city of cats. Once every three years the Cat Festival is held here. The costume performance is done in memory of a creepy tradition that took place before the beginning of the 19th century: it was customary to throw live cats from the city tower. The highlight of today's show is the dropping of toy cats.

Curiosities and innovations of Belgium

Curiosities are in many ways similar to Russian ones. Although we note that in terms of innovations, Belgium is significantly ahead of even a number of European countries.

Without a car license

Belgian resident Christina tried in vain to prove in 2002 that she was alive. In some fabulous way, he ended up on the list of dead souls. Difficulties arose in paying taxes and registering the car, because the dead cannot drive. After the story leaked to the press, the Antwerp city administration restored the name of the unfortunate woman to the list of survivors.

In the name of saving city streets

In the Belgian town of Ostend they decided to install special toilets for dogs. Thus, the four-legged friend should relieve himself with the help of such a “toilet”, and not in parks or on the streets. However, the idea failed: dogs still prefer sidewalks and lawns.

Viagra for pigs

Veterinarians in Belgium have created a special “Viagra” for pigs, which, in their opinion, should facilitate the process of artificial insemination of pigs.

At the pigsty you need to turn on the player with a disc on which the grunt of a wild boar is recorded and gradually turn up the volume. Belgian veterinarian Frank Vermeiren claims that the louder the sound, the higher the sexual instinct in the female.

Fine for insulting women

It all started this year with a thesis from a 25-year-old Belgian woman. The girl studied at a film school and decided to make a documentary about discrimination against women as a project. This is how a story about the difficult fate of the fairer sex appeared. Hints of sex, swearing, and statements that degrade their honor and dignity can be heard several times a day. It doesn’t matter at all whether you’re wearing a short dress or ordinary jeans. So, with the light hand of the film’s author, Sophie Peters, obscenity with sexual overtones will be subject to a fine of 250 euros. Sofia herself, and just residents of Belgium, strongly doubt that such an initiative will significantly replenish the treasury. More important is respect for human rights in modern society.

In Belgium, people stand up for their rights on principle. Perhaps this quality was passed on from generation to generation? The conflict between the Walloons and the Flemings was replaced by gender discrimination. Belgium is a good choice for permanent residence, but, like any other country, it is fraught with many unexpected, sometimes pleasant or controversial moments.

How to obtain Belgian citizenship

Belgian citizenship can be obtained after 8-10 years of living in the status of a residence permit or permanent residence. Permanent residence is granted after 3-5 years of stay in the country. In a short time, legal spouses, investors, businessmen, and Blue Card holders can purchase a second passport.

To consider an application for citizenship, you need to collect a complete package of documents:

• confirming certificates of legal presence in the country;
• financial statements to prove solvency;
• written responses to requests regarding the absence of violations, fines, or unpaid taxes;
• receipt of payment of state duty up to €800.