Belgium, a welcoming destination to expats?

Cheryl · 2025-04-16T08:40:02+02:00

Explore insights from expats on settling in Belgium, integration challenges, support resources, and what makes this country welcoming for newcomers.

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator16 April 2025 06:40:02

13910

Hello everyone,

Settling in Belgium, like every new environment, can feel like stepping into the unknown and brings many questions: how will it go, how to integrate successfully, etc.
To help smooth this transition, we invite you to share your experience since you landed in Belgium, whether recently or a long ago:

What was your first impression when you arrived?

Did you face any challenges while integrating? Any advice on how to overcome them?

Are there any support programs, groups or events to help newcomers settle in?

Do you find it easy to make friends or connections with locals and fellow expats?

What makes Belgium a welcoming destination for expats?

Share your insights and experience.

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
禁漫天堂 Team

Marianne_Mons Member

Member since 18 August 2024

Marianne_MonsMember07 May 2025 16:17:45

Not really welcoming, no...

You meet nice people, but you are also confronted with a chauvinistic mindset, people accuse you - sometimes quite openly - of stealing a job from Belgium people, etc...

They are even chauvinistic between themselves (between the two main communities, Flemish and French-speaking).

There is a widely shared viewpoint that foreigners want to take advantage from Belgium people, whereas, if you analyse their immigration rules, it's the other way round. The first thing they look at is if you have money. If you're rich, no problem, you are going to spend your money in Belgium, so they can profit from you. If you're going to do a job Belgium people either don't want to do or don't know how to do, it's also to their advantage to let you stay.

If you're coloured, it's worse. For example, your kid gets called "pretty little monkey" and people around find it funny. If you don't find it funny, they say come on, it was just a joke.

They are not all like this. Some fight against xenophobia. Some are open-minded, friendly and curious about other cultures, Unfortunately, these are a minority.