Well I've been here for 8 months, and I'll stay for a bit longer, but I can honestly say that Brussels is one of the most boring, sleaziest and chaotic places that I've ever lived in. Brussels centre takes three-quarters of a year to give you your residency permit... (which is typed up by hand)... which is then good for another four months! Then you have to go through it all again.

And the drivers just plain suck. (Had one idiot cut me off, then pull in front of my car and slam on the breaks and then jerk back into the other lane on the ring road this morning. One has to wonder if he was on drugs, drunk or just a complete idiot waiting to crash his car at high speed.)

I don't mind being here, but I won't miss it when I'm gone.

It's not boring, it's just not lively and doesn't take advantage of any of its strengths... but the drivers are really, really bad. Food is 350%better than in the Netherlands though.

I don't live in Brussels so can't comment on the state of the capital but I am happy enough with Gent.
I do commute each day though to Brussels so I experience my more than my fair share of the drivers. There is the occasional shocking manoeuvre but I'm not so sure it is really any worse than any other major city.


I certainly agree this forum is amazingly quiet. There are so many expats in Brussels I find it really odd that there is so little input here.