Belgium (BE)
Belgium is a small but densely populated federal kingdom at the crossroads of Western Europe, split across three linguistic regions — Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, and bilingual Brussels — and famed for its medieval cities, world-class beer and chocolate, and its role as the de facto capital of the European Union.
Daily Life
Practical day-to-day information for living in Belgium.
🛒 Supermarkets
German-owned hard discounter. Excellent quality/price ratio. Fresh produce section has improved significantly. Weekly rotating non-food offers. Widely distributed across Belgium.
German-owned hard discounter. Slightly different product range from Lidl. Strong own-brand bakery. Good for weekly staples.
Belgium's most popular supermarket chain — promises the lowest prices among mid-range supermarkets. No-frills store experience but strong on quality meats, wines, and Belgian products. Loyalty-card price guarantee.
French-owned chain with large hypermarkets (Carrefour) and smaller city stores (Carrefour Market/Express). Wide product range including international and organic foods. Strong in Brussels.
Dutch supermarket growing rapidly in Belgium, particularly in Flanders and Brussels. Good fresh produce, meal kits, and online delivery service.
Convenience-oriented supermarket franchise, often in town centres and smaller municipalities. Higher prices than Colruyt but convenient hours.
Belgian-origin premium supermarket (now owned by Ahold Delhaize). Excellent quality, wide organic and international range. Strong prepared-food and deli sections. Present throughout Belgium.
Premium food market by the Colruyt group. Farm-to-table philosophy, extensive cheese and charcuterie counters, organic focus.
Upscale Belgian food retailer (Brussels-based). Exceptional wine cellar, imported products, premium meats, and gourmet foods. Beloved by expat communities.
Opening Hours
Most large supermarkets: Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00 (some to 21:00); Sunday: 09:00–18:00 (not all open). Small shops and bakeries typically 07:30–18:30, closed Sunday or Monday. Belgian law restricts opening hours for workers — overtime and Sunday work is regulated. Shopping centres: 10:00–20:00 (Fri until 21:00). Night shops (nachtwinkel) stay open until midnight or later.
Sunday Rules
Unlike Germany, Belgium allows shops to open on Sundays, though hours may be shorter. Large supermarkets and most shops in Brussels city centre are open on Sundays. In smaller communes and rural areas, Sunday closures are more common. Bakeries and small food shops often open Sunday mornings. Some shopping centres close on Sundays or have reduced hours.
Recycling
Belgium has one of the world's highest recycling rates. The colour-coded PMD bag system is used nationally: blue bag for plastic bottles, metal packaging, and drinking cartons (PMD); yellow bag for paper and cardboard; residual waste in black/transparent bags. Organic waste (GFT / organic) is collected separately in green/brown bins in most municipalities. Glass is deposited in communal glass containers (glasbollen / bulles à verre) near shopping areas. Deposit (statiegeld/consigne) system applies to cans and PET bottles from 2024.
Dining Out
Belgian restaurant culture is deeply enjoyed. Lunch (typically 12:00–14:00) often features an affordable "dagmenu" or "plat du jour" (daily special) at €12–20. Dinner service typically 18:30–22:00; some Brussels restaurants close Monday. It is considered rude to rush over a meal — Belgians linger at the table. Vegetarian options are widely available in cities; vegan options are growing. Service can be leisurely — a waiter will not bring the bill until asked (sometimes frustrating for expats). Reservations recommended for dinner at mid-range and above restaurants.
Utilities & Internet
Electricity and gas are liberalised markets — compare suppliers on mijnenergie.be (Flanders) or comparateur.cwape.be (Wallonia). Average combined monthly cost for a 2-bed apartment: €150–220 (indexed to energy prices). Water is provided by municipal or regional companies (De Watergroep, SWDE, Vivaqua) — bills come quarterly. Internet and TV providers: Telenet (Flanders), Proximus (national), Voo (Wallonia). Triple-play bundles (internet + TV + phone) common at €45–75/month.
Cultural Tips for Expats
- → Belgians are proud of their beer culture — there are over 300 active breweries and 1,600 beer types. Learn a few beer styles to make conversation.
- → Language is extremely sensitive — always check which language is dominant in the area you're in. Flanders is Dutch; Wallonia is French; Brussels is officially bilingual. Starting a conversation in the wrong language in Ghent (Dutch) can cause offence.
- → Belgians value their privacy and personal space. Neighbours may not introduce themselves; this is normal and not unfriendly.
- → The "Belgian compromise" is a cultural concept — Belgians are known for finding middle ground in political and social disputes.
- → Comics (BD / stripverhalen) are a serious art form in Belgium — Tintin, The Smurfs, Asterix were all created by Belgians. Museum of Comic Strip Art in Brussels is world-class.
- → Belgian chocolate is genuinely considered among the world's finest. Visiting a local chocolatier (not a tourist souvenir shop) is a rite of passage.
- → Belgians take their food very seriously — never insult Belgian fries by comparing them to McDonald's chips. Belgian fries (dubbel gebakken) are twice-fried in beef fat.
- → Sunday is sacred family time — noise in residential areas is strictly regulated on Sundays and bank holidays.
- → Belgians are highly educated and enjoy intellectual conversation — topics like architecture, history, beer, and food are always welcome.
Quiet Hours
Belgian noise regulations are governed by regional and municipal by-laws. Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia each have their own rules. Generally, noise disturbance is prohibited between 22:00 and 07:00. Sunday is treated as a rest day throughout Belgium.
All of Belgium — strict prohibition on loud music, parties, power tools, and other disturbances
Lawn mowers, drills, and other garden/home machinery typically restricted to 09:00–12:00 and 15:00–18:00 on weekdays; prohibited on Sundays in most municipalities
Brussels has stricter noise rules — a noise complaint can be filed with Brussels Environment (Leefmilieu Brussel / Bruxelles Environnement) at any time
- •Mowing the lawn on Sunday morning — almost universally prohibited
- •Late-night parties without informing neighbours in advance
- •Loud music from apartments in the evening even before 22:00 in sensitive areas
- •Drilling or home renovation work before 08:00 or after 18:00
A noise complaint leads to a police visit. Repeated offenders face fines. Brussels has dedicated noise inspectors. Disputes between neighbours can escalate to the justice of the peace (vredegerecht / justice de paix).
Postal Services
bpost is the Belgian national postal service. Standard letter delivery is next working day within Belgium for priority mail, or 3 working days for non-priority. Parcel delivery is reliable; bpost has pick-up points (PostPunt / Point Poste) in supermarkets and convenience stores.
bpost operates parcel lockers (pakjesautomaat / automate de colis) at train stations, supermarkets, and post offices. Amazon and DHL also operate their own locker networks.
For registered parcels and certain documents, ID (eID or passport) is required at pick-up. Parcel notification is sent by SMS/email with a barcode.
Registered post (aangetekende zending / envoi recommandé) provides proof of delivery and is required for legal correspondence (cancelling contracts, formal notices to landlords, etc.). €8–15 per item.
bpost offers mail forwarding service when moving — register your new address via the bpost app or bpost.be. Cost: from €20/month.
- →Belgian addresses include the municipality name and postal code — always include both (e.g., Rue de la Loi 12, 1000 Brussels)
- →Belgium has a 4-digit postcode system — Brussels postcodes start with 1, Flemish with 2–3–8–9, Walloon with 4–7
- →For legal cancellations (insurance, telecoms), always send a registered letter — ordinary post does not create legal proof
- →bpost priority mail (rood / rouge) is for next-day delivery; non-priority (groen / vert) for 3 days and is cheaper