Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Belgium

Dutch-speaking MeFites familiar with Belgium: who do I call and what's their number?

Leucistic Cuttlefish — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 11:46:39 -0800

I have two related questions: are my partner's symptoms worth a hospital visit? And if not, are there Dutch-speaking mefites who could help us find a family doctor open in Leuven, Belgium on Sunday? My partner (Blasdelb) is sleeping at the moment, but he has a fever (to the touch) that came on suddenly this afternoon after he felt somewhat nauseous and achy. Two months ago we both caught a viral throat infection with runny nose and fever -- no signs of anything bacterial. His health insurance wasn't quite figured out yet so he simply waited it out. He was fine a couple days later. Last time when he got particularly dehydrated it spiked back up (briefly), but without the runny nose or other viral indicators. He definitely needs to see a doctor -- how urgently I'm not sure.

When he was last awake, he was lucid albeit a bit foggy, audibly regretting putting this doctor's visit off, his breath smelled like old people, and he was grudgingly ambulatory. I'm feeding him lots of fluids and he doesn't seem hungry for anything else.

My impression is that medical things here are such that you have to call your family doctor, even for potential emergencies, and those docs decide what you should do next. To my knowledge he doesn't have a doctor yet -- his health insurance is in some strange Belgian limbo where he's applied for it and his commercial health-insurance that he's also applied for through his employer needs to confirm his dates of employment before it's "official" (or something). His guess is that the holidays have further delayed the process. He's concerned about how payment will be dealt with in that limbo.

So: can you guys find a Belgian doctor who'd be appropriate for me to call now?

Can you guys find a doctor in Leuven I can call in the morning who is open this Sunday?

Do I need to prod him awake and call the local emergency number?

Help me prank my PI

Blasdelb — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 05:20:15 -0800

When I first started my current job as a graduate researcher at a nominally Catholic university as an American in Belgium, my boss played a quick prank on me where he came into my office, plopped down a copy of the New Testament in Flemish, and told me I needed to study up to pass some kind of religious test. The way he did it, it was pretty funny and I’m looking for ways to prank him back. To be clear, I’m looking for pranks that are not based on a violation of space or that are especially nasty in some way, this is my boss after all. So far I have already emptied out a mayonnaise jar, filled it with yoghurt, and eaten it in front of him while yakking on about how it must be some kind of strange Belgian egg pudding however, while this got everyone else in the lunchroom, he was totally unfazed claiming that we was difficult to shock. This is of course a challenge that I’d like to meet but I am out of ideas.

In Bruges

whitewall — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 11:16:51 -0800

Any pro tips for a weekend in Bruges without a car? Needless to say, we like beer and we like food, hence the trip to Belgium What is not to miss?

Best 3g SIM card for Western Europe?

pompomtom — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:50:24 -0800

What are my prepaid 3g data+sim options for Western Europe? I will be in the UK for a week, the Netherlands and Belgium for a fortnight, and then France for a few days. What are my options for prepaid 3g data (including SIM(s))? Telephony is a minor issue, data is most important.

What companies should I be checking out? Are there any which won't require a new SIM per country?

Who is Mrs Bear?

Hogshead — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:54:42 -0800

Can you identify this teddybear and tell me where I can buy another one like it? This is a photograph of Mrs Bear. She is my four-year-old's beloved companion, but she's beginning to look ragged around the seams, she's been involved in a few fights, and I fear for her longevity. Therefore I would like to have an emergency Mrs Bear on hand in case the worst ever happens.

Mrs Bear was a present from friends; we believe she was originally bought in Belgium. She does have a tag on her leg, but it has been chewed to ribbons. The dress is original; there used to be a matching shoulderbag too. 'Mrs Bear' is our name for her.

Do you recognise this bear, do you know its manufacturer, do you know where I can get another? Ideally in Europe, but the love of a small child knows no distance.

What do I need to know to be an effective and prepared expat American in Belgium?

Blasdelb — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:18:43 -0800

What are the quirks to living in Europe that will surprise me as an American and what do I need to know to be an effective and prepared expat American in Belgium? I'm going to Belgium this summer as a PhD student in the biological sciences in most awesome lab ever at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Leuven, Belgium. I visited the town and the lab once, and fell in love with it, but I've realized that I have very little idea of how to go about the business of actually living there.

I'm looking for:

Practical advice I'm likely to need as an American planning to live in Belgium,

Challenges and bonuses I'm unlikely to be expecting,

Useful anecdotes,

Expectations I will need to get used to,

How living in Belgium, and Europe more generally, different from living in the US,

Non-obvious things I might want to be careful to make sure to bring with me,

Things that will be weird

and other things I haven't thought of that I might find useful or interesting.

Also answers to some stupid questions,

What is the best way to move my stuff? I have 8 shelves of books, which I can store if moving them would be cost prohibitive. I also have a reasonably nice bike, a desktop, and a nice big monitor that I love but has a Massive box. Which of these things make sense to take with me? How should I do that?

For money, I can just get my bank (USBank) to print up a check in Euros and make a new account with a Belgian bank using that right?

How do I go about looking for a house/apartment/roommate situation? Particularly while still in the States.

I've heard people don't use checks even for large exchanges of money like paying for rent, does it really happen in cash? I at least get a receipt or something right?

I am already reasonably familiar with Belgian history, politics, language issues and geography and so do not need a primer. I also already know some usable French and am learning Dutch.

How much does living in Antwerp cost?

sarahdal — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:34:19 -0800

30 year old UK resident considering studying for an English language Masters degree in Antwerp. How much does it cost to live in Antwerp? I'd like to get an idea of how much money I should save up. For example - what's the typical rent? bills? tax? I've only ever lived in non-London UK; should I expect it to be significantly cheaper?

Bonus question: I don't speak more than very basic French and German, and no Dutch/Flemmish. Would I really be able to get a bar job?

Reputable dog rescue or shelter in Belguim?

hilaryjade — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:48:59 -0800

A Belgian friend of mine's dog just passed away. Recently, when we lost one of our animals, a different friend made a donation to a shelter she had knowledge of & respected in our pet's name. I found that deeply touching, and now, I would like to do the same for this friend. However, this friend lives in Londerzeel, Belgium. I am an English-only speaker, unfortunately, and I'm having a little trouble trying to research animal shelters/rescues in another country.

Do you know of a dog rescue or shelter in Belgium? Perhaps near Londerzeel? Particularly one that may be able to accept financial donations online?

Thanks so much.

What should we do in Brussels (and the rest of Belgium) for five days in March?

ghostpony — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:40:24 -0800

What should we do in Brussels (and the rest of Belgium) for five days in March? I just impulsively bought my fiancee and I cheap tickets to Brussels in March (they were seriously cheap at $250 round trip per person). We'll be there for five days, and my fiancee and I are looking for things to do.

Things we love:
-beer
-beer
-beer
-waffles
-pretty, old things
-beer
-the movie In Bruges

Are there any great resources that detail the best way to see a bunch of abbeys/breweries? If you can't tell, I'd like not to spend a fortune while there. Any good tips on what to do that won't break the bank?

I actually know nothing about Belgium (except that they don't have a central government, Bruges really annoys Colin Farrell, and that Trappiste beers really are all that they're cracked up to be) but would love to know more!

Besides drinking the alcohol, what should I do in France, Belgium, and Germany?

buckaroo_benzai — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:13:16 -0800

I'm considering going to France, Belgium, and Germany in late April for 3 weeks, what should I do and see while I'm there? I'm a 33 year old guy and will be traveling solo for a 3-week vacation to Europe beginning April 20th and ending May 12th (I'll be leaving from San Francisco). Currently considering going to France, Belgium, and Germany.

My main interests are outdoor adventures (hiking, waterfalls, hot springs), meeting people and making new friends, and experiencing local culture (especially food and drink). Basically I like to go places, meet people, and hang out with them to do whatever it is they love about where they live. I plan on mainly couchsurfing, perhaps a hostel or two, and taking the train or hitchhiking wherever I need to go.

I do not care about typical tourist stuff like museums, tourist attractions, monuments, hotels, shopping, and fancy restaurants.

So what's my question?

I'm wondering if anyone out there has any good tips on:

- particularly good cities to visit (and why)

- interesting places to go or things to do

- specific types of food or drink I should seek out (e.g. "While in Paris, you must eat a _____" or "Be sure to try the ______ beer in Belgium")

- any festivals or cultural events that happen in late April to early May

In general, please tell me about the most awesome things you've seen or done in France, Belgium, or Germany and what I shouldn't miss while I'm there.

Armchair Travels

mippy — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:28:53 -0800

Next year, I'll be travelling to the Netherlands and (briefly) Belgium, then later a trip to Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm. Are there any films or novels I should check out to get a feel for the places before I get there? Scandinavian crime fiction is huge right now in the UK, so I already know about this. I also already own Tove Jansson's The Summer Book, The Winter Book and the Moomin stories. Any other recommendations would be great! Books set in those places as well as written by natives would be fine too. I don't speak any of those languages so any suggestions need to be subtitled/translated, sadly.

Day trips in Belgium

TheWhiteSkull — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:46:30 -0800

Belgian MeFites! Or MeFites who have been to Belgium! A question about trains. As a follow up to this question, can anyone tell me how long it typically takes to get from Ghent to Oudenaarde by train? How about Ghent to Bruges or Antwerp?

Spring Classics in Belgium

TheWhiteSkull — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:16:37 -0800

Belgians or Cyclists or Belgian Cyclists: Help me plan a spring trip to Belgium. So, the UCI has just announced the 2012 calendar and I'm planning a trip to Belgium this April. I'd like to attend one of the Spring Classics, as well as visit several different cities (Antwerp, Bruges, Liège, maybe Ghent), and do more standard touristy things (art museums, beer, etc.). I'm looking to spend a week or so, but I want to take a pretty casual pace. Is this reasonable? Which Classic should I attend (right now I'm debating between the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Liège-Bastogne-Liège)? Which is the easiest to watch? What is the best time in April to go? Early or late in the month (I understand that April was unseasonably warm last year)? How difficult is it to book during this period? What other suggestions would you make?

Funding for a Ph.D. in Belgium

Blasdelb — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:46:03 -0800

I'm looking for scholarships or fellowships that could fund, or help fund, a molecular/microbiology Ph.D. in Belgium for an American. I am currently an American graduate student who will now suddenly be graduating with M.Sc in Microbiology with a thesis at the end of spring. I was just recently the Co-Coordinator for an international conference where my efforts particularly impressed the most awesome P.I. ever. He had already looked into finding a way to bring me to Belgium two years ago at the last conference when I was first applying for schools, but now that I will be a free agent again we are looking into it more seriously. The only problem then and now is that, while he has no problem finding money (his lab is gorgeous and rolling in it) all of his sources of student funding are at least EU citizen specific, and many of them are Flemish citizen specific.

I do have a few things going for me,

My CV does not look so bad, I am on some publications, have significantly more experience than is usual for my age, and have been on some impressive sounding committees.

I speak a little bit of French and really want to work on it

This would be research that is plausibly in an area of national need (The Navy, Army, VA, and assorted defense contractors are beginning to dabble in it)

The P.I. is a rising star in the field and a general all around badass who has made a lot of crazy shit work.

There are companies with venture capital and defense cash which might be interested in me doing a project of theirs in his lab.

The University may have funding for at least part of the time that I'd need it

The significant challenges are that,

A Ph.D should have 4 years of funding at least plausibly available.

European Ph.D. funding seems largely inaccessible

American funding for a Ph.D. abroad seems largely non-existent

So far I've found the Belgian American Educational Foundation and he has found the Study in Flanders Fellowship, though they are both only for a year. The Fulbright Scholarship has the same problem but also requires a goal to be plausibly accomplished at the end of their year.

He is also now looking for other possible European and Belgian sources of funding, including possibly a Marie Curie Fellowship, and is more familiar with the companies than I am, but I'm hoping to find any American sources I may have overlooked. Do you have any ideas?

Really this is all kind of new and bewildering for me, I was a C- student in high school who went to a hippy college in the middle of the woods with no grades to get away from that, even the idea of international scholarships is entirely new and weird to me.

Any tips for vacation French immersion courses overseas?

huskerdont — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 06:41:03 -0800

Anyone have any tips or recommendations for French-language learning vacations? I have a few weeks off from work coming up this summer and am interested in the idea of attending a French-language immersion learning course in France, Quebec or Belgium during some of that time. Does anyone have any recommendations or tips on places or resources? Are there any that offer lodging/etc?

A bit about me: I'm 30 and an intermediate (VERY intermediate) level French learner. Would prefer to find a place where there are others in my general age group as well. Thanks!

Song from 2008 Belgian electric company ads?

amber_dale — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:41:05 -0800

In early 2008, there was a song used in commercials for the Belgian power company. Lyrics might have included reference to always catching the light. Need help identifying title and artist.

Time Formats in Belgium

Jeff Howard — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 06:25:31 -0800

I'm curious about the custom in Belgium of representing the time with what appears to be a lowercase "u" in place of the colon or full stop (14u38, rather than 14:38). Is this related to the French custom of writing the time as 14h38 and if so what word (in what language) is being represented by the letter "u"? If it's not an abbreviation (or not a "u"), what function does the symbol serve? Is it common usage? Can someone familiar with the region help explain the context?

Internet in rural Belgium...

schmoo — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:20:33 -0800

What is the best option for mobile internet in Belgium for one month? I will be living in Belgium for a month, starting at the end of January. There will be no internet where I will be living, and no nearby internet cafes or wireless, so I need to sort out some way of being able to use the internet for that time - it's really going to be essential for my work, but also to keep in contact with people back home.

The catch is that the place I am going to is really remote, so there will not be any opportunity for me to buy anything when I am over there. I can't even stop off in a city on my way there, as my travel schedule is very tight. Therefore I need something that I can buy online and have shipped to me (in the UK) before I go. My French is reasonable, so I can probably manage buying from a site that's not in English, but I'd rather not speak to anyone on the phone if it can be avoided!

Does anyone have any recommendations? Which are the main mobile internet providers in Belgium, and with which can I sort it all out before I leave? I have had a look but got a bit baffled - I'm not very tech-savvy and my French isn't brilliant! I don't know if I will need unlimited bandwith or not - I will not be downloading music or anything like that, but I will probably Skype quite a bit. Basically I want to be able to use the internet, for a month, as cheaply as possible.

I have seen this question, but this asker wanted to be able to use the internet in multiple European countries, so I think my request is a bit different. Thank you!

Chez moi, c'est près de ma Stella

xiaolongbao — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:53:50 -0800

Brussels, Belgium on business for a month. What can I do in the evenings and weekends? I am embarking on a month-long trip to Brussels, Belgium from the end of November to mid-December. This will be my second visit lasting a month, and given my failure towards the end of my last trip to find interesting things to fill my time, I turn to Metafilter for some suggestions.

Evenings. I started to go out of my skull in the evenings. I'll work 9-6 or so, but as I don't yet have any outside-work friends in the area, I'm looking for ways to get out and about. My coworkers do take me out from time to time, but I'd like to meet new people, preferably through activities and not bars, because my hearing's not too good and my tolerance not too high. Restaurant suggestions would also be welcome so I can avoid dining chez Carrefour Express and Quick.

My interests: rock climbing, guitar, reading, cycling, and uh, fortunately enough, trying new things. I have books covered, but suggestions on the other fronts are welcome. Specifically:
Guitar. In all likelihood, I won't be bringing my cheap acoustic or less cheap electric guitar with me, as Jet Airways wants $150 each way. Has anyone ever rented a guitar in Brussels? Is craigslist viable in this town? Any suggestions, including music stores to check out, would be greatly appreciated as I love to play.
Climbing. Can anyone suggest climbing gyms or ways to get involved in the local climbing scene? I'm willing to cross borders if need be, but would prefer to explore locally.
Cycling. The weather may not to be too fit for safe cycling, in all likelihood, but has anyone ever rented a bike for a period longer than a day or weekend for a reasonable rate? Where? I see those sweetly cheap Velo bikes everywhere, but apparently I need a Belgian bank account to rent one. I don't think that's a strong possibility for me, but hey, advice on getting one of those is also welcome.

I've seen all the touristy things, and done a trip to Amsterdam, but I'd love suggestions for weekends, too! I know Bruges is mandatory, and I have no idea how I didn't end up there last time :o)

I speak French and basic Dutch, and communication hasn't proved to be a big issue. Feel free to go nuts with off-the-wall suggestions...I'm game.

Last thing: Beer. I know this is a crazy question, but can anyone recommend a Belgian beer that tastes like PBR? Unsurprisingly, I find myself in a lot of situations where drinking is pretty much mandatory, and don't really like any beers but this one (I know, I know), so I'd really appreciate the advice of someone with a higher beer IQ than mine. I can handle the fruit beers, too, (krieks, lambics, what-have-you) but they're way too heavy and sweet for the quantities I'm expected to consume :o)

Thanks!

suggestions for girlfriend's birthday in brussels

bucksox — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:14:30 -0800

I am going to be in Brussels in a couple weeks on vacation with my girlfriend when it is her birthday. Does anyone have any suggestions for fun, romantic, not too expensive things to do in Brussels for her birthday (restaurants, activities, etc.)?

Zombiefilter: What is up with this Flemish painting?

deludingmyself — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:52:35 -0800

Zombie Flemish Art filter: I saw this painting in the Groeninge Museum in Bruges, Belgium. What the hell is going on? "These are my brains, which are for you... do this in remembrance of me."

The placard underneath of this painting said it was a 16th century Last Supper by Pieter Pourbus. So, MeFites... what's up with Zombie Steve in the corner there? Inquiring minds are dying to know (and combed the entire gift shop in the vain hope of sending postcards to all our friends).

Moving to Belgium from Los Angeles, CA

seancake — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:54:45 -0800

Moving soon to Belgium, to married to a Belgian native. Anything I should know about, moving from Los Angeles, CA, to Belgium? It's a fairytale story. Girl meets girl, girl loses girl (for 9 years), and girl re-meets girl and decides to go on a beer tour to Belgium for two weeks plus. Girl meets girl again, and they fall in love and decide that they belong together. Any logistic things I should know? From a moving standpoint, any good international moving companies I should know about? Any good advice? I've been a member of this community for a long time now, and have saved any questions till it was imperative I needed one answered. I really need your advice now. Please help, if you have any experience with moving to the EU in general, or Belgium in particular. Thanks in advance.

Can I buy Speculoospasta in the US?

spiderskull — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:02:46 -0800

Can I buy the unbelievably delicious Speculoospasta in the US? If so, where? Does anyone from Belgium export it?

Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge and vicinity

feelinggood — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:29:50 -0800

Has anyone had experience touring the Canadian WWI sites in France and Belgium -- Vimy Ridge and the Memorial, and Ypres (Ieper) specifically? I'd like to visit that area for a couple of days this September, but the travel literature is very scant. Are two days enough or too long to see the interesting stuff? Are there better sites than the ones I've mentioned? Is it easy getting around? Is there anything to see? Are there any WWII sites nearby and could they be combined in a two-day stay in the region? Are accommodations easy to get on short notice? Is a car the best method? I've read a little about guided tours, I think -- are they worthwhile? Etc., etc. Are there any questions I don't know enough to ask?

Vegetarian seeks tasty food in Western Europe

embrangled — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:57:04 -0800

What tasty foods should an adventurous vegetarian eat in the UK and Western Europe? I eat eggs and dairy, but not meat and only rarely fish. I'm not overly uptight about trace animal products or stock. I'll be travelling through England, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. These countries aren't generally known as hotbeds of vegetarianism, but I'd still like to try as many interesting local foods as I can.

A meat-eating friend has been joking that I'll starve - I'm more optimistic, so help me prove him wrong. I'm not worried about what I'll eat, but I'd like to expand my culinary horizons beyond "That one vegan cafe in the hippy district". Which quintessential European meals and snacks just happen to be meat-free?