Miranda(41)

I was an assistant professor at the University of Groningen, specializing in multilingualism. When the Université de Liège advertised a tenure-track position in exactly my field, I knew this opportunity was unique. The salary was comparable, but the research budget was more generous. After a four-month application process I received the appointment.

Moving to Wallonia as a Dutch speaker is a different story than Flanders. In Liège virtually nobody speaks Dutch — French is the only working language. My basic French from secondary school was completely insufficient. I started with an intensive course at Alliance Française Liège and took private lessons. After six months I could manage; after a year I was chairing meetings in French.

Registration at the Liège municipality (Ville de Liège) was more chaotic than in Flanders. Officials only speak French, forms are in French, and the system is Walloon — slightly different from the Flemish one. I got help from a colleague who knew the process. After the contrôle de résidence (neighborhood check) I received my eID and rijksregisternummer.

Living in Liège is dirt cheap compared to Groningen. I rent a spacious apartment in the Carré (the historic center) for €650 per month. The city has a raw charm — it's no Bruges or Ghent, but the Walloon lifestyle is infectious. The La Batte market on Sundays is the largest in Belgium, and the boulets à la liégeoise are a culinary highlight.

The Walloon healthcare system works the same as Flanders regarding mutualiteit, but the payment actors are different. I chose Mutualité Socialiste. The co-payment system is identical: you pay upfront at the doctor and receive partial reimbursement. What stands out is that waiting times in Wallonia are sometimes longer than in Flanders, but still shorter than in the Netherlands.

My advice to Dutch people considering Wallonia: invest seriously in your French before the move. Otherwise you'll be isolated. Walloons are warm but expect you to speak their language — it's a matter of respect. And don't underestimate Liège as a city: it has vibrant nightlife, a strong university and an affordability that's unthinkable in the Netherlands.