{"id":20232,"date":"2025-02-18T17:25:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T16:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finncult.be\/?p=20232"},"modified":"2025-02-18T22:09:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T21:09:54","slug":"living-and-working-in-brussels-a-personal-perspective-with-laura-boxberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finncult.be\/fi\/living-and-working-in-brussels-a-personal-perspective-with-laura-boxberg\/","title":{"rendered":"Living and working in Brussels: A personal perspective with Laura Boxberg"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since opening the call for a new Director<\/a>, we thought it was the perfect time to catch up with Laura Boxberg<\/strong> and hear about her experience of living and working in Brussels over the past few years, along with some helpful tips and recommendations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What made you come to Brussels in the first place?<\/h2>\n

I spent a significant amount of time in Brussels back in 2011 when my husband was working here, so I already knew the city well. It\u2019s a wonderfully located European capital with excellent transport connections, making travel easy. Brussels is also a very family-friendly city, offering a large Finnish community and numerous professional opportunities, especially in international and EU organisations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is the work-life balance like in Belgium?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s quite good! At the Institute where I work, we ensure that everyone leaves on time. The childcare facilities, including nurseries and after-school activities, remain open until 18:30, which is a great help when managing work and family life. Weekends are relaxed, with people enjoying long walks, coffee or beer at guinguettes, and museum visits. Sundays are especially quiet, even in the city centre, as all shops are closed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Any cultural differences you weren’t expecting?<\/h2>\n

One thing that stood out to me was how everyone greets each other in my neighborhood\u2014saying \u201cbonjour\u201d to everyone is a big adjustment for a Finn! 😅 I love the everyday pleasantries and greetings: bonjour, \u00e7a va, merci, au revoir, bonne journ\u00e9e<\/em> – they can all be said in the same short exchange during a quick lunch visit to a shop.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is the public transport system like?<\/h2>\n

Public transport can be a pain (although relatively cheap compared to other Western European capitals) and although cycling is becoming increasingly popular, many locals still prefer to drive. In the 1960s and 70s, Brussels was built for cars, and the attitude is still there. But there are also many options for car-sharing. We don’t have a car, for example, and everything has worked out well. Being able to travel around Europe by train is one of the biggest advantages of living in Brussels. The connections across the Benelux and beyond are really good.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How does the education system work if moving with family?<\/h2>\n

Oh dear, how much space have we got? 😅 Well, first of all, there is not one education system, but many. The Dutch, French and German-speaking communities have different school styles, levels and regulations. So navigation is required! Most children attend free public schools, but private education – including international schools – is available in different languages and modes. I highly recommend free public education; while other things may seem bureaucratic, getting your child into school was relatively easy and straightforward. This is a quite nice overview in English on the Brussels Times website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How prevalent is English in professional and everyday life?<\/h2>\n

You can definitely get by with English, at least in the beginning, but I think it’s good and mindful to learn at least French – it really helps a lot at work or when dealing with the commune or in the local boulangerie. In everyday situations I have managed well with my high-school French. Unfortunately my Dutch is at a very basic level, but I am learning more with my child.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are the main administrative hurdles one should prepare for?<\/h2>\n

Brussels can feel highly bureaucratic, especially coming from Finland. Many administrative tasks still require in-person visits rather than online services, which can be time-consuming. Patience is key! Fortunately, we have good systems in place at the Institute to help a newcomer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Quick tips and recommendations!<\/h2>\n

Best coffee: <\/strong>I’m a forever and ever Italian coffee lover, so I’ll say Domenica Caff\u00e8 and Roastery<\/a> on Place Lux.<\/p>\n

Best fries:<\/strong> Oh! That is difficult, because the culture of frites is a very serious matter here. My go-to spot is Frit Flagey, always with andalouse sauce. For beer, I have to give a shoutout to Antwerp\u2019s Bolleke De Koninck<\/a>\u2014my absolute favourite.<\/p>\n

Best croissant:<\/strong> I am not much of a croissant eater, but I\u2019ll say Maison Barat<\/a> and their croissant pur beurre.<\/p>\n

Best restaurant:<\/strong> Au Repos de la Montagne<\/a> in Uccle! Great food, location, rlaxed and friendly atmosphere. Not to be missed! And for pizza either Marcella<\/a> at Bailly or La Pizza Piola<\/a> in Saint-Josse.<\/p>\n

Favourite neighbourhood in Brussels:<\/strong> Always and forever, my neighborhood: St. Job. ❤️<\/p>\n

Favourite museum: <\/strong>So many! Bozar<\/a>, obviously, and WIELS<\/a> (even though not a museum but an art space). With kids, Train World<\/a> in Schaerbeek is a must, as well as the Institute of Natural Sciences<\/a> in Ixelles and Museum for Migration<\/a> in Molenbeek for its great events. For architecture and design fans I\u2019d recommend Horta Museum<\/a> and CIVA<\/a>, Centre for architecture, landscape and urban planning.<\/p>\n

Favourite place to spend a sunny afternoon:<\/strong> In summer, Waterloo Nausicaa public swimming pool\u2014especially when the roof is open for outdoor swimming. The Hippodrome de Bruxelles in Bois de la Cambre forest for a nice run or walk.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux is now looking for a new Director to lead its activities in Brussels. This role offers a unique opportunity to promote Finnish culture and foster connections across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. If you’re interested in this exciting position, you can find more details on our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Catch up with our Director, Laura Boxberg, as she shares her experience of living and working in the heart of Europe, along with tips and recommendations for Brussels!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":20237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76,68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interview","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLiving and working in Brussels: A personal perspective with Laura Boxberg - Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Catch up with our Director, Laura Boxberg as she shares her experience of living and working in the heart of Europe, along with tips and recommendations.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/finncult.be\/living-and-working-in-brussels-a-personal-perspective-with-laura-boxberg\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fi_FI\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Living and working in Brussels: A personal perspective with Laura Boxberg - 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