Choosing where to live

Before you leave

When moving to Brussels the first thing to consider is where to live?

Brussels, being the capital of Belgium, is a large city with 19 different municipalities, each with it's style and character. Their French names are as listed:

1. Anderlecht

2. Auderghem

3. Berchem-Sainte-Agathe

4. Bruxelles-Ville

5. Etterbeek

6. Evere

7. Forest

8. Ganshoren

9. Ixelles

10. Jette

11. Koekelberg

12. Molenbeek-Saint-Jean

13. Saint-Gilles

14. Saint-Josse-ten-Noode

15. Schaerbeek

16. Uccle

17. Watermael-Boitsfort

18. Woluwe-Saint-Lambert

19. Wulowe-Saint-Pierre

From my experience, several of these are worth considering as an area in which to live and I will write write about them in more detail below.

1. Bruxelles-Ville

The centre of Brussels is full of bustle much the same as many other capital cities. With beautiful sights round every corner and bars and restaurants to satisfy everyone's tastes, this is a thrilling place to live. There is easy access to all parts of Belgium from the Central Station, and to all the other municipalities of Belgium too. However, despite the obvious attractions, the centre of Brussels has its drawbacks too. Firstly it's worth noting that location comes with a price, whether it is shared accomodation or otherwise, so on a student budget this may not be the best deal. Restaurants and shops in the centre tend to be more expensive too. Look out for offers on Student and others similar. As well as this, the sights that drawed you to this part of Brussels draw thousands of tourists from around the world too, which means you can expect longer queues in shops and longer waits in restaurants and bars topped off with hoards of people flocking through the narrow cobbled streets in particular at the weekends. You may also be disappointed by the lack of greenery, but on the other hand if you are used to busy cities this may not come as a surprise to you. However, if budget is less of an issue for you, you are in no particular hurry, and you enjoy the hustle and bustle of life in a large city, then this is the place to be. For more upmarket shops and restauants, Avenue Louise is an excellent option, although commonly mistaken to be a part of the Ixelles municipality here you can find designers that would satisfy even the most high end visitors.

2. Ixelles

Ixelles, situated roughly 30 minutes from the centre, is known for its students. The two main Brussels universities, the VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) and the ULB (Université Libre de Bruxelles) both have their main campuses situated in Ixelles and as a result many students flock to this district to live close to their campus and each other. As in many student areas, this has resulted in the growth of bars and restaurants in the Chaussée d'Ixelles area that offer great happy hour deals such as Waff and El Café, student friendly prices, and large beer gardens - vital when living in a country so renowned for its beer! Other attractions to Ixelles are the low budget student housing options available, the large green park Bois de la Cambre, and the easy access by public transport to the centre. Place Flagey is also a popular drinking spot for many and hosts a market selling flowers, vegetables, food and clothes in the morning on every day of the week (7am - 1pm Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 1pm on the weekend. ) There may however, may be more noise on the streets in the night and the slightly abandoned feeling at the weekends or in the holidays when all the Belgium students return to their hometowns. Ixelles is also popular with expatriates who are attracted to the café culture of Châtelain with its numerous lakes and green spaces from which to watch the world go by.

3. Anderlecht

Located at a similar distance to the centre as Ixelles, and about 45 minutes from the University campus', Anderlecht is more popular with families than students and has a growing muslim community. Consequently, there are a fairly high number of culturally inspired shops and restaurants alongside the variety of cuisines on offer throughout Brussels. In Anderlecht you can expect to see families playing on the squares in the sun, riding their bicycles in the road and playing football in the street. There are a few benefits to living in Anderlecht which include quiter streets in the nightime (although I personally found this a bit spooky at times), easy access to the City Centre, a very multicultural environment and being home to one of the biggest and best football teams in Belgium, Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht.

4. Schaerbeek

Schaerbeek, or the 'city of donkeys' so called as a throwback to the times when donkeys would arrive there, hauling cherries for the production of the popular cherry flavoured beer Kriek, is located towards the North of Brussels. Popular for its Art Deco and Art Noveau style, Schaerbeek is inhabited by many of the more affluent members of the Brussels population due to it's location as well as large Turkish and Moroccan populations and people from over 140 different nationalities. As a result it is possible to find a large variety of different cuisines in this municipality and a brilliant mix of cultures. The wide, open streets, multitude of schools, and the recent opening of the large Docks shopping centre ( easily accesible by tram 7) make this an attractive place to live.

5. Etterbeek

Known to be the home of Parc Cinquantenaire (Brussels second largest monument, ) Etterbeek is popular with many for its excellent transport links, proximity to many European institutions, growing cultural diversity but perhaps most importantly... relatively cheap and available housing. This really is surprising considering it is home to Atelier 210, the Senghor Cultural Centre and many other cultural establishments. The Cinquantenaire Parc is even home to an old car museum hosting regular events for any car enthusiasts.

6. Saint-Gilles

Filled to the brim with culture, Saint-Gilles is packed with things to do. Around one corner, quirky bars and restaurants to explore, around the next galleries and theatres and a buzzing nightlife to top it all off! Café Maison du Peuple is well known for its live DJ shows and beautiful sunlit terrace, or, if you're more of a budding wine connoisseur take a trip to La Trinquette. This is an exciting municipality full of energy however renting here can be expensive and Saint-Gilles gets extremely busy when the sun is out.

7. Forest

'A bit rough around the edges' is a phrase commonly used to describe one of Brussels more affordable municipalities. This combned with a lack of bars andrestaurants when compared to other areas of the capital have given it a bit of a reputation. But don't be put off. Large green areas and excellent connections to the other areas of Brussels mean that a bar or terrace is never far away and as long as you stick to the slightly nicer areas, and you're sure to ge more for your money here. Also home to the well known concert venue Forest National and Le Brass there is plenty to see and do here too.

8. Uccle

Uccle is a quieter commune in the South of Brussels with many parks and green areas to relax and unwind in. Located in the south of Brussels, Uccle is a historic municipality and is home to many cultural attractions such as Nemo 33 - the world's deepest diving pool (and also home to my favourite Thai restaurant in Brussels, ) and one of the oldest pub's. Students searching for nightlife won't find it here, but for a more relaxed, family atmosphere Uccle is a sure bet.

9. Watermael-Boitsfort

A suburban feel with it's slightly slower pace and laid-back vibes. You can find many green areas here and families are attracted to the larger houses with bigger gardens

10. Auderghem

Comparable to Uccle with bustling shops in the centre and many leafy green areas.

11 & 12. Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre

Residential areas known for their peace and quiet and parks that attract joggers and walkers alike. Some of Brussels' most expensive properties are located in these two municipalities so perhaps not the best option if you are on a tight budget.

13. Evere

Less well known due to it's location slightly further from the centre of Brussels, Evere is a municipality that is currently investing a lot into improving it as a place to live and plays home to NATO.

14. Molenbeek-Saint-Jean

Despite its negative portrayal in the media, Molenbeek has some both affordable beautiful housing if you can see past the obvious poverty in some areas.

This is just a short list of some of the better known areas of brussels however that does not mean that the areas I did not write about are not worth researching.

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