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Why Belgium

If you ask a a foreigner to describe Belgium, his answer will always contain three things, namely our famous chocolates, Tintin and Stella Artois. If you ask the same thing to a Belgian he will probably refer to the high taxes, the rainy weather and the huge traffic jams. That is just typical for Belgians, modest as they are about their country.

That is also why visitors are surprised when they discover the beauty of our historical cities like Brussels, the capital of Belgium and Europe, or our magnificent coast, when they try our fantastic cuisine or one of the more than 800 Belgian beers, or when they experience the Flemish way of life, one of the most comfortable in the world. And what is important, visitors are more than welcome as is shown by the thousands of foreign students who come to study at one of our renowned universities!

History

Belgium has been a nation since 1830. It has been a microcosm of European history.  The French-Dutch linguistic line today is roughly the boundary between the Roman Empire in the south and the territory dominated by the German Franks in the North. In the Middle Ages, the area produced some of the wealthiest trading cities in the world, developing high cultural achievements.

Belgium has changed hands more than any other country in Europe. Subsequently, it came under Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian and Dutch authority before becoming independent.

All these comings and goings left the Belgians with a warm tolerance for foreigners and an appreciation for culture and refinement, which are prominent in Belgian life.

Climate

Belgium has a maritime climate, characterized by moderate temperatures, cloudy skies and regularly abundant rainfall. Generally the climate is described as 'variable'.

Summers are usually not that hot but it does get sunny and warm. With the first rays of summer sun, Belgians start enjoying the outdoors life with lots of barbecues, sitting outside a pub to have a drink and plenty of daytrips to the Belgian coast and the ´Ardennen´.

Although winters don´t get very cold it does snow every once in a while. If the cold holds for a few days, plenty of Belgians go to the South to enjoy a day of hiking, downhill or cross-country skiing.
Spring and fall are generally fair in temperature with lots of rain. If you´re coming to Belgium don´t forget to pack your raincoat and umbrella!

Family Life

A sense of family is important for Belgians and the majority of them are very close-knit. Most members of a Belgian family have very active lives and a packed schedule. But  they always make time for family meals. This is the time of day when a Belgian family sits down together to chat about everything from how your day was to current events. Most Belgian families are very open with each other, so don´t be surprised if you get lots of questions about your friends, schoollife, hobbies, etc.

Most children have a strong sense of loyalty not only to their parents, but also to their grandparents, siblings and cousins. Sundays are usually reserved for family get-togethers. This is the time for activities like a visit to grandparents, a daytrip to explore the country or just going to the movies.
It is very common for Belgians to share responsibilities in the house, so don´t be surprised when you are expected to pitch in. These are usually things like cleaning your room, help preparing meals or doing the dishes. An offer to help will be much appreciated!

The home of a Belgian family is a very private place. Although not all families emphasize privacy in the same way, it is nevertheless an honour to be invited into a Belgian home as a guest.

School

Education is considered very important and the level of education in Belgium today is one of the highest in Europe.

In Belgian schools you can study languages (Dutch, French, German, English, Spanish), mathematics, sciences, Latin, history, geography, philosophy, social sciences, art, eceonomics, tourism, sports, ...

The educational system is organized in two sectors: the private (mostly catholic) and public. Education is free in both of these systems however, and the curriculum is the same. Secondary students are divided into four categories; this division is determined partly by the demonstrated academic abilities of the students and partly by the student´s (or his/her parents´) choice:
 
General secondary education: ASO
Technical secondary education: TSO
Artistic secondary education: KSO
Professional secondary education: BSO
 
Schooling is compulsory from the age of 6 to 18; nursery schools can be attended at the age of 2 1/2. Primary education lasts 6 years and is followed by another 6 year cycle of secondary education.
There are not many extra-curricular activities available through schools. If you would like to participate in sports, music or other activities you will have to join a community group.
At Christmas and Easter schools are closed for two weeks.  Carnival and All Saints Day (November 1st) bring short breaks of a week each.  Summer holidays last from June 30th till September 1st.

Specialization in sports, art, fashion or tourism:
You can choose to participate in the school program to Belgium Flanders with a specialization in sports, art, fashion or tourism. You will go to a regular high school and will take courses in the chosen specialization.

Sports: The sport education is perfect for an athlete who wants to combine a general education in math and sciences with a large number of sports. (+/- 10h sports/week)

Art: A secondary education in arts combines a broad general education with an active schooling in visual arts. (+/-  20h arts subjects/week)

Tourism: The education in tourism prepares young travelers for a job as travel designer! Only for those who like to study languages and for those who are interested in history and geography. (+/-10h languages/week)

Fashion: Do you like to stitch and want to design clothes? Would you like to open your own fashion store later? Choose the education in fashion and you will learn the creative as well as the commercial aspects of the fashion business. (+/- 16-22h practical courses/week)

Check with your local YFU organisation for more information.

Language

There are three official languages in Belgium: Dutch, French and German. French-speaking Belgians live in the Southern part of the country (Wallonia) and the Dutch-Speaking Belgians live in the North (Flanders). There is also a small minority of German-speaking Belgians.

During your exchange in Belgium you will learn the official Dutch at school. Although in Belgium we speak this with a different accent and call it Flemish.
Dutch is not a particularly easy language to learn, but with determination and perseverance it will only take a few months before you have a good grasp of the language and can hold your own in a conversation. During your arrival orientation you will be taught all the basics in Dutch language classes.

The best advice we can give you when learning Dutch is to speak it as much as possible. Practice makes perfect! Don´t be embarrassed to speak and ask for the Dutch translation of words, even during the first couple of weeks when you´re not entirely comfortable with the language. You will find that most Belgians will be more than happy to help you, especially when they feel that you are making an effort!

During your stay you can also study other languages at school, like French, German, English or Spanish.

Leisure

Once the weekend comes along, Belgians like to take things easy and just enjoy the company of friends and family. Activities like going shopping in a bigger city, visiting relatives, going to the beach or visiting a forest for a good hike are all among the favorites.

During the weekend young people in Belgium go out to a disco or a pub, see a movie at the theatre or just hang out at a friends house.

A majority of youth is a member of the scouts or a sports team. For a long time now, soccer is the most popular sport to play and watch. When the Belgian national team - The Red Devils - is playing an important match you will find a lot of people glued to their television set. Also very popular is bicycle racing. Some of the Belgian cyclists, such as the renowned Eddy Merckx, are known worldwide. Tennis has also become increasingly popular because of the two Belgian players (Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin) who were until recently among the top 10 in the world!
Belgians are immensely proud of their rich cultural heritage, especially in art and architecture. Don´t be surprised if one weekend your family takes you to a museum or to visit one of the Belgian architectural highlights!

Transportation

For most young people in Belgium a bicycle provides the most convenient form of personal transport. Small distances in our densely populated country make it easy to get to places by bicycle. If your host family provides you with one, you must take extremely good care of it. Never leave it unlocked, chances are your bicycle will be gone when you come back!

If your destination is too far by bicycle you can rely on one of the most complete public transportation systems in the world: a railroad system, buses and streetcars will bring you to every historical spot, artistic event, folk festival and architectural monument.