Fleur(28)

After four years in Rotterdam I was ready for something different. I loved the city, but rents were ridiculous — €1,350 for a one-bedroom apartment in Zuid. When I spotted a marketing manager position at a fashion brand in Antwerp on LinkedIn, I applied on impulse. Three weeks later I had a contract.

The first step was registration at the Antwerp municipality, district Borgerhout. As an EU citizen the process is relatively simple: you go to the Civil Affairs desk with your employment contract, rental agreement and passport. After the neighborhood check — an officer comes by to confirm you live there — you get your annex 8, and later your Belgian eID.

What surprised me was the difference in net salary. In Belgium the gross-to-net ratio differs from the Netherlands: social contributions are higher, but in return you get meal vouchers (about €160 tax-free per month), a 13th month salary is standard, and the employer often arranges hospitalization insurance. On balance I earn slightly less net, but the benefits more than compensate.

Living in Antwerp is significantly cheaper than Rotterdam. I rent a spacious apartment in the Eilandje — the trendy harbor area — for €950 inclusive. In Rotterdam I paid more for fewer square meters. Delhaize and Colruyt are comparable in price to Albert Heijn, but Belgian beer and chocolate are naturally dirt cheap.

Socially I found connections quickly. Antwerp has a large Dutch community, and Belgians are open to Dutch people — though you need to tone down your directness a bit. I joined a running group that trains in Rivierenhof park, and through colleagues I discovered Antwerp's nightlife scene. The Kaaien on Friday evenings are fantastic.

My biggest tip: open a Belgian bank account at KBC or BNP Paribas Fortis immediately. You need it for domiciliëring (direct debit) of rent and utilities. And don't forget to join a mutualiteit within three months — otherwise you have no health insurance. I chose Partena, which was fully online.