Activities and places to visit as an expat in Brussels

Places and services for expats

welcome atomium brussels

As a highly multicultural city, Brussels is happy to welcome newcomers. Students, workers, tourists, businesspeople, you may find here what you are looking for :

  • good restaurants and parks to hang out with friends;
  • swimming pools and fitness clubs to stay fit and healthy;
  • hotels and rooms for the duration of your trip.

Whether you're staying or just passing by Brussels, do not hesitate to benefit from all the nice locations the city has to offer. This website focus on helping expats to find the place or the service they need and, maybe, meet the locals or other foreigners.

Stay in an aparthotel!

window of an aparthotel in brussels
Would you like to find a place to stay for a few days or weeks in Brussels and benefit from the comfort of your home? Several buildings with all the needed furniture and equipment welcome you.

Cleaning services in Brussels

Cleaning services in Brussels
If you don't have the time or the possibility to do the housekeeping, find here a list of agencies. They provide a domestic help via the system of service voucher so that your house will always be clean and tidy.

Pool maintenance and construction

 Pool maintenance and construction
You have your own pool or you want to build one? Discover some of the best builders working in Brussels. They provide you a full service from the digging to the maintenance so that you benefit from a clean infrastructure.

Green spaces in the city

Royal Park of Brussels
Brussels is one of the greenest capitals with lots of parks and playgrounds where you can have a walk, discover urban wildlife and have fun with your children. Discover the selection of cool places located in the city and its suburbs.

Discover your next holiday destination

cruise ship
If you don't know where to go for your next holidays, discover the best destinations collected by these travel agencies. Thanks to their help, you will have your whole trip organised: flight, cruise, accomodation, etc.

Shopping for women

woman doing shopping
You have just settled in and you are looking for nice stores to find clothes? Discover our selection of trendy shops welcoming expats in Brussels! They display lots of famous brands, and the sales assistants will give you precious advice.

International schools in Brussels

International schools in Brussels
In order to give to your child the best education, discover the most renown international schools of Brussels. Benefit from a learning system in several languages and programs that give access to major universities.

Get in shape!

Get in shape!
Here is a selection of the best sport clubs in Brussels with English speaking personnel. They offer group classes, fitness equipment, personal trainers, spa…

Nice swimming pools in the city

Nice swimming pools in the city
If you are looking for a nice spot where to swim, check our selection. Whether you are a competitor, an amateur or a fan of classes (aquabike, synchronized swimming, etc.), you will find a center that suits you.

A new home thanks to your estate agent

house in brussels
Are you a new expat in the city? Whether you decided to settle in Brussels or are staying for a few years, you will need a home. A real estate expert can help you to find the good location and a house or an apartment that meets your requirements.

Choose your hotel!

Choose your hotel!
If you have to spend a few days in Brussels for a business trip or with your family, you need to find a nice place to stay. Discover here the best quality hotels in town, fully equipped and well located.

Men’s style boutiques

Men’s style boutiques
Do you need a new jacket for winter or a nice pair of shorts for summer? This section introduces you some of the most refined shops for men in Brussels. Find here your favourite brands.

Some moving companies

Some moving companies
Not as simple as a move in the same country, the organisation when you are going abroad is much more difficult. If you are settling in the capital of Europe, get the help of professionnal movers that offer a quality service. They are used to national and international moves.

Take care of your beauty and wellness

Take care of your beauty and wellness
Life in the city can be exhausting. That is the reason why it is important to take your time and relax in one of those wellness centres. They provide you several types of massage as well as beauty cares.

Take care of your garden

Take care of your garden
Do you want to plant flowerbeds, bushes or shrubs ? On this page, you will find a series of stores where you can buy seeds, fertilizers and other kind of products needed to arrange your green spaces.

Gastronomy in town

Gastronomy in town
Find the best quality restaurants in town where you can enjoy delicious meals. This list present you well-known eating places acknowledged for their fresh and refined menus.

Enjoy Brussels as an expat!

grand place in brussels with the flowers carpet

In Brussels, there are more than 200,000 expats, coming from all around the globe. The city is one of the most multicultural cities in the world with approximatively 180 nationalities in the same area. It is estimated that at least 100 different languages are spoken in Brussels. More than 40,000 expats are currently working in one of the many international institutions that have their seat in the capital city of Belgium.

Attractive for many reasons, Brussels welcomes many foreigners: expats, but also tourists and business people. This explains the growing demand for various services specifically designed for them. Being a multicultural city is an opportunity for Belgians, since new jobs were created to make them discover the main tourist sites of the city, for example. Expats are also more keen on meeting people that experience the same situation as them, what they can do in places such as fitness clubs with other English-speaking members, but also parks and playgrounds for their children near some international institutions or international schools.

Have you just settled in the capital of Belgium? Great! You still have a lot to discover! This is very exciting: the city may be small, but there are many places to visit and a lot of activities to try. Among them, you will find museums, cinemas and theatres, green spaces to wander and relax, and so on. Find some recommendations on this website and discover places where to go out with your family, your friends and your colleagues, where to shop or even nice restaurants where to taste the local gastronomy.

A new country doesn't mean you have to give up your habits. So if you want to stay fit, we have a list of swimming pools and fitness clubs in your area. This is also a good way to meet new people. If you'd rather run, you'll find a series of nice parks in your neighbourhood. If your hobby is gardening, you may need good addresses where to find your tools, seeds and plants. As every  city, Brussels is bright and full of lights. If you want more privacy in your brand new apartment, or just a darker bedroom, look for the perfect curtains on Rideaux-et-Stores.

Make yourself at home! Literally. If you are not planning to stay an expat, but want to settle for good here in Brussels, you will need to find a house or an apartment that suits your requirements. If you don’t have the time or if you don’t know the Belgian market yet, the assistance of a professional estate agent will be of use. This expert finds a home which meets your budget and your needs. He will help you until the sale. When you have finally found it, you can benefit from the help of a housekeeper. Whether you want to follow the last trends or find the perfect suit or outfit for office days, have a look to the selection of clothes boutiques in your neighbourhood.

Information about Brussels

If you are new in Belgium, here are a few things that may be interesting. First, the Constitution counts three official languages : French and Dutch mainly, but also German. Nevertheless, English is very common among the citizens, notably because there are many expats working in the city. These are not the only languages you can hear by taking the public transports or while walking: Brussels is one of the most mutcultural city in the world.

In the Summer, you may participate to several dance and music festivals without even leaving the centre. All along the year, there are also event of all kinds: book fairs, comic-cons, concert venues and several movies festivals with an international reputation (with a focus on some genres such as fantastic, animation, and so on)... There are also a huge number of museums of all kinds (science, history or most atypical ones like chocolate or the Manneken-Pis museum that shows not less than 140 costumes for the little statue). Most of the libraries in the city are free to visit, but there is a membership fee to rent books. Even though Dutch and French are the official languages, there is always a selection of works in other languages, among which English. For those who prefer social activities, there are escape rooms, many restaurants and cafés... As you can see, Brussels is a vibrant city with a lot of activities to do, everything in a small area.