At the crossroads of Western Europe, Belgium is less than a thousand miles from Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam, a geographical idiosyncrasy gloriously evident in the cuisine. French fries are actually a Belgian invention and if you haven't had a bowl of mussels with French fries (moules et frites) you haven't lived.
What better way to wash down a meal than with a Belgian beer? Unique to Belgium, the brewing process perfected by monks was carefully preserved. Only ten of the actual monasteries survived but those that did not handed their secret onto local brewers, resulting in hundreds of Abbey Beers to choose from.
If you're into drinking on an empty stomach try this experiment - look at a map and link Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent and Leuven - you can see they are a short distance from each other. And there are more clubs, cafes and restaurants per square mile in this area than in Ibiza. When you wake up in the morning you might want to kick things off with a waffle, preferably slathered with Belgian chocolate, arguably the best in the world.
Belgium is renowned for having one of the best healthcare systems in Europe. GPs may be linked to a private practice, clinic or hospital; who you register with is entirely up to you. Similarly you can arrange to see a specialist of your choice at any hospital. In an emergency you can dial 100 or 112 for an ambulance or admit yourself to A and E for immediate treatment.
Health insurance covers both the policy holder and any dependents - to benefit you will need to join a fund mutuelle or ziekenfonds. Comprehensive though this cover may be, don't forget to take cash when you visit a GP, especially if you use an international practice in Brussels or one of the other larger cities.
Opening a current account in Belgium is easy. All you need is a valid passport, a signed and completed application form and proof of address. You can also open an account online and some banks permit visitors to set one up before they arrive in Belgium.
Once established it can take a fortnight before the debit card, PIN and passwords come through the post. Bank statements are sent out monthly, but it's possible to increase their frequency by paying a small fee.
It's easy to find accommodation in Belgium - there is the usual gap between prices in major, urban centers and the more rural districts but prices are, on average, lower in comparison with other European countries.
The standard lease for a rental property is between three and nine years, with deposits usually the equivalent of three months' rent. You may lose part of your deposit if you end the contract within the first three years. If you're considering a short term stay you'd be better off considering a hotel, youth hostel or B&B
The tenant is responsible for minor repairs and maintenance. It's always a good idea to check which utilities are included in the lease - Fire insurance is obligatory.
Belgium has a highly developed road network, the densest in the world. Modern marvels like the Wallonia Motorway are fed by regional expressways, threading the countryside to converge at Brussels. There are no tolls but traffic jams are a problem; public transport is a good option at rush hour.
NMBS/SNCB:
Belgium's rail provider: http://www.b-rail.be/main/N/
De lijn:
Belgium's bus company: http://www.delijn.be/
MIVB/STIB:
The Belgian Tram network: http://www.mivb.be/
