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Brussels has cheap and efficient public transport. The road system is good, although driving in and out of the centre at peak times is becoming increasingly tedious as the level of traffic increases. Driving in Belgium has it own peculiarities and requires some getting used to. There is a good market for new and second-hand cars, but car insurance is rather expensive.
BANKING
Belgium has a very sophisticated domestic banking sector. Almost all transactions are electronic and banking via the internet is common. Cheques have disappeared. The Euro makes travelling to neighbouring countries easier – except to the UK.
MEDICAL
Belgium offers a very high standard of medical care. Waiting lists are virtually unknown. Payment for medical services is required at the point of delivery and is then recovered from an insurance company (“mutuelle”). Details of the medical coverage offered to the chaplain and his family are set out in the ‘financial package’.
CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION
Belgium has a good system of childcare and a high standard of education. The majority of schools in Brussels are either French or Dutch speaking; very few of those are fee-paying. There are several English-language schools, following either the UK or US system. They offer a high standard of education but are fee-paying, and tend to be very expensive. However satisfactory arrangements have been reached in the past for chaplains with children. This is an issue to be discussed in the light of particular circumstances.
Belgians take food seriously. There is virtually nothing you cannot buy in Brussels. The usual range of supermarkets is supplemented by large numbers of small food shops offering high quality products. Eating out is a widespread habit. The main problem about eating in Brussels is that you get used to high standards. Other places can seem a bit dull afterwards.
CULTURE AND NEWS
British newspapers are available from the beginning of the day, with home delivery an option. BBC Radio 4 is obtainable on Long Wave, and BBC 1 and 2 are two of the many channels on offer through the TV cable network. Internet access is easy. New films usually appear in Brussels in English with subtitles. Theatre, music, opera and ballet are there for all. There are English language bookshops, sports clubs and cultural associations. In short, any English-speaking newcomer is unlikely to feel isolated.
GETTING THERE
- AND GETTING AWAY
Brussels is about 5 hours from London by car, and two and a half hours by Eurostar train. There are cheap flights to all sorts of places. Fast trains (TGV) head off to France, Germany and the Netherlands. Brussels is easy to get to and easy to get out of.