Antwerp Belgium?

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

Can anyone tell me anything about it? DH has been offered a job there and we are strongly considering it. We currently live in Switzerland where the rules are ridiculous and the cost of living even worse.
What is life like for children there? Are there plenty of activities for them? Swimming pools and cinemas showing films in English?
Do the shops open for just the three hours a day that we get (exageration obviously).

Hello,
We have lived in Antwerp for about 6 months and love it!
We don't have children yet, I am heavily pregnant so by spring we will, but from what we can tell the facilities for children are very good.

We live in the city centre so I can't advise on the suburbs. Within 5 minutes walk from our apartment is a huge park with a jungle themed playground, a big UGC cinema which shows some films in English, a swimming pool and a lovely zoo. There are also lots of lovely child friendly cafes in the city and also lots of suitable chains, pizza hut, macdonalds, wagamama etc

The Brussels Childbirth Trust, is about a half hour/40 minute drive away and organises lots of groups and events for ex pat children and parents/parents to be, all in English.

Most shops are open everyday except for Sunday and Monday morning. There is a big market in the city centre every Sunday morning that sells literally everything and some small corner shops are also open so you can still get emergency supplies.

Like everywhere with the Euro some things are more expensive than at home. One thing that makes a big difference for us is that our rent is inclusive of all bills including utilities and taxes down to internet and cable tv. We would not get anywhere near the same value for money at home.

I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have.

ps forget corner shops, have just remembered Ikea is also open on a Sunday

I am in love with the place already. Where we live everything, except the station is closed on Sunday and most of the shops close on a Monday morning.
Stupid question time now, do you use gas to cook on? Do you have H+M? DD spends hours in there planning her next outfit.
Congrats on your pregnancy. You have no idea how much your life is going to change. For the better. Mostly

Yes, I did hope my post RE children's activities didn't come across too have no idea what I am letting myself in for....

We have a fan oven with an electric hob. Our whole building is heated with oil as I found out when it ran out during the snow and we had no heating or hot water for a day grrr...

How old is your DD? There are 3 big H&Ms in the main shopping area as well as lots of Zaras and wierdly there are quite a few english chains, the Body Shop, New Look and Accessorize to name a few.

Just gets better and better, she adores bodyshop (aged 8.8) and quite likes accesorize although she only found out about it in the summer in the UK.
Really looking forward to it (if we do decide on Antwerp), we have other options but this seems favourite at the moment.

The diamonds are pretty good in Antwerp as well.

Schooling wise, there is a British school in Antwerp, which is good I hear. The local language is Flemish, which is interesting to learn. If you have German you are more than half way there.

The shopping when I have been up there is good; Antwerp also has the Sportspaleis where lots of rock concerts and other things are held. Walking with dinosaurs was there, but I only saw that after I'd paid for tickets to see it at the O2, when we were over in UK for the summer hols.

I am just outside Brussels, and living here is great. Yes, it's expensive, but the quality of life is good and the people are pleasant. Should you move here and have a yen for marmite and other things, there is a British shop near Brussels which sells Bisto granules, UK flour, Rachel's yoghurt, proper cornish clotted cream and stacks of other things as well.

Oh that's really sweet, I am having a girl and can't wait to be able to take her shopping.

Hope I haven't over sold but it does at least sound better than where you are at the moment.

Good luck with deciding on where to go next.

Oh yes, and the maximum you have to travel to get out of Belgium is about 2 hours in any direction. Best way back to UK, if you don't want to schlepp down to Calais is Dunkirk, Norfolk lines. Book in advance and you can get a return for car+5 for about 50 euros, and it can be cheaper.

There is a Greggs in Brussels and Fruitshoots are freely available!

I find Belgium really family friendly. The schools offer fab and cheap holiday clubs and afterschool care. There are loads of activities laid on for children.

There's a good zoo in Antwerp, and an animal park at Plankendael. There are lots of Provincial Domains dotted about, with open air pools (in the summer), lakes, walks, playgrounds etc. Cycling is very popular.

Also it's easy to get places for the weekend. UK, France, Holland, Germany. The Belgian coast is fun, and the Ardennes are lovely. I have no intention of moving back to UK.

Greggs? Fabulous. DD has such an abysmal diet and I would like to be able to carry on what we've started. I am getting over excited now. What shape plugs do you have? Trivial, but important to know whether to flog/give away our electrical appliances.

Belgian ones, not UK ones. Two pin jobbies.

I've been googling estate agents. How sad am I? It seems the rent on flats and houses is about 1/3 of what we pay here. I am hoping to be able to bring our car with us. It is reliable and has two sets of tyres already. The winter ones are currently getting a hammering with the snow we have.
Happy days.

I think you might find the weather a bit different. My sister lived in Geneva (wked for WTO) and I lived in Brussels (EU) and - well, for someone like me who likes sun and blue sky (even if it's cold!), the rain and gloom in Belgium really got me down and exacerbated a sinus problem. Not that it's much better back in Blighty I might add, and i'll probably have to go back to Brussels to work at some stage. But precipitation is one third higher in Belgium than in the UK (yes, Belgian colleagues never believed that but it's true) and in winter it can be very cold with leaden skies and lots of rain.

It appears to be definite now. Could any streetwise Antwerpians tell me which areas to look for housing in? Ideally we would like either a house or a flat with a garden. DH will be working in the Ekeren area. Where I am now, there are a couple of areas that are seen as rough as a badgers arse--less desirable than others. For preference we'd like a child friendly area with a multi cultural vibe going on.

Your best bet would be to ask on www.xpats.com

Thanks foe that Skihorse, unfortunately there doesn't seem to be too much traffic to that site.
We are planning to drive over at easter and have a looky.

Are you kidding? That site is the biggest expat site in Belgium and is linked to the expat magazine (rip-off) called The Bulletin - for all your ambassador salary needs ! There are approximately 60 new questions asked a day - go to the Q&A bit and post your question.

I don't know Antwerp particularly well but it does have its "problems" wrt crime. I have some friends living about 20km outside of Antwerp in various locations and these are gorgeous but I'm afraid I can't help with Antwerp centre - although it is great for shopping.

Not sure about escaping Switzerland's rules and regulations, you might find it's a bit frying-pan/fire.

www.xpats.com/q-a

"Antwerp

There is a well-sized population of British and American families living here; plus there is an international school and a good choice of English-speaking clubs and societies. Add to that the fact that the majority of Flemish speakers speak English, and Antwerp becomes an attractive place to settle.

Most families tend to live in the north of the city with its residential flavour and gardened houses. The single expat tends to live in the midst of it all in beautiful, if expensive, apartments.

Up and coming areas include the redeveloped museum area ('t Zuid) and parts of Berchem with its grand Art Nouveau houses and slightly bohemian feel. The urban set favour apartments in the area known as St Andries, between the river and Nationalestraat."

Expatica has lots of useful info too.

And Immoweb for property.

clearly wasn't the same site I had been visiting with little traffic. thank you very much.
We are hoping the get up there over the easter holidays to have a look round. We need to find out about exporting our car from Switzerland and importing it to Belgium. So many other things too.

Hello, I am due to move to antwerp (surrounding area) in August time with husband and 3 month old baby girl and would really like to make some friends before we arrive - is this thread still active? New to mumsnet too so not sure how it all works!!

Is great to hear some positive stuff being said about Antwerp, was a bit worried i would be missing out by not being in Brussels!! But it seems there are English speaking mums in Antwerp too )

Fergie x