Hi all,

I'm new to expactica. I'm an American currently living in London but will be moving to Brussels in about a month's time. I spent last weekend in Brussels to take a look at the various commune in the city. I'm a single professional male in my early-mid 30s. I'm looking for a somewhat trendy but not too lively part of the city to live. Do you think the Ixelle part or Louisa area would be a good fit? How much should I expect to pay in rent each month?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

I'd vote for Ixelles, somewhere between place du Châtelain and place Brugmann, such as rue Franz Merjay. Great area for trendy shops, cafés and restaurants, yet still reasonably residential. I wouldn't head towards the other side of Ixelles though (crossing avenue Louise)-- too busy and too noisy-- and stay away from Matongé, Brussels' Little Africa. Some friends had a great apartment near rue St-Boniface, but in the summer it was impossible to sleep with the windows open due to all the street noise. If you'd like something a bit edgier, try rue Antoine Dansaert in central Brussels or around place Ste-Catherine. The Flemish are buying up the area and turning it into something cool. A friend of mine has a great loft on rue 't Kint, and there are some very cool "industrial" spaces around there, but you have to look. Finally, keep in mind that Brussels is tiny and not all that fun compared to what places like London, Paris and New York have to offer. In fact, if you don't have to live in Brussels, don't! Ghent and Antwerp are far more hip and happening. The train ride from Gent St-Pieters to Brussels South Station is only 29 minutes.

Thanks, I certainly thinking about living in Antwerp in the long run once I get settled in Belgium. I was in Brussels last weekend to visit. Having lived in both New York and London, I'm getting some idea as to what to expect when I come over to Brussels.

Thanks again.

I've been living in Brussels for the past 6 years. Before that, I spent 10+ years in Paris, and prior to that, NYC. I married a Belgian (Flemish) guy, which is what brought me to Belgium in the first place. Brussels is a decent enough place to live, with nice people, a relaxed lifestyle and a low cost of living, but I'm not a diehard fan, as overall I find it rather boring and conservative, not to mention dirty and run-down. Having lived in France for many years, I also find that French-speaking Belgian culture doesn't have a lot to offer me, as it just seems like some kind of "poorer cousin" of France (sorry to any Walloons or Bruxellois reading this!). I find Flanders a hell of a lot more cool and progressive and fashionable. Within the next 3-5 years, I hope to move to Ghent. Antwerp is also cool, but it has a seedy side, and too many loud Dutch people from over the border. Anyway, have fun getting settled, wherever you do decide to live.