Tervuren, Belgium - buying property

[malteserinbelgium]

we're looking to buy a property in Tervuren, Belgium but we never seem to be sure whether an area is decent or not.

does anyone have any tips on where we could get more 'real' advice?

Tervuren has that mix of Dutch speaking Belgian residents, foreign residents who do tend to send their children either to European schools or the international schools and a minority who make use of the local schools, then the probably increasing numbers of French speaking Belgian residents who are moving further out simply because east Brussels communes are so expensive to buy property in. I did find the figures somewhere on the internet showing the breakdown of native Dutch speakers in Tervuren, from what I remember, it's somewhere around only 60% and decreasing.

The Dutch speaking gemeente of Tervuren is therefore a bit more protective than the neighbouring Woluwe St Pierre commune, where at the maison communale I have heard many languages being spoken by the staff - definitely less of a hang-up about using only the official French or Dutch there, a far more pragmatic approach. Woluwe St Pierre has an equally large non Belgian population, but there you have French and Dutch as equal status, perhaps that is what makes the major difference in attitudes between the communes.

thank you all for your input.

now the search for the school begins

I wouldn't mind learning Dutch ... but it will all be just one big confusion in my head ... it would be my 6th language (speaking Maltese, English, French, Italian and Spanish) and it looks as if my brains are telling me to stop inputting data in it

IF looking for a school for September, there are 5 weeks before the end of term, for French schools, you may be very limited as most people have enrolled months ago. I wish you all the luck possible.

not exactly for September, cos DD will be 2.5 in November. So it' either for the 1e maternelle or the 2e maternelle... she currently goes to the creche, so she can stay there for a while longer.

2.5 in November is classe d'acceuil if you want her to start straightaway or any time before June 2012. You should find places at Joli-Bois and Stockel, perhaps a waiting list at SC de Stockel, they are your nearest 3 French schools. At all these schools you can start the day of 2.5 if toilet trained (or almost). If you decide November, it is important to check your creche contract and give notice according to the contract.

has anyone heard of College St Jean @ parmentier parc? is it any good?

Yes it's a lovely school, small with only 12 classrooms, building is in an appalling condition as you can see from the outside, classrooms very very small, you have to go outside for the toilet even, but very popular and the schools takes great advantage of its setting in Parc Parmentier. It's a bit further commute than Stockel and Joli-Bois area schools, but very convenient if you commute further into Brussels for work along Ave de Tervuren. You may find no space in the school in acceuil, don't know anyone who has applied for acceuil there this year.

is it a good school though? we have enrolled our daughter there to start next year as it's mid way between work & future house.

I don't think for a 2.5 year old "good" is necessarily the most important factor, if you mean academically. All the children I know who have gone there have parents who are pleased with the school. It has some really good plus factors, such as beautiful surroundings, a wednesday afternoon garderie where the children actually do activities (Stations Plein Air Parmentier). Really do not worry, if it's your most convenient school, see this as another plus point.

true but since this school also has a primary & secondary, i would like to know whether the whole College is good enough

College Jean 23 is good but not known as the highest academically in the area. The most sought after academically are St Michel, Sacré-Coeur de Lindhout, Dames de Marie, Jean Absil, College Don Bosco, Mater Dei. The secondary schools admissions procedures have changed significantly 3 times in 4 years, in the last 2 years, based on priority (siblings or "adosssée" primaire) and then on geography between home, primaire and secondaire. IF this system stays for the next 10 years and is relevant for your child, your child will get priority for Jean 23 into secondaire from either of the Jean 23 primaires, if another secondaire is chosen, you will get more points if your child goes to the nearest primaire, the primaire is nearest to your secondaire.

But I think it is too early to choose a maternelle based on the future in 10 years. If Jean 23 is on your way to work and you like it and think it's the best school you've seen, then just go for it. Change primaire later, if necessary to optimise secondaire.

Jean 23 Parmentier is a fondamentale, there is no separate primaire, with just 12 classes, I would expect everyone knows everyone there.

It might be worth asking the head the breakdown of which secondaires last years and this years 6e primaire students chose, if you wish to know how academically high the primaire classes are.