Youssef(39)

I taught economics at a secondary school in Rotterdam-Zuid for eight years. Classes were large (30 students), workload enormous and salary disappointing. When I heard about the European Schools in Brussels — schools for children of EU officials with excellent employment conditions — I applied through the secondment system.

The European School in Laken hired me as a seconded teacher. This means I'm sent by the Dutch Ministry of Education but work in Brussels. The salary is higher than in the Netherlands (EU scale), I receive an expat allowance and a relocation allowance. Classes are smaller (maximum 24 students) and multilingual — I teach in Dutch to an international group.

Registration at the municipality of Schaarbeek (Schaerbeek) went standard. Rijksregisternummer, eID, mutualiteit — the familiar checklist. As a seconded employee of an international organization I fall under a special tax regime, similar to but not identical to EU officials. My accountant helped me through the fiscal maze.

Living in Schaarbeek is affordable and lively. The neighborhood is multicultural — Turkish bakeries, Moroccan spice shops, African restaurants — and reminds me of Rotterdam-West. I rent a spacious apartment for €850 per month, near Josaphatpark. School is ten minutes by bike — no comparison with my hour-long commute in Rotterdam.

What struck me most about the Belgian education system: the appreciation for teachers is greater. Parents are more respectful, administrative burden is lower and there's more room for personal development. At the European School I regularly receive professional development training abroad — something unthinkable in Dutch education.

My tip for Dutch teachers: look at the European Schools if you're ready for a change. The application process runs through the ministry, employment conditions are excellent and the international experience is priceless. And Brussels as a city to live in is more dynamic than you expect — it's not a boring civil servant city, but a vibrant metropolis.