This post is a follow up to my recent post about a Belgian family who moved from the town of Hoeselt (about 15 min. south of where we live) to the Houston suburb of Kingswood, Texas.
Since our situation is similar to theirs, you may curious what we think of living in Belgium. Or maybe not. So far, not too many people have asked this question!
We moved exactly 5 years ago (Jul/Aug 2009) from Jefferson, Texas to Hasselt, Belgium. Before that, we had never lived more than 2 hours from where we grew up in Louisiana.
Jim is the Site Manager for Norbord Genk which produces OSB (oriented strand board).
We moved exactly 5 years ago (Jul/Aug 2009) from Jefferson, Texas to Hasselt, Belgium. Before that, we had never lived more than 2 hours from where we grew up in Louisiana.
Jim is the Site Manager for Norbord Genk which produces OSB (oriented strand board).
What differences do you find in the workplace?
- taxes are twice what they are in the U.S. - half of a person's salary goes to taxes
- employees don't worry as much about losing their job because
(1) they will just get another job because wages are pretty flat for most people making one job the same as another; and
(2) there is a strong social safety net making them confident they will be provided for because they pay into the system (tax dollars at work) - the good thing is that the government is trying to change that to keep people working
- hourly workers have little incentive to work overtime due to the high taxes - overtime is discouraged by the government
- the standard work week is 38.5 hours
- vacation time is government mandated and is taken very seriously - not so much as an entitlement, but as part of the culture
Note:
Americans work about 50% more than Europeans. Belgians enjoy a standard minimum of 20 days vacation and 10 public holidays (that's 6 weeks per year!) By comparison, Americans have 10 public holidays and are not guaranteed a vacation by the government; and just for the record, the French enjoy a 30 day minimum vacation plus 10 public holidays (that's 8 weeks per year!). Ooh la la.
Americans think working more shows commitment and dedication. In Europe, it's not the same. Jobs are more secure here, because in Europe, an employer can't just fire you. Labor unions are very powerful. The system is complicated (because everything in Belgium is complicated :), but if an employee is terminated, it can take months before the employee is actually gone and the employer will pay a hefty severance as well.
- taxes are twice what they are in the U.S. - half of a person's salary goes to taxes
- employees don't worry as much about losing their job because
(1) they will just get another job because wages are pretty flat for most people making one job the same as another; and
(2) there is a strong social safety net making them confident they will be provided for because they pay into the system (tax dollars at work) - the good thing is that the government is trying to change that to keep people working
- hourly workers have little incentive to work overtime due to the high taxes - overtime is discouraged by the government
- the standard work week is 38.5 hours
- vacation time is government mandated and is taken very seriously - not so much as an entitlement, but as part of the culture
Note:
Americans work about 50% more than Europeans. Belgians enjoy a standard minimum of 20 days vacation and 10 public holidays (that's 6 weeks per year!) By comparison, Americans have 10 public holidays and are not guaranteed a vacation by the government; and just for the record, the French enjoy a 30 day minimum vacation plus 10 public holidays (that's 8 weeks per year!). Ooh la la.
Americans think working more shows commitment and dedication. In Europe, it's not the same. Jobs are more secure here, because in Europe, an employer can't just fire you. Labor unions are very powerful. The system is complicated (because everything in Belgium is complicated :), but if an employee is terminated, it can take months before the employee is actually gone and the employer will pay a hefty severance as well.
What should I know about Belgium?
- the population density changes everything - it's like the size of Dallas metro with twice as many people
- the country is very small - if you drive about 2 hours you are out of Belgium and into another country
- it is very easy to survive without a car - public transportation throughout Europe is extensive
- in every neighborhood, it is possible to walk or bike for all your needs - food, doctor, pharmacy, bank
- the access to safely walk and bike everywhere is also extensive - sidewalks and bike lanes are commonplace
- bathrooms are few and far between, they are NOT free, and are often a sobriety test away (downstairs, upstairs, winding staircase :)
- Belgians follow our politics more than we do
What keeps Belgians busy?
- they spend a lot of time at home and with family
- for entertainment, they like to spend time at the cafe'
- they are very active in biking, hiking, walking, all outdoor activities
What can you not do as an American in Belgium?
- it is very difficult to go hunting, fishing - guns are basically not permitted and fishing is very limited
- Belgians are not patriotic - they associate with their own province (similar to a state in the U.S.) and their own city, but not the country as a whole
- most Belgians would probably recognize the American national anthem before their own
Is living in Belgium more expensive?
- short answer - YES!
- there is a 21% sales tax on nearly everything
- gasoline is 3 times the price as in the U.S. (about $9.00 per gallon)
- food, drink, rent, utilities - basic living expenses are 2 to 3 times higher
- one bright spot - mobile internet is cheaper :)
- education costs are lower due to it being government-sponsored (tax dollars at work)
Note:
Education is very different and very important; most Belgians are well educated and students study much more here than in the U.S.; each year-long class will usually hinge on one test at the end, and making an "A" is nearly impossible.
What do Belgians associate with Americans?
- guns, the death penalty, obesity
What are typical Belgian expressions?
- Alles goed? (Dutch) or Ca va? (French) meaning "Is everything okay?"
- Alstublieft! used to mean quite a few things - like "Please" and "Here you go"
- Alstublieft! used to mean quite a few things - like "Please" and "Here you go"
What is a typical dish?
- mussels (shellfish), videe (creamy chicken dish), stofvlees (beef and gravy stew) all served with fries
- waffles
- kebap - a Turkish invention of shaved meat with vegetables either in a sandwich or a wrap (my personal favorite :)
How religious are Belgians?
- most everyone is Catholic although we've never met anyone who attends church - an estimated 10% of Belgians attend church at Christmas only
- the large churches in every city are mainly tourist attractions - some have even been turned into hotels and restaurants
What annoys you in Belgium and/or about Belgians?
- the lack of flexibility - it is a very structured society
- most Belgians don't feel they have much influence or control over their politics - their vote doesn't count due to there being too many different parties, languages . . .
Although this question was not asked of the Belgian family in Texas, I wish it had been . . .
What do you like about living in Belgium?
- there are many beautiful places to see in Belgium and being centrally located makes it easy and not too expensive to see much of Europe
- the weather is wet, but we've gotten used to it for the most part and in general, winters are summers are mild
- it has to be one of the greenest places in the world - gardens, forests and agricultural land are picture perfect due to the amount of consistent rainfall
- it's so different from what we've experienced living in the Southern U.S. - nearly 10 times more people per square mile so that changes everything - not good or bad, just nice to experience the difference
This is so fun to read! And interesting as well. I always wonder how Americans perceive Belgium and the Belgian people :-) Looks to me like you're pretty spot on about most things. (I'm from Belgium, but I live in Switzerland)
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