After residing for nearly 3 months in Belgium, I received a letter from city hall saying I must attend an "Integration programme," to learn Dutch (which I already speak), etc. My husband & I have decided to stay in Belgium for the time being, although the process is continually frustrating. Has anyone out there done such an integration programme? Or managed to get out of doing one?

I don't believe that you can get out of doing the program.

I had to take a basic dutch course (full-day for 2.5 weeks, despite the fact that I already spoke some Dutch), a social integration course (afternoons for almost a month), and there was also a career orientation course (about a month).

The letter I got stated that in some cases, I could waive the course. I am going to check on my first available opportunity next week. (Work keeps me very busy). I lived in the Netherlands for a year before, so my Dutch is actually quite decent. The career integration course, though, was that with your job or with the city gov't? (My job is in Brussels & they have not mentioned requiring career integration).

The career integration course was through the VDAB (I live in Limburg).

I also lived in the Netherlands before moving here, but I was still sent to the very first level.

Well, I managed to get out of the Dutch course at least...but 30 hours of culture lessons to follow...actually will be leaving the country now so I guess I did manage to "get out of it"--oh well.

If I might ask, what's gotten you all to leave so soon? Am basically in the same boat. Wife is here 8 months, I'm here six, and we're both bored senseless and I'm not even legally here (well, I kind of am anyway).

I'm sure not taking any lessons from anyone on anything.

I was in the Netherlands for 11 months because my (Belgian) partner was working there.
He started working in Belgium again, so we moved here. I don't have plans to leave any time soon.

and what happens if you just don't do the course?

I'm definitely curious about that.... I already speak fluent French and Dutch, so there's precious little I could learn. (And I work 50 hours a week.)

If you can prove that you already are integrated (i.e. you speak Dutch, you're a member of a Flemish library, you're a member of a Flemish political party...), then you can get out of it. Otherwise, you're stuck. I must say, however, that I fully agree with the Flemish for setting this up. There are too many people who move to Flanders and never bother to learn the language or contribute to Flemish society. I personally think that's just insulting to your host country/region.

I live in Brussels, so I guess no worries about anything... they're too lazy.

If you're legally required to complete the program and you fail to do so, you can be fined (up to €5000).

The integration program is an initiative of the Flemish government and is valid for non-EU citizens who reside in Flanders. If you live in Brussels, it does not apply to you.

After speaking to a few people, I was waived not only of the language course but the cultural class as well. Although I am still working out details of a potential departure, this was not the reasoning. I do agree that the integration is important, and would highly recommend it to folks (it is after all, free). Their decision was based on the fact that I work FT in Brussels and travel frequently for work, it simply was not sensible to do the program.

Am I entitled for this .I am from Sri Lanka

So many reasons...but one of the main ones being my husband & I are extremely outdoorsy ( I used to be a ranger). We had fantasies of taking the occasional weekend in Switzerland & going camping in Italy, etc., but my new job has provided precious little time. Plus we quickly realized we could spend all our money traveling when we could live where did before and have access at our fingertips. Maybe I'd be making less money, but we'd both probably be working (he has had difficulty finding work right now). So, many many reasons.
I think there are a lot of things to do here to battle boredom, but I do think it depends on what you like doing, and what your lifestyle preference is.

Yes, if you live in Flanders.