Advice for moving abroad within work

[BiddyPop]

Hi all,

I got word last week that I am going to Brussels to fill a post for our organisation over there for 3.5 years (out of cycle going out due to unexpected changes there, but coming back at normal return time of end July).

As DD is in final year of secondary school with Leaving Cert in June (A level equivalent? Exams to get into uni), DH will stay here with her and I will go solo.

So I need to furnish a 2 bed flat but leave our house here very liveable . (I see a big ikea run in the next few weeks!).

Because it's "off cycle", the normal training schemes (and getting to know others going and share advice and experience) can't happen.

And it's to cover an area I did 20 years ago but need to brush up in big time before I go, and create a whole new network of contacts as all my old ones have moved on or retired.

But I will get there for a couple of meetings before actually moving so can open a bank account etc and start the bureaucracy early.

Basically I am looking for advice on:
What to bring with me
Moving overseas for work and starting anew
How to manage being solo away
Any useful knowledge on living in Brussels - bureaucracy, groceries (I've never found a large supermarket only local shops in all my previous visits), fun places to go in the city when living there or easy trips I can make from the city (day or weekend) as a single person.
Good or bad companies for utilities or services

Or basically anything else that would be useful to know.

As the off-cycle reason means I need to be there much quicker than the usual 4-5 month planning time - I have 7 weeks!

Thanks in advance

Biddy

They are organising the security clearances etc and will book/pay for removals. But if you're not in our FCO equivalent, you can't access the internet with the advice etc and because it's off cycle, the training has all been done for the year. They've said they'll do some - but I have an unmanned email box as a contact, no one I can phone. And colleagues already there are in the think of autumn restart in the EU Commission's last year so it's frantic.

I am talking to my colleagues but there is a lot to figure out in a hurry.

Other Govt Depts are left to do a lot themselves and as it's so rushed, I'm just asking for others experience.

It's silly things - like I was thinking on the train should I bring my decent hair dryer and GHD with UK plugs, to use with adaptions - or would those heavy power using appliance blow the adapters so I should buy new locally?

Any chance of a serviced apartment until the start of the next cycle? Sounds like you're not going to have much time to plan and organise along with getting up to scratch in your new role.
Any chance of reaching out on LinkedIn to meet some people whilst your there? Brussels isn't far so cheap flights and maybe meet DH & DD in Paris, Amsterdam etc so it's not all bad for them.

Hairdryers etc are fine. Best tip, take a couple of British multiblocks with a European adaptor. Buy adaptors in pound land, they're really expensive abroad. But check adaptors carefully, there are 2 sorts of EU ones. German ones have an Earth on the side and slightly thicker pins so won't work in France. Some French ones (e.g. in bathrooms) have the earth as a middle prong sticking out of the socket so make sure there's at least a hole in the adaptor. Can you tell I've done this before?

Otherwise, try not to worry. You can buy everything there so don't try to take too much. You can bring a suitcase every time you go home. The first 3 months will be chaos whatever you do so just roll with it and do your best not to get stressed.

Join the local British/American/international (women’s) club. You can join all of them - you don’t need to be the specific nationality. They will be welcoming, friendly and have useful local knowledge and advice.

Don’t overthink things. Take the stuff you know you will need to use on a daily basis. PP’s idea re a serviced apartment is a good one as an interim measure. Could you delay the big move until your family joins you? That way you can scope out areas, understand the housing market better and have time to settle in without endless visits to Ikea.

When I moved around a lot, we always used to spend the first 2-3 months in serviced apartments (that was usually due to the time it took to move our household), but I think a longer period would be great as you’re on your own.

@BiddyPop I have a ton of info I can help you with on this - please PM me as I’m rushing around right now.

I”m currently living at home while DH is on a posting in what may well be the same company.

Is DH going to join you in the summer? Or will you need 2 permanently furnished houses?

Can you rent furnished in Belgium? That would be my first suggestion (we rented abroad - and furnished came with bedding, plates, pans etc it was a very easy start, and have us time to buy what we wanted). If you aren't taking furniture, get excess luggage or courier for an extra few cases.

Get on the Two Fat Expats group on Facebook - there will be somebody on there who is living there and can help - it's a really lovely group

Thanks all for this so far, I'll absorb properly at home (day job is quite busy!) but forms are in and clarity on expectations around setting a start date (1 new member of my current team starting is a determining factor as I'll need a couple of weeks handover as the person being replaced has already left).

I'm in Brussels. There's a Ladies Meet Up Group on FB with people from all over that seems really active. I have a UK hairdryer and GHDs that work fine with a normal adaptor. Bureaucracy - there's a lot of it! Normally you need to register quickly with the commune - it wasn't clear to me if you were moving with FCO as I know they take care of most stuff. Do you need to find somewhere to live? Any idea where yet? You normally need a locked bank account with 2 months rent and do an excruciatingly detailed entry inspection. A normal lease is 9 years, but you can break with notice (in first 3 years by paying a penalty.) There are landlords who will accept a shorter one but less common. There's an Ikea at Zaventem and Anderlecht who will deliver. Extra charge if you're a few floors up.

Gas/electric - there are comparison websites to see the alternatives. For Internet/TV sometimes it can be location dependant - Proximus and Telenet are the big ones. Belgium is catching up with home delivery of groceries. There are Lidl/Aldi and Colruyt as the budget options and then Carrefour/Delhaize which are probably more similar to Tesco/Sainsbury's. There are loads of museums and activities in and around Brussels. It's common to get a transport pass as part of employment. And of course it's easy to get round Belgium / neighbouring countries. We do an Xmas market frenzy every year.

Feel free to send me a message or let me know if you need specific links to things. And always happy to arrange to meet for coffee / large wine. I've been here 17 years but remember the early days.

We used to have a specific Belgian MN FB group but it's rather died the death in recent years. Fewer people moving here since Brexit. There is a very large expat community of course.

@MissAmbrosia thank you. FB has decided as I never used it enough, that it broke up with me (or wasn't let me open it at least). So I need to reset that. But thank you 🙏 for all that (and the large wine idea is one I like! 🤣).