- How do I go about getting a landline into the house - in the UK normally I've gone onto the Internet to join a company or call them. But I will have no Internet or landline until I get them - chicken and egg! Is there any good packages? I intend to do minimal voice calling, and instead use Skype once I have got broadband.
Landline with either Belgacom or Telenet. You can choose before moving and set a date for installation once you've moved, I'd do it at least a month before moving date. Just put down a hotmail/yahoo account and mobile number for contact. You can pick up internet at various places around Brussels before moving, to contact Belgacom or Telenet before moving. You will get BBC1 and BBC2 and lots of English news channels with both company's basic packages, get ITV and other BBC channels with more expensive packages. Pretty similar pricing really, look for special offers.
www.wezembeek-oppem.be/fr/themes/habiter-et-construire/entreprises-dutilite-publique/telephonie,-internet-et-television.html
- Regarding TV - can I bring my Freesat box and is the TV signal off a TV aerial or cable?
Yes you can bring your freesat box, TV signal is from cable, or satellite or use a sling box - for that option I am completely ignorant but there is Benelux mumsnetter who uses this method, if you join our closed group - just send me a pm.
- What modifications will I need to make to my UK car if I bring it over and how quickly will they need to be done - is there a grace period? Is it better getting European Insurance from my current Tesco insurer or should I get it from some Belgian company?
You officially have 6 months to re-plate, if you are going to be residents. Your usual insurer will probably only insure a maximum of 90 consecutive days outside the UK even with extended EU cover (no you can't pop back every 90 days either). There is a specialist insurer called Stuart Collins which will sell you a 365 day policy with Axa and it's the only policy I know you can buy in the UK which covers a UK car which is living 365 days in Belgium or any other EU country. Expect twice usual UK insurance cost for this Axa policy, if you want to take you chance at not getting caught by Belgian Customs or Police and not re-plating - get caught and you will 100% be fined and made to re-plate and backdate it to beginning of year, so don't get caught in December either! To re-plate, well it's a small hassle. Biggest cost will be Belgian insurance, again several mumsnetters can recommend brokers here to find you the cheapest policy, expect 3 times UK cost of your insurance, throw a party if it works out less than that. If your car is very new, you might have a switch that adjusts the lights immediately, in which case no modifications are necessary. If you don't have a switch, look on ebay or similar for left hand lights for your car. Ours cost around 200 euro and we paid someone 50 euro to fit them, but you can do this yourself. Look up the cost of road tax too, it can be less than 100 euro or more than 2000 euro per year. What car do you have and what engine and fuel is it? I can tell you the cost if you say this information. This might really put you off bringing your car, or you might be pleasantly surprised and it cost less than the UK.
- I know there is lots about schools on this forum, but does anybody have personal experiences of either BSB or St Paul's - if so what were they like. Good value for the money or not?
They 2 totally different schools, similar pricing, impossible to compare. Are you paying yourself? There are also other English alternatives. How old are your children and how long will you be here for MINIMUM and possibility of extending too? A local school might be as suitable and has also advantages. There are lots of extra-curriculars at St Paul's and also BSB open to non students, so keeping up English and attending a local school is easy peasy here. Wezembeek-Oppem has 3 excellent local French schools and an excellent local Dutch school, but Wezembeek is around 80% French speaking overall.
- I want to join the boys into a football club - is there any around that are cheap!
Lots around, in English, French and Dutch, from as little as 100 euro per year or 300 euro per year, depends on level of intensity and age group.
- I intend to be travelling back to the UK to Warwick at every School holiday with the family - what are the cheapest/best modes of travel?
It depends on how many adults and the ages of the children. Under 4s free with Eurostar. Usually a family group of 2 adults and 2 children over 4 will be cheaper by ferry/tunnel by car. 1 adult and 1 child might just be cheaper by train.
Finally, I am being very pedantic, Wezembeek-Oppem is not in Brussels. It's a commune/gemeente in the province of Vlaams Brabant which has special "facilities" for French speakers as it is an officially Dutch speaking area. But in practical terms, the area of Wezembeek west of the ring road at least feels very much like it is in Brussels. Don't dare call it Brussels to any right-wing Flemish political party member.