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Living in Belgium  Living in Belgium

Key Expatriate Websites and Resources

Articles on Belgium
Business and Economy in Belgium
Education and Study in Belgium
Embassies, Consulates, and Immigration
Expatriate Websites and Resources
Government and International Organizations
Housing and Real Estate in Belgium
News and Media in Belgium
Recommended Reading on Belgium
Travel Information for Belgium

Compiled by Volker Poelzl

Featured Articles on Living, Working, Studying, and Traveling in Belgium
Teaching English in Brussels: No Shortage of Jobs by Wendy Schatzman

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 Business and Economy in Belgium

U.S. Commercial Service, www.buyusa.gov, offers assistance to help U.S. businesses export goods and services to markets worldwide, including Belgium.

The Economist, www.economist.com, is a British weekly newsmagazine reporting on the global economy, politics etc. The Country Briefings, compiled for 60 countries by the Economist Intelligence Unit, provides extensive economic and political data, as well as links to articles. Take a look at the Belgium Country Briefing.

EUbusiness.com, www.eubusiness.com, is an independent online business news and information service about the European Union, including Belgium.

Belgian-American Chamber of Commerce in the United States (BACC), www.belcham.org; C/O Fortis, 101 Hudson Street, 21st Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302; Tel: (201) 631-8065; Fax: (201) 631-8067.

American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, www.amcham.be; Avenue des Arts 50, Bte. 5, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; Tel: (32-2) 513 67 70; Fax: (32-2) 513 35 90; gchamber@amcham.be.

AmCham EU - American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, www.eucommittee.be; Avenue des Arts 53, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; Tel: (32-2) 513 68 92; Fax: (32-2) 513 79 28; amchameu@amchameu.be.

Invest in Belgium, www.investinbelgium.fgov.be and www.invest.belgium.be, provides information for foreign investors.

U.S. Government Export Portal, www.export.gov, publishes Country & Industry Market Reports, Commercial guides, and other essential information for doing business abroad.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), www.oecd.org, provides a lot of economic information about its member states, including Belgium.

STAT-USA/Internet, www.stat-usa.gov, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides economic, business, and international trade information from the Federal government.

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 Education and Study in Belgium

Office of Overseas Schools, Department of State, www.state.gov/m/a/os, lists American International Schools for most countries, including Belgium:
Antwerp International School
International School of Brussels

British International Schools Worldwide, www.bisw.org, provides listings of British schools around the world, including Belgium.

Worldwide Classroom, www.worldwide.edu, contains information on over 10,000 schools in 95 countries, including Belgium. The web pages include information about primary and secondary schools, as well as universities and language schools.

GoAbroad.com, www.goabroad.com, in its Study Abroad section provides an international education database for those intending to study abroad, including Belgium.

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 Embassies, Consulates, and Immigration to Belgium

Worpermit.com, provides immigation, visa, and work permit information for Belgium.

The embassies and consulates listed below will be able to provide detailed information as well:

Embassy of Canada in Belgium, www.ambassade-canada.be; Avenue de Tervueren 2, 1040 Brussels, Belgium; Tel: (32-2) 741 0611; Fax: (32-2) 741 0643.

U.S. Embassy in Belgium, brussels.usembassy.gov; Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Régent, B-1000 Brussels; Tel: (32-2) 508-2111; Fax: (32-2) 511-2725.

British Embassy in Belgium, www.britishembassy.gov.uk; Rue d'Arlon 85 Aarlenstraat, 1040 Brussels; Tel: (32-2) 2876211; Fax: (32-2) 2876360.

Embassy of Belgium in the USA, www.diplobel.us; 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; Tel: (202) 333-6900; Fax: (202) 338-4960; washington@diplobel.org.

Embassy of Belgium in Canada, www.diplomatie.be/ottawa; 360 Albert Street, Suite 820, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7; Tel: (613) 236-7267; Fax: (613) 236-7882; Ottawa@diplobel.org.

Embassy of Belgium in the United Kingdom, www.diplomatie.be/london/; 103-104 Eaton Square, SW1W 9AB London; Tel:  020 7470 37 00; Fax: 020 7470 37 95; london@diplobel.be.

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 Expatriate Websites and Resources for Belgium

FAWCO (Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas), www.fawco.org, is an international network to support American women living abroad with over 70 member clubs worldwide, including Belgium:
American Women's Club of Antwerp
The American Women's Club of Brussels

A-Z in Belgium, www.a-z.be/belgium.html, provides useful links to information and resources about Belgium.

Escape Artist, www.escapeartist.com, a site mostly dedicated to off-shore investments and retirement havens, provides useful information for expatriates in Belgium.

Expat Blog, www.expat-blog.com, is a worldwide directory of blogs related to expatriate life, with listings for Belgium.

Expatriate Online, www.expat-online.com, is a site dedicated to providing information about living in Belgium for the potential expatriate and those who live here. Site includes a forum, business directory, club and events listings plus tourist information.

Expat Exchange, www.expatexchange.com, provides a wealth of resources and articles, as well as a forum.The site has a few useful articles and links about Belgium.

Expat Focus, www.expatfocus.com, provides information and resources for expatriates for a large number of countries, including Belgium. The website also host forums and blogs for expats.

Expatriates.com, www.expatriates.com, an online community for expatriates, has a section on Belgium, with classified ads, links, and a bulletin board.

Focus Career Services, www.focusbelgium.org, is a non-profit career and education service center for Belgium's international community.

Going Global, http://www.goinglobal.com, is a resource center for global careers, providing Career Guides for numerous countries, including Belgium.

Meetup, www.meetup.com, lists group meetings in cities around the world to help bring people with common interests together and promote the development of active local communities. Check out the Belgium section, listing groups all over the country.

Newcomers Club Worldwide Directories, www.newcomersclub.com, is a worldwide directory of newcomers clubs for newly arrived expatriates, including Belgium.

Tales from a Small Planet, www.talesmag.com, is a webzine with news, stories, links, excellent message boards, and other resources for travelers and expatriates; The Belgium section features "Real Post Reports" by expatriates , as well as useful links.

BritishExpats.com, britishexpats.com, is a website dedicated to British expats around the world, including a general forum on Europe.

British Expat, www.britishexpat.com, is a site for British citizens living abroad, featuring a British Expat Forum, with a section on Belgium.

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 Government and International Organizations in Belgium

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, www.diplomatie.be, is responsible for Belgian foreign affairs.

Belgium Federal Portal, www.belgium.be, is the Belgian Federal Government Portal.

European Union - Delegation of the European Commission to the United States, www.eurunion.org; 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037; Tel: (202) 862-9500; Fax: (202) 429-1766.

European Union Website, europa.eu.int

European Governments Online, europa.eu.int, provides useful links to government websites for all member countries, including Belgium.

Eurostat, europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat, is the EU's statistical office, providing statistical information on all aspects of the EU.

Permanent Mission of Belgium to the United Nations, www.diplomatie.be/newyorkun, provides general information about culture, politics and the economy, as well as a variety of useful links, or visit the United Nations web portal at www.un.org/english/ or www.un.int.

CanadaEuropa, www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca, is the website of the European Bureau of Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC), with a section on Belgium.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, www.customs.gov, provides useful information on its Travel Spotlight page about customs regulations when leaving and entering the U.S.

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 Housing and Real Estate in Belgium

Escape Artist, www.escapeartist.com, has an extensive International Real Estate Listing, including Belgium.

EPN—Euro Property Network, www.europropertynet.com, has property listings for several countries in Europe, including Belgium.

International Real Estate Digest, www.ired.com, provides international real estate listings, including a section on Belgium.

International Real Estate Directory, www.internationalrealestatedirectory.com, has worldwide real estate listings, including Belgium.

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 News and Media in Belgium

Kidon Media Link , www.kidon.com, an online directory of world newspapers and news media, has an extensive listing of news media in Belgium.

Live-radio.net, www.live-radio.net/info.shtml, provides continuously updated links to thousands of online radio stations worldwide, including Belgium.

Online Newspapers, www.onlinenewspapers.com, lists over 1000 links to online newspapers worldwide, including Belgium.

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 Recommended Reading on Belgium
Lonely Planet Belgium & Luxembourg
Frommer's Belgium, Holland & Luxembourg
The Rough Guide to Belgium & Luxembourg
Michelin Green Guide Belgium/Luxembourg
Insight Guides Belgium
Fodor's Belgium
Culture Smart! Belgium: A Quick Guide to Customs & Etiquette
Culture Shock! Belgium
Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels 2007
Rick Steves' France, Belgium, and the Netherlands 2002

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 Travel Information on Belgium

All Travel Belgium, www.alltravelbelgium.com, provides plenty of information for travelers in Belgium.

Visit Beligum, www.visitbelgium.com, is the official website of the Belgian Tourist Office.

Belgian Tourist Office for US and Canada: 220 East 42nd Street, Suite 3402, New York, NY 10017; Tel: (212) 758-8130; Fax: (212) 355-7675; info@visitbelgium.com.

Belgian Tourist Office London, www.belgiumtheplaceto.be; 217 Marsh Wall, London  E14 9FJ, UK; Tel: 0800 9545 245, Fax: 020 7531 0393; info@belgiumtheplaceto.be.

About.com, in its Travel Section, provides useful articles, links and travel information for a large number of countries, including Belgium.

WorldTravelGuide.net, worldtravelguide.net, provides general information for destinations worldwide, including Belgium, with travel destinations, visa requirements, flights and hotel information.

Lonely Planet Worldguide, www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations, provides a lot of useful travel information. check out the link for Belgium.

Rough Guides Destinations, travel.roughguides.com/destinationshome.html, offer a lot of useful travel advice and information for most countries, including Belgium.

Trotty.com, www.trotty.com, in its Europe section, provides useful links and resources for travelers, with a section on Belgium.

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Lonely Planet Belgium & Luxembourg
Rough Guide to Belgium & Luxembourg
Michelin Belgium
Frommer's Belgium, Holland & Luxembourg
Rick Steves' Brussels
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