Ready To Move Abroad?
Get 5 Quotes In Just 3 Easy Steps
Network of 500+ movers
150,000 moves annually

Moving to Brussels

Your Removal Guide for the Capital of Europe

Featured image

As the capital of both Belgium and Europe its easy to see why moving to Brussels, a beautiful multinational city with lots of opportunities. Our guide is ideal for removals to Brussels as it has plenty of information on moving costs, an essential checklist, and even information about living in Brussels. So, keep reading to find out what you need to know, and maybe even request some free moving quotes!

The Cost of Moving to Brussels

If you’re wondering whether it’ll be costly to move to Brussels or not, you’ll glad to hear that the relatively short distance and good shipping connections makes prices for shipping to the Capital of Europe pretty affordable, and this is something we’ve researched.

Just before we get to the numbers, we‘d like to mention that international moving costs can be difficult to exactly determine a price due the variability in container shipping costs. One more thing, a move to Brussels from the UK can take 8-10 days for small moves while a larger move would take 1-3 days. This is due to small move not filling a truck and thus the removal company will wait to see if they can have a full load.

Now for those estimates, we based it on a removal from London to Brussels and for different household sizes, and you can find the numbers below:

Household sizePrice estimate
1-bedroom house£800 – £1,200
3-bedroom house£1,300 – £1,800
5-bedroom house£2,100 – £2,900

Disclaimer. The above figures are merely estimates. The real cost of your move to Brussels will depend on several factors.

Cost Factors

Something that you might like to know are some of the variables that can affect the cost of a move. So, we’ve laid out some of the cost factors below:

  • Choice of moving company – For a removal company from London to Brussels, the cost and quality of the mover will have a big effect on your move. Make the wise choice and request free removal quotes to start comparison shopping today!
  • Volume – This may be like stating that water is wet, but the volume of your move is a big factor. The greater the volume, the more you can expect to pay. So, be sure to calculate the volume and then decide if everything needs to be kept.
  • Insurance – It may be a short journey, but most accidents happen on the road. Protect your wallet by getting content insurance in case of an accident.
  • Additional services – Packaging, assembling, storage, and special services to move heavy or fragile furniture will add to the cost.

Of course, the biggest impact on the cost of your move, and how pleasant it will be, is your choice of moving company. Be sure to compare prices and read reviews. But first, you’ll need to find removal companies that can help you with removals to Brussels from the UK, so fill out the form below!

Moving to Brussesl?
Request up to five free moving quotes to do so!

Moving to Brussels Checklist

Moving is by no means easy and it can be quite stressful. However, from our experience we’ve found that being organised goes a long way to making a move go smoothly. So, here you’ll find a useful checklist for moving to Brussels from the UK.

✅ Documents

Having the following documents at the ready will save you so much time when moving to Brussels. So, keep the safe and accessible and even make duplicates!

  • Passport
  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Medical Records
  • University Degree(s) and qualification(s)
  • Police Background Check
  • Visa and Work Permits

✅ Removal Company UK to Brussels

An international removal to Brussels can be hard to organise. Our advice is to find a mover and we’d recommend one of the top international removal companies in the UK.

✅ Packing

This can be the most stressful part of a move. Our advice is to be well organised and start early. For more tips, read out expert packing guide.

✅ Tax

Unless you want to pay tax in two countries, you must inform HMRC of your move.

✅ Register

When arriving in Brussels, you’ll need to register with the local municipality. You’ll need to in possession of temporary residence permit or applying for one.

✅ Healthcare

In Brussels, you’ll need to have state health insurance which covers a wide range of care. Of course, private healthcare is also available as well as private health care insurance.

✅ Banking

We recommend opening a local bank account so you can avoid difficulties contacting your The main banks are as follows:

Miscellaneous

✅ Languages

There’s good and bad news. The good news Brussels is a very international city with many languages spoken. The bad news is that Dutch and French are the predominate languages. We’d recommend learning at least one and basics in the other. Good luck!

✅ Driving

If you want to take your car with you to Belgium, you’ll need to register with the local authorities. Furthermore, you’ll need to inform DVLA that you’ve moved your car abroad.

✅ Moving to Brussels with Pets

If you’re moving to Brussels with a cat or a dog, according to the Belgian health and environment ministry, your pet will need:

    • To be microchipped.
    • An anti-rabies vaccination.
    • A health certificate.

Moving to Brussels

Cost of living in Belgium

Generally speaking, the cost of living in Brussels is cheaper than London but somewhat comparable to other large cities in the UK. If you would like to move to Brussels but aren’t sure where then make sure to check out our comparison table as this may influence your decision!

LondonBrussels
Cappuccino (regular)£2.94£2.53
Milk (1 liter)£0.93£0.89
Eggs (12)£2.23£2.39
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)£8.00£5.95
Utilities (Monthly)£180.00£115.00
1-bedroom City Centre£1,650£725
3-bedroom City Centre£3,150£1,300
Price/m2 City Centre£11,250£3,250

Finding a Job

Hopefully, you’ve already found a job in Brussels. However, if you haven’t, there’s still time. Many multinational corporations and intergovernmental bodies have made there home in Brussels, so finding a job won’t be too difficult. You can use the links below to start your search:

Tips for Life in Brussels

Make sure you remember these tips so there’s no surprises on your move!

  • Expect a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy It’s not surprising that the capital of Europe is loved by bureaucrats, in fact the city is known for it. Make sure you don’t misplace any important bits of paper and expect to be asked for signatures, police-checks and official stamps at every opportunity. Organization is key here.
  • High taxes Belgium has some of the highest taxes in Europe, if you’re a high earner then bear in mind that you might have to pay over 50% of your income (including national insurance).
  • Take an umbrella Brussels receives over 200 days of rain per year, so you don’t want to be caught short.

Ready to Move to Brussels?

Moving to Brussels will definitely be a great adventure -but it’ll require some planning. But as you now know what you expect, it should be a breeze!

Before you go, we’d like to recommend that you take a look at the pages we have linked below. They contain even more information that you’ll need for removals to Brussels from the UK. Good luck and happy reading! 😊