Erasmus Experience in Brussels, Belgium by Francesca

Why did you choose to go to Brussels, Belgium?

I didn't really choose it: a girl who had been chosen to go to Brussels gave up her place, which gave me the chance to replace her and thus... here I am!

How long was your stay? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

My stay was for 5 months, from February to June. The grant was 1, 200 euros altogether.

What is the student lifestyle like in Brussels?

There is a very active student community in Brussels. There are lots of student groups, organisations and associations, especially for Erasmus students, so you won't have a chance to be bored!

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Would you recommend the city and the University of Brussels to other students?

Absolutely. The atmosphere is really international, it's hard to find people who are 100 per cent Belgian. You meet people who have come from all over the world, and it is quite easy thanks to the international events organised by the student associations. There are lots of parks, museums, pubs, clubs, and it is very easy to get around using public transport, even in the evening. In addition, you can reach other cities in foreign countries in a few hours by bus, for example, Amsterdam, Paris, Louvain, Cologne...

I studied on the Solbosch Campus, which is the main campus of the l'Université Libre de Bruxelle: they explain everything to you when you arrive, and there are lots of activities for Erasmus students, such as visits, lessons, etc. The teachers often set group work, presentations and research, so be prepared to spend lots of time in the library! But at least you don't have to learn 2, 000 page-long books off by heart at the end of the year like in Italy. You can sign up for sports activities for 35 euros, and there are lots of classes. In addition, they organise conferences, expositions, and parties, of course (Belgians love partying).

One negative thing: the administration, which is not always efficient.

What do you think of the food?

Belgium is the country of chocolate, chips and beer, which are incredible here and you can find them everywhere. In addition, they eat a lot of meat, potatoes (called "patates" in Belgian French) and they love sauces. But, as it is a multicultural city, you can find any kind of restaurant here: Italian, Chinese, Lebanese, Thai, Greek... The supermarkets are well-stocked, therefore if you discover that you only like mum's cooking, you won't have any trouble in finding something familiar to cook.

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Was it difficult to find your accommodation in Brussels?

Yes. The university does not provide accommodation on campus if you are only staying for a semester, but there is still an accommodation office that can help you find somewhere to stay. I started looking for accommodation in October, and I found it in January via Facebook, through groups that help you look for it. As there are a lot of students and interns, the property market is very active in terms of rentals. Personally, I prefer to look for my accommodation in advance, but a lot of people come straight here to look for a room (the university itself advises to do this to); and I've been told that normally people find accommodation within a few days, simply by walking through the city and looking at the posters of rooms/apartments to rent.

How much does it cost to live in Brussels?

The cost of living is a bit higher than in Italy, but it depends a lot on the shops. Carrefour, for example, is very expensive in my opinion, and I prefer to shop in other supermarket chains.

For example, a bus ticket costs between 2. 10 euros and 2. 50 euros if you buy it on the bus. It is better to buy a travel card and buy a monthly subscription (which costs 49 euros and is valid for the bus, tram and metro).

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Is it easy to get to grips with the language? Did you attend a university language course?

I studied French at school, and I remembered the language quite well when I arrived, so I didn't do a course here. In any case, the university organised language courses for Erasmus students.

What is the cheapest way to get to Brussels from your city?

I travelled by plane to the Zaventem airport, and I took the train from there to get to the city. It takes around about 30 minutes, and the ticket costs 8 euros. The other option is to go to the other airport, Charleroi, and get the shuttle bus to the city centre. You can find good prices for the plane tickets if you look in advance: for example, I paid more or less 50 euros (plus 30 euros for my suitcase) to get here.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Brussels?

You have to go to Mme Moustache at least once: it's a very easy-going place; to dance, have a beer and have fun. And you also have to go to Delirium, the most well-known pub in Brussels, which has more than 2, 000 different types of beer.

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What's it like to eat out in Brussels? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

The chip stand on Flagey Square: it is a very small kiosk restaurant, but the Brussels locals say that their chips are the best, and it is a very Belgian thing to do: to buy a cone of chips and go for a walk with them. In the university area, where I live, I really like "El café", a Mexican restaurant-bar, where you can have a drink or even eat something (a hamburger, sandwich, tacos, etc).

Do you have any recommendations for cultural attractions to visit?

The Art & History Museum, the Magritte Museum, the Fin de Siècle Museum, the Leopold Quarter and the Atomium, of course.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Brussels in the future?

As I said at the start, I didn't choose Brussels, I thought that it wasn't very interesting. But I was wrong, I fell in love with its multicultural atmosphere, and the people here who are always so kind. Come and make the most of this city, which really has a lot to offer.