Living in Brussels as a digital nomad
Take the time to really get to know Brussels
#Living in Brussels #Remote working #Digital nomad
Brussels has often been referred to as the most boring city in Europe. But we think Brussels is misunderstood. Many pass through the city for a day or the weekend, but it needs a bit more time to be truly ‘discovered’. When you take your time there, you’ll see why it’s a great place to live as a digital nomad.
The capital of the EU, Brussels has great transport links to other interesting destinations such as neighbouring France or Holland. It has a diverse food scene and great nightlife. The fries, chocolate and beer are all, of course, superb!
The weather can be erratic and there are lots of tourists, which can make central areas overwhelming, but the prices are generally good and there’s enough to do to make living there interesting.
So, here’s what to do when living in Brussels as a digital nomad
Living in Brussels
Wander
Brussels has many nice neighbourhoods to wander through and explore on foot, such as Sablon, Marolles and Saint-Gilles.
Take your time to stop for coffee and drink as you go. People-watch, enjoy the quirky independent boutiques and admire the plentiful street art.
There are plenty of impressive historical attractions to visit including The Palace of Justice, The Royal Quarter, the Mont des Arts, the Place de la Bourse and more. There are lots of flea markets and a thriving independent art scene.
The Grand Place is the main square and it’s beautiful! But it’s best enjoyed early in the morning and best avoided at 3 pm on a Saturday when it’s overwhelmed by tourists.
Eat
First, let’s talk about Belgian fries. Dedicated friteries are all throughout the city but you must be discerning. Our favouotes are Frituur Tabora, Fritland and Frites Atelier.
Crunchy, hot, salty frites with hundreds of sauces to choose from. Enjoy.
Elsewhere, for fresh seafood at great prices, check out Nordzee. A popular, laid-back hang-out for locals, we ate razor clams, fish soup, prawn croquettes and salad with white wine for less than €40.
Other great restaurants include Fin de Siecle for traditional Belgian cuisine and Pasta Divina for homemade, fresh pasta.
Drink
Belgian beer is arguably the finest beer in the world! You can sample hundreds of types of beers of varying flavours and strengths in the bars around the city. Some popular place include Delirium Cafe and Poechenellekelder. Also, seek out the small independent bars away from the city centre, where the locals go and enjoy a quieter atmosphere and very reasonable prices.
When you need to get some work done, the coffee in Brussels is also excellent. Some of our favourite coffee shops in the city are Mok, Wide Awake and Corica.
Corica in particular has an impressive variety of coffee beans to choose from, which will suit the serious coffee aficionados among us. Good coffee shops to work remotely from include Belga cafe and Jat’ cafe.
Chocolate
Chocolate of course, is a local speciality. The fancy chocolate shops in the Sablon neighbourhood feature famous chocolate shops such as Neuhaus, Wittamer (favoured by royals), Leonodias and more.
But you can also find excellent and more wallet-friendly chocolate in the local supermarkets, such as Galler and Cote d’Or.
Where to stay
Airbnb as ever, is your best bet for long-term stays in Brussels. But Latroupe Grote Markt, and Sleep Well Youth Hostel are good hostel choices.
So these are just some of our Brussels recommendations for living there as a digital nomad. What did we miss? Contact us.