Study in Belgium

Buses and, in some cities, trams are omnipresent. They run regularly and provide easy access to cities and campuses. De Lijn is the company that runs the buses and trams in Flanders (incl. Brussels). MIVB/STIB runs these in Brussels.

It is always advisable to buy tickets before travelling by bus or tram and to buy a travel card for several journeys. This is much cheaper than buying a ticket from a driver.

Some cities (e.g. Brussels, Leuven) have free or cheaper public transport for students. Be sure to check out these deals before the start of the academic year.

Between cities trains, run by NMBS, are the transport of choice for students. If you're younger than 25 you can buy a Go Pass. It gives you 10 trips (one way, any distance) for less than 50 euro.

There are also fast trains that take you to Paris (1 hour 25 minutes from Brussels), London (1 hour 51 minutes from Brussels), Amsterdam, Disney Europe, Cologne.

Travelling to further locations is best done by air from one of the airports. Several low cost companies have a hub in Belgium.

Brussels Airport is located 13 Km northeast of the city center. IATA and ACI (Airport Councils International) voted Brussels Airport twice as Best European Airport. A train connects the airport directly to the Brussels city centre, and other university cities such as Leuven and Ghent.

The Brussels South (Charleroi) Airport is located 50 Km south of Brussels and is used mainly by low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and for charter flights. A bus connects the airport to Brussels and the Charleroi train station. An airport train station is being planned.

The Antwerp Airport is located just outside of Antwerp and a 1 hour drive from Brussels. There are direct flights to England (such as London City Airport), Ireland (Dublin), Germany (Hamburg and Munich) and Switzerland (Geneva).

The French word for driving licence is permis de conduire, in Dutch it is rijbewijs.

A valid driving licence is compulsory for anyone driving any type of motor vehicle on the roads in Belgium. The licence must be carried on all journeys and must be presented to an official on demand.

Belgian law allows the following types of licence:

• a Belgian driving licence
• an EU/EEA driving licence
• a recognised foreign driving licence
• a valid foreign driving licence represented by an international driving licence

Licence holders may only drive the category of vehicle for which their licence is valid.
A person with a foreign driving licence that cannot be exchanged for a Belgian one or anyone who does not have a foreign driving licence will need to take the full theory and practical driving examinations in Belgium.