Hi,

I was wondering what life in Brussels might be like for an English-speaking guy in his late 20s?

Is it generally considered a "good" city for single men, in terms of the single male-female ratio?

What are some experiences with the local Flemish women you have had, and are they in general open to dating foreigners or closed/clannish in some way?

I have a choice between Brussels, Paris, and London for a job placement and trying to decide what might be best.

Paris is attractive, but I speak no French. London is great, but the cost of living there would make things very tight.

I visited Brussels but I found the city quite strange - dirty, lacking in charm, and filled with aggressiveness and racist/xenophobic attitudes (both from a few of the native Belgians as well as some of the North African immigrants) to a noticeable extend.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Quote:

Hi,

I was wondering what life in Brussels might be like for an English-speaking guy in his late 20s?

Is it generally considered a "good" city for single men, in terms of the single male-female ratio?

What are some experiences with the local Flemish women you have had, and are they in general open to dating foreigners or closed/clannish in some way?

I have a choice between Brussels, Paris, and London for a job placement and trying to decide what might be best.

Paris is attractive, but I speak no French. London is great, but the cost of living there would make things very tight.

I visited Brussels but I found the city quite strange - dirty, lacking in charm, and filled with aggressiveness and racist/xenophobic attitudes (both from a few of the native Belgians as well as some of the North African immigrants) to a noticeable extend.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

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Place is falling apart... with unemployment up to 30% in some of its neighbourhoods, local commuters profoundly resenting this rathole they are forced to finance through a 50% levy on income by labour, special subclasses (eurocrats, tax-break jet set people, Cyprus mailbox entrepreneurs) hardly paying any taxes... this is an explosive brew, stay out. Add to that lingusitic, ethnic and religioud faultlines....

And Flemish women in Brussels....????

I have to agree with Phlegmy on this one. I'd pick London of the three choices.

You have described perfectly the city centre around Rue Neuve and Boulevard Anspach (around stations Annessens, Bourse, De Brouckere).

But this is only a tiny part of Brussels which richer Brussels try to avoid as much as much as they can. The Louise Avenue, Chaussee de Waterloo, and Avenue Bruggman area is better for going out. Try around the Chatelain maybe...