Geography
Let's start with the location. Belgium is a Western European country, positioned along the North Sea and bordering the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. Belgium has 10 provinces and 581 municipalities, which are divided among Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region. Moreover, Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium but also of Europe.
Fun fact: IMPACT has offices all over Belgium. The head office is located in Hasselt, the capital of Limburg, one of the 5 Flemish (Dutch-speaking) provinces.
Politics & Economy
Belgium is a constitutional monarchy headed by King Filip. In addition to 1 central federal government, Belgium has 5 other governments for the regions and communities. However, in 2010-2011, Belgium was without a government for no less than 541 days – which goes to show that the political situation is complex even for the Belgians. Nevertheless, Belgium is politically stable and economically prosperous, which is also the case for you as a temporary worker.
Fun facts: in Belgium, every resident from the age of 18 is obliged to vote. The national currency is the euro.
Languages
Belgium is a multi-lingual country: 3 languages are recognized as official national languages. In Flanders, people speak Dutch; and in most of Wallonia, French is the mother tongue. ‘In most of Wallonia’, because in the east of Wallonia – the so-called East Cantons – the people speak German. In Brussels, both Dutch and French are spoken. And in addition, most Belgians speak a bit of English as well.
Population
Belgium has about 11.4 million inhabitants and is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. In general, Belgians are quite modest and moderate. At first, they can seem rather reserved and closed, and they do attach great importance to their privacy. But as you get to know them a little better, you will undoubtedly find them to be generous and jovial hosts. Belgians also have a reputation for being hard workers.
Education
In Belgium, you are not required to attend school from a certain age, but education is in fact compulsory for a period of 12 years. It starts when the child turns 6 years old and ends at 18, the age of legal majority. Full-time compulsory education ends at the age of 15. Between the ages of 15 and 18, young people can be educated part-time should they wish to.
Fun fact: Anyone who does not have a Belgian diploma can apply for recognition of his or her diploma in Belgium.
Eating and drinking
Those who like good food and drink will feel right at home in Belgium. Belgians are Burgundians, meaning they love food and extensive dining, and offer an excellent cuisine with many typical delicacies: just think of fries with mayonnaise, beef stew, mussels, chocolate, waffles, speculoos, etc. In addition, Belgium is known worldwide as the beer country par excellence. Looking for blond, dark, bitter or fruity beer? The possibilities are almost endless!