Moving to Brussels - schools and so on

[Wonderdaddy]

Hi - new here and as the username suggests not a mum!

Starting in Brussels with a toddler (just coming up to two) over the next few months. I've followed the threads with the great advice from Portofino, Natation, and others and I'd really appreciate any thoughts on the following configuration of facts and wishful thinking:

• one of us working in the European district, other not working (to start with at least)
• may be able to get a place in a European school - not sure which one - but leaning at the moment towards enrolling ds in the Belgian system long-term
• One of us is good at French the other could get good. But mother tongue is English. I would be open to starting ds in the Dutch system but a bit concerned that our not having Dutch (initially) would make it hard for us to support him.
• have had a look around the south/east of Brussels and quite liked the stockel area and wsp - seems child-safe with good facilities and transport but not "city centre".
• house and garden rather than flat/apartment. Three may become four.
• long-term move, and my priority is finding somewhere to live where ds and dp have the best possible chance of integrating/meeting new people.

I've seen a lot of nice houses on the immoweb/immo.vlan sites but the same ones seem to be there a couple of months later so I haven't a great feel for what's on offer. Would not like to be spending more than ?1500pm on rent after negotiations etc.

Bit of a tall order obviously - not expecting a miracle answer but any thoughts or hints anyone might have would be great. We will have a little time before ds gets to the maternelle cycle I think but maybe the pressure on places is really high in the kind of areas I would like to live so... well any thoughts appreciated!

hello everyone i read through the thread and loved it,am in same shoes with wonder daddy....kinda new here in belgium and dont speak the language

my question is mainly on knowing the benefits of enrolling a child in european sch.over local schools...trying to see if i get a place too for my almost 2years old
thanks in advance

European school doesn't start until 4 years old, so you don't get that option for another 2 years.

A great proportion of children at European school who are born here do maternelle in French before moving. Some don't move until secondaire. Some never end up moving at all.

joyanos, I presume either you or your spouse/partner work at one of the EU institutions. If you don't, it's pretty much impossible to get your child in otherwise. If you do then it's not an easy decision to make just like that. There are advantages to both systems and I would say it depends on how long you are going to be here, whether or not you want to try and integrate with the locals etc. If you join the BCT, as suggested on another thread, they have a schools network you can sign up to and go to their meetings for advice.

Appalling grammar in that post. Sorry!

quite understadable longtime...thanks for all your comments ladies, i've really gotten a clearer picture of what i think best for the kids

i think starting locally will be ideal now, for the main time...cos we plan staying

Natation and whoever is alive still on this old thread… I need your advice.

Natation, having read your posts on moving to brussels I think you are really a godsend We lived in Bruxelles for seven years and then moved to Florence, Italy for another 6. We are planning to move back to Bruxelles and are trying to decide whether to move to the UK and live in Richmond or Kingston Areas near the German School there or in Bruxelles near the G school in Wezembeck O.

For me particularly the downer in Bruxelles is that my kids would be …well… floating a bit whereas in the UK I can give em more of a local tether and we will be more connected to the people and find a friendly lot at work ( am a UK Solicitor as well). But the downside is the cost of living. My husband would prefer living in Bruxelles and owning a house he could be proud of.

!. Is wezembeek O a real German enclave? I have a horror of expat groups who do not integrate and sort of become a little less themselves.

1. What are the main areas - is it Tervuren and WSP and WSL that are close and accessible to German school in mornign traffic?

1. we would liek to stay 'central' in Brussels but dunno if there is a school bus for the kids from say Ixelles or Uccle or Tervuren.

I am a little anxious that I will feel too marginalised again and not make friends among down-to.earth English speakers which I need and not be able to feel at HOME cos this is where we would like to live for the foreseeable future.

Any advice is appreciated and I will definitely help out as well if I can return the favour. I hav realised the importance of being a mum in a connected city versus Florence, where despite it being a walk-in museum there is nothing 'real' here nor enough vibrance, enough English stuff and really I do not wish to get involved with the expat Americans over here. So yes, need good girlfriends and am not sure how I should weigh Bruxelles against Richmond so …. let me know your thoughts. My kids a re aged 4 plus and 8 plus.

Gaya

Wezembeek-Oppem, whilst it has a high non Belgian population, perhaps 40%, is in no way a German enclave, since the British school and American military school are both nearby too, plus lots of European school children. The German community is far more dispersed than the British community attending BSB. The 2 German churches are in WSP. I really don't hear much German spoken around, they are very quiet!

The German school is a walk from the 39 tram stop, I'd be looking to live on the 39 line or indeed within walking distance.

Ixelles to German school is not a good idea. Uccle is not central, Tervuren is a sleepy commuter village full of Brits. I'd stick to WSP/Wezembeek/Kraainem.

Brussels is 40% non Belgian. The non Belgians indeed find it difficult to make friendships with Belgians who have often very close families and the weekends are spend visiting families, no time for international friends. So you may well end up having mainly non Belgian friends, but of many nationalities.

For me the maths would be really important. You can get a lovely 4 bed house for under 2000 euro per month in the areas stated, I somehow don't think you could get more than a 2 bed flat in Richmond for that price.

Great thread and if any of you are still following it I'd also love some advice on schools.

I live in Uccle and have two places for 1er mat for my daughter.

They're Montjoie IMMI and Petit Ponies. One is right near my house (MJ) and the other about 2 km away (PP).

Have a gut feel preference for PP but it's a much harder journey.

Have been finding it very hard to get opinions on either school and hoping someone here can provide some insight or connect me with someone who can help.

May thanks