Removals to Belgium

Understanding healthcare funding in Belgium

Moving to Belgium from the UK? Here’s a breakdown of how the Belgian healthcare system is funded.

1. It’s a two-part system

Think of it like this: Belgium uses a combination of mandatory health insurance and social security contributions to fund its healthcare system.

• Social security – Everyone who works in Belgium, whether employed or self-employed, pays into the social security system. This covers a significant portion of your healthcare costs.
• Health insurance – You’ll also join a health insurance fund, called a mutuelle (French) or ziekenfonds (Dutch). These funds are not-for-profit and are responsible for reimbursing you for a portion of your medical expenses.

2. What costs are covered?

Your health insurance fund typically covers a substantial part of your medical expenses, including:

• Doctor visits, hospital stays, and specialist consultations – Expect reimbursement of roughly 50-75% of these costs.
• Prescription medications – You’ll generally get back around 20% of the cost of most prescriptions.
• Routine dental care – Basic dental treatments are usually covered.
• Maternity care – Prenatal checkups, delivery, and postnatal care are covered.

3. How do I get started?

• Register with social security – This is your first step. You can usually do this through your employer or at your local social security office.
• Choose a health insurance fund – Once registered with social security, you can select a mutuelle or ziekenfonds. Your employer may offer guidance or have a preferred fund.

4. What costs will I have?

While the Belgian system covers a lot, you’ll still have some out-of-pocket expenses:

• Co-payments – You’ll pay a portion of most medical costs (the part not covered by your insurance).
• Some medications – Certain medications may have higher co-payments or may not be covered at all.
• Non-routine dental and specialist care – More complex treatments often have higher costs.

Important note: It’s always a good idea to research and compare different health insurance funds to find the one that best suits your needs.

For more detailed information, check out the website of the Belgian health care system – this official website provides comprehensive information about the Belgian healthcare system.

Cost of living in Belgium

Schepens regularly provides removals to Belgium for clients across the UK. The cost of living in Belgium is one of the key concerns our movers express, which is why we’ve created this guide.

Brussels, as the capital of Belgium, currently ranks 37th in the Mercer Cost of Living Index (working from most expensive to least expensive), whilst London ranks 8th. Brussels is expensive, therefore, but it’s not amongst the front-runners.

Belgian taxation

Alongside chocolate, and beer, Belgium is famous for its high levels of taxation. Taxes start at 25% for anyone earning €15,200 or more and rise to 50% for salaries of 46,440 or more. These tax rates are some of the highest in Europe.

If you are working in Belgium you’ll need to pay Belgian taxes and submit a tax return annually. In addition to personal tax, home owners are also subject to a tax on their property.

Is Belgium more expensive than the UK?

For clients moving to Belgium from the UK this is an important question, but it’s difficult to answer accurately. A cost comparison between Brussels and London demonstrates that living in Brussels is 34.9% cheaper than living in London (including rent).

Housing costs in Belgium

As in any country, the cost of housing fluctuates according to the city you choose to live in, and your choice of city or rural location. Brussels tends to be the most expensive city to rent or buy property in, and Antwerp is, on average, 20% cheaper. In Brussels, a city centre 1-bedroom rental will cost around €1,120.18, whilst in Ghent it would cost just over €900. Long term lets are popular with landlords and tend to be cheaper.

The price of utilities

Once again, the news is good for clients planning removals to Belgium. Utilities tend to be around 26% cheaper than their equivalent in London. In Belgium you can expect to pay somewhere within a range of €223.41 for electricity, water, heating, internet and waste disposal. In the UK, €300 is the average for gas and electricity for a one-bedroom flat per month.

Getting around in Belgium

The public transport system in Belgium has had a good deal of government investment. As a result, it’s easy to get around, the infrastructure is pleasant to use, and it’s comparatively cheap. A monthly ticket to get around Brussels, for example, will cost around €50 and a single journey is around €2.5.

Source: Numbeo

Once we’ve had the chance to assess the items to be included in your move to Belgium, we’ll prepare a detailed and accurate removals quotation to help with your budgeting.

Getting a visa for Belgium

Although the UK is no longer part of the European Union, UK citizens can still travel to Belgium for up to 90 days without a visa. However, if you plan to work in Belgium, you will need a work permit.

Work permits in Belgium for UK citizens

If you’re from the UK and want to work in Belgium, you’ll need one of these permits:

1. Work permit type-B

• Short stays – This is for jobs lasting up to 90 days.
• Specific jobs – It also covers certain jobs even if they last longer than 90 days, like cross-border workers, hotel residents, and au pairs.

2. Single permit

• Longer stays – This is for jobs lasting more than 90 days.
• Combined permit – It covers both your right to work and live in Belgium.
• Employer applies – Your employer starts the application process.
• Processing time – It can take up to 120 days to get this permit.

3. EU Blue Card

• Highly skilled workers – This is a special type of single permit for people with high qualifications.
• Faster processing – It usually takes 90 days to get this permit.
• Flexibility – After 18 months, it lets you move to another EU country to work.
• Employer freedom – After two years, you can work for any employer in Belgium.

Which permit is right for you?

The best permit for you depends on:

• Length of your job – How long will you be working in Belgium?
• Type of job – What kind of work will you be doing?
• Your skills – Do you have high-level qualifications?

For the latest info check out these resources:

Moving to Belgium | Living in Belgium

Wondering what living and working in Belgium is like?

Over the years Schepens Removals has relocated hundreds of professionals and students to Belgium for work or studies. Like France, it feels like a close neighbour and yet living and working in Belgium can reveal numerous differences – apart from the language – in culture, perspective, and social relations.

We asked 4 of our movers what it’s like living and working in Belgium. Here’s what they told us:

Better work/life balance than I expected

Brussels feels so close to the UK in so many ways that I expected to find the same work culture as in London. I was pleasantly surprised. You’re expected to work hard for a standard 40 hours a week and that’s it. No overtime, no call-ins over the weekend. Once you finish your work day your time is your own.

Bikes are big

I’ve fallen in love with cycling so much since I moved to Belgium that I’m now researching the best ‘cobbled climbs’ to try out! Cycling is big in Belgium; it’s how you get to work, how you get about, what you do at weekends. And there are really great cycling routes to try out. It’s also how I’ve been able to meet people outside work, which is a big plus.

A great way to see Europe

Public transport works really well in Belgium, which makes life a lot easier for someone moving from abroad. I quickly felt confident using trains and buses, which are relatively cheap. Quite early on I realised I had Europe on my doorstep, so my weekends are spent making forays into France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Relaxed workplace culture

Really it depends where you work as there are loads of international companies based in Belgium, but I work for a French company, and it’s pretty laid back. I feel OK about expressing my ideas (in French) and there’s no sense that I’m having to prove myself all the time. Punctuality is important, and you need to be focused. No overtime, which is great.

Stress-free European removals from Schepens

We’re a UK-based, family-run removals company with over 100 years’ experience of removals to Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries. As such, we’ve made it our goal to create stress-free removals by providing flexible scheduling, affordable prices, and professional removals teams who are willing to go the extra mile for movers.

Tailored removals to Belgium

The prospect of living and working in Belgium may be exciting but it also presents a logistical challenge, no matter how many times you’ve done it before. We’re here to help. Schepens allocates each mover a dedicated move co-ordinator who will create a bespoke removals plan, based on your specific requirements, and support you through every step of the process.

Schepens removals services include:

• Free no obligation removals quote. Once we know the details of your move, you’ll receive an accurate quotation to help with your budgeting.
• Insurance. Your goods will be covered whilst in transit. If you require additional Accidental Damage or Extended Liability, we can arrange cover.
• Customs. We’re experienced at dealing with customs matters and know the rules and regulations associated with relocating to Belgium.
• Professional packing services. No time for packing? Our BAR trained packers can complete the job in hours using sturdy, sustainable packing materials.
• Specialist removals. No matter what you need to include in your move, we can handle it. Our specialist team are experienced in the overseas removals of pianos, art and antiques.
• Self storage. Should you need to put your furniture in storage in the UK, Schepens has a number of local self storage facilities offering a secure, well-managed environment.
• Transport. Your goods are transported in one of our state-of-the-art removals vehicles which run on air ride suspension and boast an adjustable bearing system, ensuring little or no movement of vehicle content.

Second-to-none customer service

Excellent removal and delivery

“Excellent removal, storage and delivery of personal property from Belgium to UK. No worries about paperwork. Polite and helpful staff. Took a weight of my mind at a stressful time.”

Moving to Belgium? Call Schepens to find out more about the specialist services we can offer to support your move – 01794 323 558

Part load removals to Belgium | European removals | Furniture removals to Belgium

Schepens is one of the most experienced removals firms in Europe. We specialise in part load removals to Belgium and other parts of the EU. Our team of skilled removers is familiar with managing small load removals to Belgium and understand the logistics of the journey well.

Our company is family-owned and was established more than 100 years ago. Since our inception, we have always maintained a strong focus on customer service, reliability, and affordability. Schepens is the leading relocation company for Belgium and we perform many removals to this lovely country each year.

Most of the removals we perform are part load removals. A part load removal involves multiple clients sharing a removal truck or cargo container. It is a more affordable option that many cost-conscious clients select.

If you would like a quote for a part load removal to Belgium, contact Schepens today on 01794 323 558 or read on to learn more!

How does a part load removal to Belgium work?

A part load removal involves two or more clients sharing the space in a removals truck or cargo container. By sharing the expense of the removal, each client makes substantial savings. It is a useful service for clients who are moving out of an apartment or a small house. Many business clients also take advantage of our part load haulage.

We offer clients a professional packing service that complements our part load removals service. Our packing service involves highly trained removers packing your possessions for you. Because our removers are so experienced, they understand how to correctly pack your possessions for the long journey to Belgium.

Our team uses high quality packing materials including durable cardboard boxes. Your possessions are inventoried as we pack, ensuring there is an accurate record of what is being moved.

After the smaller items have been wrapped and placed into packing boxes, everything is delivered to one of our processing facilities. At that facility, we begin combining your items onto cargo palettes. Everything is photographed, wrapped in plastic and clearly labelled. Once there is enough cargo from multiple clients to fill a removals truck, your palette is loaded and secured. When your cargo arrives in Belgium, our removers unpack it and dispose of the packing materials.

Why use a shared removal to Belgium?

Using small load removals to Belgium is a great idea for a number of reasons:

• More affordable. Because you split the cost with other clients, your removal will be much more affordable.
• Perfect for clients with a small amount of cargo. If you are moving out of a flat or small house, you probably won’t have enough cargo to fill a removals truck. A part load removal will allow you to quickly ship a small amount of cargo.
• Better for the environment. Because we maximise the amount of cargo in each vehicle, there will be less trips taken and less fuel consumed.

Efficient and smooth handling

“I wish to express my appreciation for the efficient and smooth handling of our furniture and personal effects yesterday. Your staff were friendly, very pleasant and extremely helpful. In spite of having to take everything to the second floor, they kept going without a break and everything was placed on its correct place exactly as I wanted. Well done, we are delighted with your service.”

Why use Schepens for part load removals to Belgium?

Schepens has the right combination of skills, experience and local knowledge to make removals to Belgium easy. We are very safe and efficient furniture movers with a high level of customer satisfaction. The main reasons to choose Schepens for small load removals to Belgium include:

We regularly perform small load removals to Belgium

Our company performs dozens of shared removals to Belgium each year. That means we can offer clients a very quick turnaround and a flexible schedule. It also means we have excellent local knowledge and know the most efficient routes to take.

The most affordable furniture movers servicing Belgium

Our company ships thousands of tons of cargo between the UK, Belgium and other parts of Europe each year. The large size of our operation has allowed us to develop operational efficiencies and negotiate excellent rates from suppliers. This means we can provide very affordable rates for part load removals to Belgium.

100% free quotes on your shared removal to Belgium

All prospective clients receive a 100% free quote on their shared load removal. The quote clearly outlines what services are included in the move, the delivery window, and total price. Our quotes are simple to understand and completely obligation-free.

Highly trained furniture movers

All removals are performed by talented removers who are trained to British Association of Removers standards. You can be confident that our well trained staff will carefully and efficiently move your valuable possessions.

All small load removals to Belgium managed by move co-ordinators

Each removal is overseen by a skilled move co-ordinator. They will ensure that the move goes off without a hitch! They will answer any questions that you have about your removal to Belgium and keep you updated on its progress.

A high level of security

Schepens takes the security of our clients’ cargo very seriously. We are proud to be the most secure relocation company for Belgium and other parts of the EU. We use electronic inventories, remote tracking, and alarmed removals vehicles. All removers are security checked and we have contingency plans for security incidents.

Schepens run removals to and from all major towns, cities and areas of Belgium including Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liege, Brussels, Bruges, Schaerbeek, Namur, Anderlecht and Leuven.

Schepens are the most experienced and professional for part load removals to Belgium. Contact us today on 01794 323 558 to get a free, no-obligation quote!

Moving to Belgium from UK | European removals | Removals to Belgium

Moving to Belgium from UK

Belgium is a country with a fascinating history, stunning natural landscapes, and a high standard of living. If you are thinking of moving to Belgium from UK for work, you can make the process easier by using an experienced European removals company like Schepens.

We have been moving families, professionals, and students to locations across Belgium for over a century. Schepens is a family run removals company with an established reputation for stress-free removals to Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Liege. Our fleet makes weekly runs to Belgium which means we can offer movers flexible scheduling, affordable prices, and full or part load shipping.

Moving to Belgium from UK post Brexit

If you are thinking of moving to Belgium post 2020, and you don’t have Belgian residency, you are only allowed to stay for 90 days. If you wish to stay in Belgium for more than three months, you will need to apply for a ‘long stay visa’ (a D visa). This allows you to study, work and live in Belgium for up to 5 years. Once the time is up, you can apply for permanent residency.

Planning your move to Belgium

Schepens is a highly experienced European removals company. We maintain a fleet of state-of-the-art removals vehicles which run on air ride suspension and boast an adjustable bearing system, ensuring little or no movement of vehicle content. These make regular runs across northern Europe each week, so our removals teams know the transit routes exceptionally well.

Planning a move overseas can feel overwhelming, and many of our clients find it helpful to have the support of our move co-ordinators. These are professionals with a detailed knowledge and extensive experience of managing moves to all the major locations in Belgium. They will work with you to create a tailored removals plan that is bespoke to your specific requirements.

How does Schepens removals work?

Our removals to Belgium process is simple and straightforward:

• Survey. Your move co-ordinator carries out an online, or in-person survey of the goods you wish to take with you to Belgium. Then, they’ll provide a free, and accurate removals quote to help with your budgeting.
• Scheduling. Your tailored removals plan is prepared, including any special requirements you may have, and your move to Belgium is scheduled. If you should need to alter the date of your move, just let us know and we’ll re-schedule. We have an excellent knowledge of the customs regulations in Belgium and can complete the paperwork for you.
• Packing. If you would like help with your packing for Belgium, we offer a professional packing service. BAR trained packing professionals arrive on the day of your move to pack up your items, using sturdy, eco-friendly packing materials.
• Transport. Your goods are transported to your new home in Belgium. They will be covered by insurance whilst in transit in one of our state-of-the-art removal vehicles. If you require additional Accidental Damage, or Extended Liability insurance we can arrange cover for you.
• Arrival and storage. Your goods are unloaded, taking every care. If you need to store items in the UK, Schepens has a number of local storage facilities offering a clean and secure environment for your goods.

Need to move non-standard goods to Belgium?

At Schepens we don’t just cover the basics. We have a specialist team in-house who can handle any non-standard items you wish to include in your move. We have experience of moving pianos overseas for our clients, as well as fine art and antique pieces. All items are individually assessed, and we provide bespoke packaging, handling and shipping.

Schepens removals goes the extra mile

Couldn’t have asked for more

“From first e-mail contact to final delivery of my belongings I was met with professionalism, friendliness, and helpfulness. In such a stressful situation as moving, well, I couldn’t have asked for more from this excellent company.”

Schepens run removals to and from all major towns, cities and areas of Belgium including Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Liege, Brussels, Bruges, Schaerbeek, Namur, Anderlecht and Leuven.

If you are moving to Belgium from UK, choose an experienced European removals company like Schepens! Contact Schepens today on 01794 323 558 to discuss your requirements with our friendly removals team.