Moving to Antwerp

[Dizzy08]

Can anyone tell me anything about it? DH has been offered a job there and it looks likely we will be moving in three months time. We currently live in the north of the UK.

What are the best areas to live with an 18month old? I’m worried that we’ll have to live in an apartment with the (€1,500) budget we have and I’m really worried about not having outside space for my little boy.

I’m concerned it may take a long time to find work for me as I don’t speak Dutch and therefore I want to make sure where we live is nice and there is plenty to do.. but will also need to be close to one of the international preschools and ideally a gym with a pool as I’d like to at least work on my fitness while out of work!

The contract will be at least three years so we really want to get it right in terms of where we live, but I fear my DH isn’t being realistic wth ideas of living right in the centre so we can go out and socialize.. I swear sometimes he forgets we have a toddler and no family support out there for babysitting!!

Any help would be great! I’m quite overwhelmed by all the reading I’ve been doing, so some real life experiences would be really helpful.

(DHs job will be based in wilrijk)

Thank you imarriedaniceman and amyboo (no I was not aware-how did you know? Anyway thanks for telling me)

Yes Nlds I will do that - thanks for the job seeking advice.

I think we’ve an idea on preschool and where we’d like to live so I’ll have a look what private crèches are in the area. Thanks

Just to diffuse the thread a bit, I think life/cannot is a bit battle weary. People usually open Belgian (or at least Brussels) threads with fixed ideas of where they want to live, places that are often highly impractical with a young family. They then sometimes proceed to not listening to any advice given. She also has a lot of information to give so makes her comments concise.

Op Just be aware that crèches in Belgium are often very different to what you'd expect in the U.K. A lot of people get quite a shock with the numbers (1:9 with babies is legal!). Also there aren't the baby/toddler groups and classes that you have in the U.K. because the system is based on short maternity leave and mothers back in work so the support network isn't the same if you're not working and your child is at home, even part time.

That's not to say it's bad, it's just very different. I don't know Antwerp other than the shops but I spend a lot of time with mums with little ones and we've all had a shock! Better to be prepared.

OP even with HM Forces taking care of the schooling and all the admin crap in moving to Belgium back in 06, it was still a culture shock as things were so different; and even now after 12 years, it still is a times. As LT says.Life knows her stuff, and is worth listening to.

It isn't a case here of what you want, but how the system works and what you can achieve within that.