Search Q&A
Public transportation issues and safety
I am moving to Belgium in less than a month for work and I am currently on a hunt for an apartment.
As far as I've understood the area in which I will work is quite pricey(Waterloo) when it comes to housing and I am considering living in Brussels instead and commute to work, since I do not own a car. Is this even possible or should I just look for a place in Waterloo, ignoring costs?
I will also be living on my own and I am wondering how safe the different areas are for a single woman, who is a gym bunny and likes taking a run in the evening or going to the gym?
Also, heads up if there's anybody out there who knows anybody with a vacant apartment/studio in a good enough location.
Regards,
Miss L
Have you checked out the website... www.immoweb.be? I am not sure about transport from Brussels or otherwise, but Waterloo while very xpatish is quite safe. Best of luck
just checked the site out- it looks like the prices are cheaper than Brussels: http://www.immoweb.be/en/rent.Results.gallery.cfm?xmi=&xkeep=Y&xcarte=N&...
If you are to work in Waterloo, look for a flat etc. there. Immoweb is a good start. Lots of immediate forest and open ground for running and gyms galore. Even for a bunny. Waterloo is as least as safe as other areas...
I recommend Waterloo for sure.
Transportation is the penalty given to criminals condemned to a life in Australia.
Waterloo is cheaper than anywhere in Brussels for acommodation. It's just that a decent place to rent in Waterloo may be a bit harder to come by,
Commuting to Waterloo is not an option unless the office is close to public transport (direct - no changes)
You can cycle or run to a gym. But thing working and living first, and gym last.
So these people deal with criminals condemned to a life in Australia? http://www.dot.gov/
I must have missed the disclaimer on this site that states it is meant ONLY to those expats who have British English as their mother tongue. Anyone else should apparently stay away.
Oh dear someone has had a sense of humour failure this morning :-)
Have to say, I wouldn't consider Brussels if I were working in Waterloo, more expensive, less free time, more cost in getting to work.
I'd however take a look at where the train station is in Waterloo, if you're at all likely to go into Brussels on a regular basis, when looking for somewhere to live in Waterloo.
Cambio isn't currenty present in Waterloo (it's a car sharing scheme), but maybe there are plans for a point there, ideal if you have a driving licence, don't have a car but would perhaps like to use one every now and then.
http://www.cambio.be/cms/carsharing/en/2/cms/stdws_info/stationen.html
I also recommend Waterloo!
Unless you are prepared to live in one of the slightly more dubious parts of Brussels where you may not always feel 100% safe, Waterloo is not more expensive it's better value and very safe. The only thing is that because it's quite family commuter belt there are possibly not as many apartments available.
Waterloo is also close to open countryside and the forest which makes it ideal for running. If you want to run safely in Brussels you would possibly want to live near the forest or a large park and a lot of those communes are quite pricey.
There are a few gyms in Waterloo as well I think. A gyms for girls http://www.lady-fitness.be among others. An easy drive to David Lloyd if you have a car and the budget.
It's also a nice cheerful place to live with all the day to day shopping you will need. Mainline trains into Brussels if you want to visit.
The two negatives are that there are not as many restaurants, the nightlife is lacking (if you are a disco diva) and public transport in the area is lacking compared to Brussels.
If you're someone who likes to interact a lot with where you live, Waterloo has a certain mentality to it. If you clash with that (and it's very hard to describe), then you'll hate it.
No particular opinion one way or the other about Waterloo but just wanted to make sure you do your research on appartment contracts here in Belgium. Different to many other countries so make sure you check it out.
