Why do Belgium have two languages? DESPITE being a relatively small country, two major languages are spoken around Belgium. The diversity is due to the countries chequered history, with it constantly changing hands between various nations until independence from the Dutch in 1830.

Famous elements of the Belgian culture include gastronomy (Belgian beers, fries, chocolate, waffles, etc.), the comic strip tradition (Tintin, the Smurfs, Spirou & Fantasio, the Marsupilami, Lucky Luke, Largo Winch, etc.), painting and architecture (the Art Nouveau, the Mosan art, the Early Netherlandish painting, the …

Article 4 divides the country into linguistic areas, which form the basis of the federal structure: “Belgium has four linguistic areas: The French-speaking area, the Dutch-speaking area, the bilingual area of Brussels Capital, and the German-speaking area.”

Dutch and English are fine. You will need to learn French within the next year but to begin with those two languages are fine. Plus people in Belgium are very well educated in English.

Belgium is generally a safe place for travel, however there is a bit of crime here and there. Find out how to stay safe while traveling with these tips. In Belgium, crime rates tend to be higher in the bigger cities than in rural areas, but serious crime in Brussels is low.

Safety: Belgium ranks tenth in the International Women’s Travel Center’s list of the best countries for women traveling alone. Study abroad programs are popular, making Belgium a great destination for solo young girls to meet other travelers their age.

Many foreigners easily find work in Belgium and chances of finding jobs in Belgium’s main cities, particularly jobs in Brussels, are increased by the extensive international business scene and European Union (EU) presence.

Belgium has a huge demand for highly skilled workers in diverse sectors….Some of the skills shortage jobs in Belgium include:

• Engineers.
• Project managers.
• Technicians.
• Architects.
• Accountants.
• Nurses and midwives.
• IT staff like computer system designers and analysts.
• Technical and commercial sales representatives.

Jobs in Belgium Service and high-tech industries are typically located in the Flanders region in the north, while coal and steel manufacturing is concentrated in the south. The majority of Belgians work in the service sector in the banking, law, media, retail, tourism and transport industries.

Let’s now take a closer look at the top 10 best paying industries in Belgium:

1. Petrochemical Industry.
2. Management Consultancy.
3. Computer Programming & Consultancy.
4. Financial Services.
5. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
6. Scientific Research.
7. Chemical & Chemical Product Manufacturing.
8. Air Transportation.

A person working in Belgium typically earns around 6,150 EUR per month. Salaries range from 1,890 EUR (lowest average) to 25,900 EUR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher). This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits.

The highest paid Belgium are Executive Management & Change professionals at $128,000 annually. The lowest paid Belgium are Services, Tourism & Hospitality professionals at $36,000.

Once you live in Belgium for five years, you may qualify for permanent residency in Belgium. Certain residents will also be able to apply for Belgian nationality if they fulfill certain conditions. Both allow you to stay in Belgium indefinitely, working or otherwise, under similar conditions as Belgian citizens.

Paperwork mountains, unfriendly locals (in the touristy areas) and horrendous taxes. Moving to Belgium isn’t easy and living in Brussels is especially tough for newcomers. Here are a few tips which hopefully will make your transition smoother than mine.