Moving to Brussels

Brussels attracts people leaving to work at European Union institutions, NATO, permanent representations and consultancies. Moves to Brussels therefore have their own character: they are often paid for by the employer, the date follows from the start of the new post, and the flat is in an old building with high ceilings and steep stairs. 4RELO from Wrocław prepares a move like this from the first quote to the last reassembled bookcase.

A move paid for by your employer

Institutions and companies that reimburse moving costs usually expect a detailed written offer, sometimes several offers to compare, and invoices once the move is complete. We prepare a quote with a breakdown of the scope: volume of belongings, packing, transport, carrying in and any storage. We issue a VAT invoice and work under a contract, so the documents are suitable for claiming the costs.

Nineteen municipalities, nineteen procedures

The Brussels-Capital Region is made up of 19 municipalities, each with its own office. That is where you apply to reserve space for the lorry and put up no-parking signs for the move, and it is also where you register after arrival. Without a reservation, unloading in the narrow streets of Ixelles or Saint-Gilles can turn into an hour-long search for a parking space.

We also serve municipalities outside the capital region, such as Tervuren or Waterloo. Remember that Tervuren is already in Flanders and Waterloo in Wallonia – the local offices there speak Dutch or French respectively.

Getting there and the low-emission zone

Brussels is about 1,100 kilometres from Wrocław via Germany and Aachen. The driver covers this route in two days, and we enter the city outside the morning rush on the ring road. The whole Brussels region is a low-emission zone, so we send vehicles that meet its requirements. There is no customs duty or clearance when moving belongings from Poland.

Registering your residence in Brussels

1. People coming for more than three months register at their municipal office.
2. Your home address is confirmed by the local police officer during a short visit.
3. Staff of EU institutions and diplomatic missions usually follow a separate procedure – their residence document is issued by the Belgian authorities at the employer’s request.
4. Children are enrolled at school once you have an address, so it is worth timing the move to coincide with the start of term.

If you get the keys to your flat later than you start work, your belongings can wait in storage, and we will deliver them on the day you choose. You can read more about how we handle transport abroad on the international moving page.

Moving to Brussels – questions