Looking for British Expats in Brussels?

Thinking about moving to Brussels as a Briton? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what British expats in Brussels wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• It's a hub for travel. 95% of expats in Brussels rate the opportunity to travel positively, with fast trains putting much of Europe within easy reach.

• Healthcare is excellent. 79% rate healthcare affordability positively and 86% the quality of medical care, well above global averages.

• Careers and English go far. 69% say the move improved their career prospects, and 58% get by fine without the local language in a cosmopolitan, English-friendly city.

• It's affordable and easy. Britons praise a reasonable rental market and a compact, sociable city with good food, chocolate, and beer.

• The weather and air disappoint. Just 17% of expats in Brussels rate the climate and weather positively and 21% air quality — among the lowest scores in the survey.

• Bureaucracy is a real hurdle. Only 35% find it easy to deal with local authorities, with slow services and dated digital infrastructure.

• Locals can feel unfriendly. Only 30% say making local friends is easy and 53% rate friendliness positively, with some describing coolness toward foreigners.

• Politics and getting around frustrate. Petty, community-line politics and patchy walking and cycling (63%) come up as everyday gripes.

For Britons, Brussels offers a central, English-friendly base with excellent healthcare, strong careers, and unbeatable travel. The trade-offs are the grey weather, the bureaucracy, and a cooler social welcome. It rewards those who value connections and convenience over sunshine and warmth.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our British members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

With InterNations, British expats in Brussels are able to find both the help they need as well as lots of valuable information. The "Capital Of Europe" offers so much for expats to explore - our community helps you enjoy your stay to the fullest.

• Look through our Members Network to connect with Brussels’s British expats.
• Become active in our Expat Forums in order to find insider tips and suggestions from fellow British expats in Brussels.
• Make full use of the Expat Guide for Brussels to obtain important information on your temporary home abroad.

Our Brussels community is also lively and welcoming offline. The InterNations Ambassadors host regular get-togethers and a range of expat activities, e.g. a chic dining experience in Brussels’s trendiest restaurant or a get-away with fellow British expats to discover the Flemish North. These activities make it easy for you to get to know other expats from United Kingdom in your local community and meet Brits in Belgium in a comfortable setting. If this sounds interesting to you, simply sign up for membership – we are looking forward to welcoming you among our Brits living in Brussels!