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Place to live while working in Rogier
Hi, I am female in her 30s who is relocating to Brussels to work near Rogier metro station. I have been reading about the different districts in Brussels but I still have many doubts on the best areas (for me) to live at.
I would like to live inside the city, but most neighborhoods that are advised seem far away from my work. I would appreciate to live where "there is life" (meaning, restaurants, bars, a gym, things to do and, most importantly, other people) but I would still like to reach my workplace by metro or bike. I am looking to find a balance between pure residential areas for families with small kids and wild places for exchange students where no-one sleeps (not sure there are any). Finally I value safety and I would like to avoid conflictive areas. Also, Flemish seems too complicated for now...
Can anybody provide some advice? Every piece of information or sharing of own experience is very much appreciated. Thanks a lot, Carolina
Live right near De Brouckere.......you have cinema, shopping, great bars and restaurants in the centre of Brussels.... St. Catherine, St. Gery.....there is a bit of construction as they pedestrianize the centre.....Royal Park is walking distance too.... would definitely recommend..... good luck, am sure you will enjoy Brussels !
Central Brussels is going through a gentrification process at the moment. Great places around the north of the Pentagone.
If you want to be safe, the red-light district off Gare du Nord - there's always someone to "watch over you".
Ixelles has gang issues. but then, it is a bit hipster-chic, and it is the place to be seen to live.
You could go North-West, like Jette or Koekelberg - so totally un-expatty and buzzing with the real Brussels.
Living somewhere near Louise/St Boniface is nice, there's a lot of life and the metro 2 from Porte de Namur will get you straight to work. Some people really advocated for the suburbs in Brussels as they think town is "unsafe" but I've never found that - living closer to the city is great. In Brussels, rents are quite cheap so you'll have a good opportunity to live in the centre of town that you wouldn't have in other cities, and life will be easier - you can walk a lot of places or quickly get the metro. Having said that, St Gilles is really charming too. Ixelles is the usual go-to for expats - it's a very nice commune but once you get out past Flagey area, it starts to be a lot less convenient and more residential. You could always stay in an Airbnb for the first month and check out the neighbourhoods. I probably wouldn't live at Rogier though - there are nicer places. It's fine for work. Good luck! :)
You could consider the Etterbeek/Cinquantenaire/Merode area, the Ixelles/Châtelain area, and ixelles/Flagey area. The first and third have green areas. And the Bois de la Cambre is close to the second and third areas. Cycling in Brussels is still quite dangerous, and not enough cycle tracks have been installed. But the public transport network from these three areas is pretty good. Good luck, and enjoy the city!
I live in the central city just west of Saint-Géry. I love it. There's always something going on, and if you want to have a garden situation you can even do that in the central city. Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Géry, and all the areas between them are safe, interesting and fun; Once all the work going on downtown is finished it will be really fantastic.
If you're working around Rogier why live somewhere where you have to commute to go to work when there are all these pleasant places to live within walking distance of your job?
BTW, I cycle everywhere and cycling is NOT dangerous in Brussels.
Also, even in the supposed dangerous area near Rogier crime is extremely light (not that I'm suggesting living there)..
Thank you for such great comments.
I am not sure I have to register at the "bureau des étrangers", I will check that out, before renting in Brussels 1000. Thanks, Sohcahtoa. That is great information.
Drifter, thanks. I was wondering about how quite Schuman was. I imagine there is no specific reason to live there if you are not working in the EU buildings around.
Jurkeviciute & Designbxl: Saint Catherine seems appealing to me. I will also check out St. Gery (haven't read much).
Apparently R. HArris likes to live there and cycles everywhere, which I would also like to do (although I wonder if I will with all the rain).Thanks for sharing that information. R.Harris.
J, normally I am all in favor of going "authentic" and un-expat (I am already an expat), but honestly I am a little bit afraid to live North-west (and other typical communes around Brussels are flemish and I cannot understand more than 2 words).
ASDF, I really liked you comment. And yes, I think I will probably end up renting an Airbnb at least for a couple of weeks... I still have a lot of doubts although people are giving me great advice in this forum.
Thanks YTTAP. i was focusing more at the Ixelles but I will be looking at Etterbeek/Cinquantenaire/Merode too. And I check out whether there are cycle tracks.
"I am not sure I have to register at the "bureau des étrangers", I will check that out, before renting in Brussels 1000."
Yes, you do.
But you can only register at a commune you live in, so find a place first.
Thanks, J.
The reason I was wondering is because I am working for an EU agency as an expat. But I guess that is no "excuse" ;) ...
If you have special status, you go register with the special agency, in your case the EU agency you are working for.
If you do not have special status, you go register with the maison communale / gemeentehuis where you live.
Thanks Shorof, I will tru to figure that out.
I hope I don't have to register with maison communale as people don't seem very happy with the waiting times.
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