So my husband and I made the decision to leave. We notified the landlord today for our three months notice. I feel the Belgian system causes one to be deceptive, as if you must leave within the first year, you are penalized with a huge rental deposit, but cannot give notice within a trial period at a job until a week/two beforehand. Judgments aside (remember there are many reasons to leave a country, culture shock, etc. aside), has anyone else had to re-transition (especially so soon)? I really hate to have to do it, and there are so many reasons I must. I cannot just take 3 months off and travel--I actually can't afford it.
It is possibly ill-advised to post so much on this public forum...but most of my friends are native Belgians, and so therefore have not had to deal with this sort of bureaucracy. I really don't have many places to turn.

PLEASE HELP...read the fine print but thought the 3 months notice would cover the 3 month payment for leaving in the first year...apparently not. Anyone who has had to go through this, please let me know if you managed to work out an arrangement with the landlord...it looks like he will be a stickler on this one. I am also going to seek professional legal help through a service I've already paid for (because I was afraid something like this could happen)...but any advice would be worth it.

Giving three month's notice is standard, even once you're past the point of paying a penalty for leaving early. The penalty money is also completely separate from your damage deposit money, which may or may not be given back to you, depending on the state of the apartment.

Leave in the first year, give 3 months notice and pay a penalty of 3 month's rent
Leave in the second year, give 3 months notice and pay a penalty of 2 month's rent
Leave in the third year, give 3 months notice and pay a penalty of 1 month's rent
Leave after the third year, give 3 months notice and pay no penalty (other than damages, of course)

Unfortunately, I don't think that you can get out of this one, as it is standard.

Yes, I knew this was the best lease I could get at the time...wish I would've had some clauses written in! But I am still going to check with the renter's rights bureau in my area as for 1) an inventory was never completed and 2) we are continuing to store some of our landlord's belongings (they have been picked up only sporadically since we got here 4 months ago). I know this may have little impact where the contract is concerned, but I do feel the terms are unjust considering we have been living in temporary-type circumstances for awhile.