Vlerick Business School

International Office:

INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT GUIDE

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WELCOME TO BELGIUM!
We would like to welcome you to Belgium and
to Vlerick Business School and give you some
practical information about life in all of our three
campuses: Ghent, Brussels and Leuven.
If you have any questions that are not answered
in this guide, please get in touch with the
­International Office by sending an email to
international.office@vlerick.com
For programme related questions, please contact
your Programme Manager.

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CONTENT OF THIS GUIDE
1. OUR THREE CAMPUS CITIES 5
Ghent: Historic capital of Flanders 6
Brussels: The capital of Europe 7
Leuven: A true university city 8

2. PRE-ARRIVAL ARRANGEMENTS 10
2.1. Applying for a student visa 10
2.2. Extra step for Chinese students: APS 12

3. ARRIVING IN BELGIUM 13
3.1. Getting to the Ghent campus 14
3.2. Getting to the Brussels campus 14
3.3. Getting to the Leuven campus 14

4. ACCOMMODATION 16
4.1. Looking for accommodation 17
Tips & tricks when renting a room/studio 22
4.2. Registering at the city hall and residence permit 23

5. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 27

5.1. Health care insurance 27
5.2. Where to go if you need medical assistance? 33
5.3. Mental well-being 37

6. OTHER PRACTICAL INFORMATION 39

6.1. Opening a bank account 39
6.2. Public transport 40
6.3. Cycling in Belgium 42
6.4. Travel while in Belgium 43
Over 26 and travelling in Belgium? 44
6.5. Climate and clothing 45
6.6. Public holidays 45

7. USEFUL CONTACT INFORMATION 46

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4
1 OUR THREE
CAMPUS CITIES

GHENT LEUVEN

BRUSSELS

• GHENT: Historic Capital of Flanders

• BRUSSELS: The Capital of Europe
• LEUVEN: University City

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GHENT
HISTORIC CAPITAL OF FLANDERS
Ghent, in the 16th century the most powerful city in
North-Western Europe next to Paris, is now the lively core
of a large area with a historic centre that breathes history
and sociability. Cosy corners alternate with pleasant
and busy shopping streets. A modern port provides a
­considerable industrial activity. Situated at the intersecti-
on of the European traffic arteries, Ghent is very easy to
reach by road as well as by train. The city is also a cultural
attraction pole with important music and film festivals,
as well as a varied theatre and performance scene. The
campus of the town’s University is spread over the heart
of the city, which enlivens the atmosphere.
Find out what to see, where to eat, and what is going on
in Ghent on the Tourist Office website.

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BRUSSELS
THE CAPITAL OF EUROPE
You may know all the clichés, but life in Brussels isn’t all
about beer, waffles, and fries (although it is a lot of all the
above!). Brussels is a melting pot of different cultures with
international companies and the EU institutions bringing
people together from all over the world. This means that
there is a wide range of cultural and social activities on
offer throughout the year.
Brussels is a vibrant and dynamic city and is home to
around 74.000 students. French is the most widely
­spoken language, but English is also understood and
spoken.
Find out what to see, where to eat, and what is going on
in Brussels on the Tourist Office website.

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LEUVEN
A TRUE UNIVERSITY CITY
Leuven is home to the KU Leuven, the oldest and largest
University in the Low Countries, and its student popula-
tion counts 40,000 students. Its busy shopping streets
intertwine with the old parts of the city in which sights
as the old University Library or the Arenberg Castle
can be easily reached by bicycle or foot. The city’s rich
cultural scene gives the city a young and vibrant glow
throughout the whole year.
Find out what to see, where to eat, and what is going on
in Leuven on the Tourist Office website.

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9
2 PRE-ARRIVAL
ARRANGEMENTS

2.1. APPLYING FOR A STUDENT VISA

If you are not a European citizen, you will need to apply
for a student visa to come to Belgium. For further infor-
mation about the procedure, please consult your local
Belgian embassy or consulate or the following website:
https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en.
We recommend that you apply for a student visa type
D with multiple entries and with a validity for the entire
duration of the programme. Please take into account that
it can take up to two months to process a student visa
application once a complete application is submitted with
the Belgian embassy. The Belgian embassy or consulate
in your country will provide you with all information on
the documents and procedures required to obtain this
visa. Please enquire at your local embassy or consulate as
soon as you receive your proof of registration from the
admissions office.
Since Vlerick Business School is a higher education
­establishment organized, recognized and subsidized by
the public authorities (Article 58), there is no need to
provide information on course curriculum.

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Visa fees: The administrative fee, to be paid to the
embassy, equals to €200 as Vlerick Business School is a
public university institution. This fee is to be paid on top
of the handling fee/consular taxes of the long stay visa
(equivalent of €180 in local currency). You are exempted
of paying the administrative fee in case you received a
scholarship.
To apply for the visa, you will also have to prove solvency.
• via “pledge of financial support”, also called Annex 32
A pledge of financial support is specific proof of means
of subsistence. Through this pledge of financial support,
parents or relatives act as a guarantor for your period of
residence, your return journey and your medical costs.

• via blocked account

You can transfer €9.600 into the account of Vlerick
Business School and get a Financial Certificate to prove
solvency to the embassy in return. (i.e. we will pay back
12 times €800 into your Belgian bank account from
­September 2020 up and including August 2021).

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2.2. EXTRA STEP FOR CHINESE STUDENTS: APS
In case you have a Chinese degree certificate, you will have
to obtain the APS certificate in order to get a student visa
at the Belgian embassy or Consulates General in PR China.
Please contact the APS administration in Beijing at
info@aps.org.cn.
The APS screening consists of two parts:
• they will check the authenticity of your degree certificate
and will therefore contact your university or the Chinese
Ministry of Education.
• in addition there is an interview testing your language
skills.

Note: If you fail to obtain the correct visa, Vlerick Business

School cannot be held responsible for the resulting
­consequences.

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3 ARRIVING IN BELGIUM
There are 3 airports in Belgium. Brussels National airport
(Zaventem), Brussels-South Charleroi and Ostend.
All airports are connected by public transport to the three
cities. Please consult the following websites for further
information:

Zaventem – National airport:

www.brusselsairport.be/en/

Brussels-South Charleroi:
www.charleroi-airport.com/en

Ostend:
https://www.ostendbruges-airport.com/

As taxis are quite expensive in Belgium, we advise you to

use public transportation to move from the airport to your
final location.
The easiest way to travel is to use a direct train to each
city. You can buy a train ticket at the airport itself. Note
that to use the trains connecting the airport and the city
include an extra charge. For more information check out
the website of the Belgian rail:

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en
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3.1. GETTING TO THE GHENT CAMPUS
The campus is located at Reep 1, 9000 Ghent. You can
take either a bus or a tram from the station to reach the
campus. This journey takes approximately 15-20 minutes
depending on your choice of transport. Make sure to have a
ticket for the ride before entering the bus or the tram.
For more information about public transport in
Ghent, please consult the De Lijn website.
A detailed route description can be found here.

3.2. GETTING TO THE BRUSSELS CAMPUS

The Brussels campus is located in the heart of the city in
the Manhattan Centre (Avenue du Boulevard 21, 1210 Brus-
sels). The campus is easily accessible by metro, tram and
bus (stop Rogier) or by train at the Gare de Bruxelles-Nord.
For more information about public transport in
Brussels, please consult the STIB website.
A detailed route description is available here.

3.3. GETTING TO THE LEUVEN CAMPUS

The Leuven campus is located in the heart of the city – at
Vlamingenstraat 83, 3000 Leuven. From the Leuven train
station you can get to the campus either by bus or by foot
– both options take approximately 10-15 minutes.
For more information about public transport in
Leuven, please consult the De Lijn website.
A detailed route description is available here.

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15
4 ACCOMMODATION
Vlerick Business School does not offer on-campus
­accommodation. We advise our students to come to
­Belgium a few weeks before the start of the programme
and book a room at a hostel, Airbnb or similar whilst
they look for permanent housing. Unless using reliable
­platforms, it is best not to commit to accommodation
­before you have seen the place. Previous students have
for instance stayed in the following hostels close to
campus:

GHENT
Youth hostel 13 o’clock
Universiteitstraat 13, 9000 Gent
info@13oclock.be - www.13oclock.be

BRUSSELS
Youth Hostel Sleep Well
Rue du Damier 23, Brussels
info@sleepwell.be - www.sleepwell.be

LEUVEN
Leuven City Hostel,
Ravenstraat 37, Leuven
info@leuvencityhostel.com -
www.leuvencityhostel.com

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4.1. LOOKING FOR ACCOMMODATION
There are different ways to find a place for your stay.
You can find accommodation through finding online adds
of private landlords, through student housing agencies,
housing search engines or even just walking around in the
cities. We advise you to visit several places before securing
an accommodation, to compare options and have the
chance to see the area and the offer.

You can walk around the city and look out for the orange
“Te huur” or “A louer” (to rent) signs in windows or on
front doors of appartments. To visit a room, you have to
call the landlord and schedule a visit. Especially in Ghent
and Leuven many landlords speak English.
If you are looking for a student room or flatshare, you
should look out for the words “Colocation” or “Kot” in
adverts. Furnished rooms will be advertised as “meublé”
or “gemeubileerd/gemeubeld”. Before you can move into
your room or apartment, you can expect to pay a security
(deposit) of 2 or 3 months rent. Never pay the deposit
directly to the landlord – set-up a separate account in a
Belgian bank instead.

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Please note that you should only rent a room or
­appartment where “domiciliation” is possible.
This is required for the Residence Permit and
registration at the local ­authorities.
Without this you will not be able to register.
For booking an accommodation before your arrival, we
recommend using only verified providers. Our students
before have succesfully used the following platforms:
• Spotahome.com is an online housing booking ­platform,
offering medium and long-term accommodation (apart-
ments, rooms, studios and student residences) in
ten ­different countries. Their services are particularly
­interesting for international students searching accom-
modation before their arrival to Brussels. Spotahome
­verifies all the properties and takes photos, a guided
­video tour and provides detailed descriptions of the
home and the neigh­bourhood.
Vlerick students can enjoy a 30% discount on
­Spotahome’s booking fees with the following discount
code: VLERICKDISC (introduce during the booking
request).
• HousingAnywhere
On HousingAnywhere you can safely book your accom-
modation in Brussels before your arrival. Sign-up here to
receive a Verified profile and priority access to all listings
available.
For more information check the how it works page or
send an email to vip@housinganywhere.com.

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Other popular websites to look for housing are:
• www.xior.be
• www.student-rooms.com/en
• www.appartager.be/
• www.immoweb.be/en
• www.immo.vlan.be/en
• www.logic-immo.be/en
• www.zimmo.be
• www.ikot.be
• www.easykot.be/?l=1

Always when booking accommodation with a private

landlord directly, make sure to follow all the tips & tricks
mentioned below at the end of this chapter.

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GHENT
We also strongly recommend Upliving ‘the Mill’:
https://upliving.be/en/themill
You can also use the following websites to find
­accommodation:
• www.kotatgent.be
• https://kot.gent.be
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099303380085826
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/kotgent/
• https://www.facebook.com/
Te-huur-Gent-Studentenkamers-833737830036936/

BRUSSELS
Popular areas for students are Ixelles, Saint-Gilles and
Etterbeek. We advise you to avoid the city centre (Brussels
1000) as this might result in delays with your Residence
Permit request.
Jet Upkot (Brussels): 143 furnished and nicely decorated
student rooms in a brand new building. Discover which
room type suits you best (go solo, go duo or go triple)
and admire the unique look and feel of the common living
­spaces. Get a room in Jet Upkot and become part of the
Upkot family with its lively community and events. Your
Upkot coach can help you with general questions and/or
problems. Jet Upkot is situated next to the railway ­station
of Jette (Brussels) and on a 15 minute bike ride from
­Vlerick Business School Brussels.

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Do not also hesitate to check the following FB groups:
• www.facebook.com/groups/195527370457521/
• www.facebook.com/pages/
Bruxelles-Loc-Coloc/414426008678273
• www.facebook.com/groups/281553825275009

LEUVEN
As a Vlerick student in Leuven, you can also make use of
the KU Leuven Housing Service which is located in the
Naamsestraat 80, 3000 Leuven. You can also contact them
via email or visit their website:
housingservice@kuleuven.be; https://www.kuleuven.be/
english/studentservices/housing-leuven

Leuven specific FB group are the following:

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/357365197757461/
about/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/leuvenjunkshop/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/
Student.PhD.KULeuven/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/928926160490769/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/RoomInfo/

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TIPS & TRICKS
WHEN RENTING A ROOM/STUDIO
• Read the contract and Never pay the ­deposit
ask all questions before ­directly to the landlord,
­signing an agreement. but always arrange the
Normally Belgian contracts ­deposit through a bank
are in French/Dutch, but to a rental guarantee
you can check a standard ­account.
English contract from
• Make sure you know what
the housing organisation
is included in the costs
­Kotagent.
(water, electricity, ­heating,
• To be able to register in etc.) and what the ­extra
the town hall to get your costs per month will
resident card, you must be imply and how they are
able to use the address of ­calculated.
the room/apartment. Make
• Check if the room/studio is
sure to check whether that
furnished/unfurnished so
is possible with the land-
you can calculate what you
lord.
need to foresee extra.
• A deposit of two to three
• Make an inventory of
months of rent is usually
possible damages to the
­asked to cover possible
property together with the
­damages and cleaning
landlord as soon as you are
upon your ­departure. If
in. If you have ­individual
you leave everything clean
counters for water/electri-
and without ­damages, you
city, it is good to take note
will be fully refunded.
of the meter reader when
you move in.
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4.2. REGISTERING AT THE CITY HALL
AND RESIDENCE PERMIT
Everyone staying in Belgium for longer than 3 months must
register and apply for a residence permit. As stated in the
previous chapter, in order to use that address for registra­
tion, the contract must allow it to be used for registration.
You will be able to start your registration process only once
you have found a permanent place to stay and have signed
a contract. You need to register within 8 days of moving to
your permanent address. We recommend that you make an
appointment as soon as you have your permanent address.
During your first appointment you receive Annex 19 (EU/
EEA) or Annex 15 (non-EU) document, which proves
that you have officially started the registration process in
­Belgium. This document is valid 45 days – in case you do
not receive your residence permit within that time, you
must visit the city hall to renew the document.

Documents to prepare are (may vary):

• Valid passport
• 3 ID-photographs
• Proof of registration as a student
• Proof of solvency
• Rental contract
• VISA documentation (if applicable)
• Note: You do not need a Belgian bank account to
apply for the residence permit

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The exact process depends on your town hall or ­commune,
but in general you normally have to go through the
­following steps:
• book an appointment online or phone,
• have the first appointment and provide the documents
above – receive Annex 19 (EU/EEA citizen) or Annex 15
(non-EU citizen) document
• wait for the police to visit,
• wait for the invitation to order and pay the final residence
permit,
• pick up your residence permit.

Once you have had the first appointment, the local ­police
officer will come to check that you live at the address that
was given at your registration. Only after the police has
confirmed your address, you can order and pay for the
residence permit. The price of the residence permit varies,
typically between 25-50 euros.
Make sure to put your name on the mailbox and bell of
your building as soon as you move in to facilitate the
check by the police.
If you have any questions about this process or problems
during the registration, please send an email to
international.office@vlerick.com

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GHENT
Links to the application form as well as detailed informati-
on of the registration process can be found on the website
of City of Ghent:
https://stad.gent/en/international-students/paper-
work-administration/your-arrival-ghent/registration-­city-
application-residence-document-and-renewal-residence-
document

BRUSSELS
In Brussels, you will have to register at the foreigner’s office
(Office des Étrangers) of your local authority (Commune)
to receive a National ID Number. Your commune is based
on your postcode (i.e 1050 is Ixelles, 1060 is Saint-Gilles,
1000 is the city centre). Easiest way to access the website
of your commune is to search via Google:
“Commune + Name of your commune here”.
The registration process can vary depending on the
­commune so you should check their website to see what
documents you will need to take with you.

LEUVEN
To register in Leuven you first have to book an appoint-
ment at the City Hall. Detailed instructions and a link to
set-up your appointment can be found here:
https://www.leuven.be/en/stay-more-3-months-­
registration

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26
5 HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
5.1. HEALTH CARE INSURANCE
All students who are staying in Belgium for longer than
three months and apply for a residence permit must sign
up for a health care insurance.
During the process of applying for the residence permit or
an extension to it you might be asked to provide a proof
of health care insurance.

5.1.1. Why sign up for a Belgian insurance

Compared to a typical private travel insurance, the
­Belgian health care insurance provides you with a lot
more coverage in a case of illness. Whereas a private
­travel insurance normally covers only for unforeseen
medical costs, the Belgian health care insurance will also
cover foreseen medical costs, e.g. visits for a doctor for
normal check-ups or reimbursements for ­medication.
­Typically, the Belgian health care insurance can also
­provide you more support in case of hospitalization.
You can sign up to a health care insurance company as a
student and typically pay a monthly fee + a quarterly fee.
Once you have received your residence permit ID card,
you can switch your status to ‘resident’ and only pay the
monthly fee.
For more information on the process and practicalities,
check with your Belgian health Care insurance company.
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5.1.2. Organisations
Below you can find two of examples of health care
­insurance companies that we have worked with:
• CM
• Partena

Since there’s no real difference between the different

­organizations, we advise you to choose the one closest
to your house or the Vlerick campus.

5.1.3. Procedures
The registration procedure and the cost depend on your
citizenship.
• STUDENTS FROM THE EU
Bring along your European Health
Insurance Card. We recommend
that you register with one of the
­health care insurance companies
(free of charge) to get the stickers and ­facilitate the
reimbursement process.
You just need to ­present a copy of your ID and a copy of
your EHIC.
Please note that the card must be valid for the duration
of your stay in Belgium.

• COUNTRIES WITH WHICH BELGIUM HAS

AN ­INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT
Belgium has an international agreement with the
­following countries: Algeria, Tunis, Croatia, Turkey,
Ex-Yugoslavia, Australia and Quebec.

28
If you’re a citizen of one of these countries, you’ll only pay
per quarter as from the beginning. The fee entitles you to
all benefits from the first day of that quarter and may vary
from the fees for citizens of other countries. You may need
documents from your home country to ­register, therefore
please check beforehand from your local health insurance
providers.

• OTHER COUNTRIES
For students from other countries, there is a separate
procedure when it comes to health care insurance.
Please note that you will have the status ‘student’ until
you receive your residence permit. As from then, your
status will change to ‘resident’, what also has an influence
on your health care insurance.
How to proceed?
a) Register as a “student” at a health care insurance
You will pay 60-65 euros/quarter
b) Wait until you receive your residence card
c) Go back to the health care insurance and change
to the ‘Resident’ status. As from then, you will pay
a reduced fee.

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5.1.4. Proof of coverage
In some cases you need a proof of coverage when picking
up your residence card.
• For EU students, the European Health Insurance card is
the proof of coverage.
• For non-EU students, the letter
of the health care ­insurance and
the identification stickers are
the proof of coverage.

5.1.5. Reimbursements
If you have a Belgian health care insurance, you will benefit
from reimbursements when:
• Visiting a doctor, dentist or physiotherapist
• Buying medicine
• Going to the hospital

You will be reimbursed with 75% for general care and

with 100% for critical medical expenses. Reimbursement
is ­provided based on submission of the original medical
attestations.

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While visiting a doctor, please follow
these steps in order to get reimbursed
for your visit:
• Consult a GP and pay the full
­consultation fee
The GP will then give you a ‘medical
attestation’ (picture)
• Attach a white (or yellow) sticker on
top of the a­ ttestation
• Send it to your health care insurance
• You will be reimbursed for 75% of the
legal price

Please note that GPs should only charge you for the
­remaining fee, as the reimbursements should happen
­automatically.

When going to a pharmacist, most pharmacies will auto-

matically charge only your personal share if you have an
ID card with a chip. Otherwise please follow the following
steps:
• Go to the pharmacist to get your medicine
• Pay the full amount and ask the mutuel invoice
• Affix an identification sticker
• Send it to your health care insurance
• Your health care insurance will reimburse the legal % of
the legal price

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In case of hospitalization, please keep the following things
in mind:
• The cost of your hospitalization will be influenced by the
hospital as well as the type of room. If you don’t have
a hospitalization insurance on top of your health care
­insurance, we advise you to take a common room and to
ask to be treated by a committed doctor.
• Your invoice will be sent several weeks after the
­hospitalization itself.

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5.2. WHERE TO GO IF YOU NEED
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE?

5.2.1. General Practitioner

In case of illness or need of medical assistance, you can
consult a General Practitioner. You can consult several GPs
during the day, as well as a permanent GP during evenings
and weekends. Please note that a permanent GP is more
expensive than a GP during the day.
You can also search for doctors and book appointments on
different webpages such as https://en.doctena.be/ ­where
you can search for doctor’s also based on their spoken
languages.

5.2.2. Student Doctor

If possible, we advise our students to go to a student
­doctor in case of illness.
In case you are sick or need medical attention, you can
always consult a student doctor.

GHENT
Ghent University Medical Service
• Sint-pietersnieuwstraat 25, Gent
• Free consultation: Mon-Thu (5-7 pm)
• By appointment: +32 9 264 70 20

BRUSSELS
VUB – University General Medical Practise
• Accessible to local residents
• Henri Schoofslaan 8, 1160 Oudergem
• By appointment: +32 2 897 19 50

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LEUVEN
KU Leuven Health Center
• Naamsestraat 80/5415, Leuven
• By phone: +32 16 32 44 20
On working days (between 8.30am and 6pm), you can
easily make an appointment in order to avoid long waiting
times. To do so, follow the steps indicated on the
website of the KU Leuven.

5.2.3. Emergency Services

GHENT
In case you need urgent medical assistance outside
­working hours (evening, holiday…), calling these numbers
will give you information which GP’s are on call:
• At night (Mon-Thu): 09 264 71 00
• Weekend & holidays: 09 236 50 00
Permanent General Practitioner Posts:
https://www.huisartsenwachtposten.be/

For other useful emergency contact details see

the webpage of City of Ghent.

BRUSSELS
In case you need urgent medical assistance outside wor-
king hours (evening, holiday…), you can check this website
for different options in Brussels: http://www.gbbw.be/­
index.php/en/doctors-on-call or call +32 2 201 22 22.

For other useful emergency contact details see the

web­page of City of Brussels.

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LEUVEN
In case you need urgent medical assistance outside
­working hours (evening, holiday…), you can call the general
number:
• From an international provider: +32 2 524 98 89
• From a Belgian provider: 1733
For other useful emergency contact details see the
web­page of International House Leuven and
http://www.w8post.be/en.

5.2.4. Hospitals
Some of the biggest hospitals in the cities are the
­following:

GHENT
AZ Maria Middelares
Kortrijksesteenweg 1026 - Gent
+32 9 260 60 60
www.azmmsj.be

UZ Ghent
De Pintelaan 185 - Gent
+32 9 332 21 11
www.uzgent.be

AZ Sint-Lucas
Groenebriel 1 - Gent
+32 9 224 61 11
www.azstlucas.be

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BRUSSELS

CHU Saint-Pierre
Rue Haute 322 - 1000
Tel. 02 535 31 11
https://www.stpierre-bru.be/en/
international-services

UZ Jette
Laarbeeklaan 101 – 1090
Tel. 02 477 41 11
https://www.uzbrussel.be/web/
international

LEUVEN

UZ Leuven
Herestraat 49
3000 Leuven
Phone: +32 16 33 22 11

Regional Hospital Heilig Hart  

Naamsestraat 105
3000 Leuven
Phone: +32 16 20 92 11

5.2.5. Dentist
A list of all dentists in the three cities can be found in
the section ‘Tandartsen’ of the golden pages
(https://www.goldenpages.be/) or at
https://www.mijntandarts.be/.
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5.3. MENTAL WELL-BEING

UGENT
Our affiliation to the UGent enables you to make use of
their counselling services. Students dealing with psycho-
logical or personal problems can get in touch with the
experienced psychiatrists and psychotherapists of the
UGent. More information can be found here. To make an
appointment, you can either give them a call or send an
email.

UGent
Phone: +32 9 331 00 31
Email: studieadvies@ugent.be

KU LEUVEN
Our affiliation to the KU Leuven enables you to make use
of the KUL’s Student Health Care Centre which refers
to psychotherapy, counselling and medical treatment.
­Students dealing with psychological or personal problems
can get in touch with the experienced psychiatrists and
psychotherapists of the KUL. More information can be
found here.

KU Leuven
Phone: +32 16 32 43 43
Email: psy@kuleuven.be
Make an appointment!

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COMMUNITY HELP SERVICES CENTRE
The Community Help Services Centre offers their help to
anyone in need of therapeutic support in times of stress.
Their psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists
have a wide range of professional experience and come
from different disciplines. More information can be found
on their website.

They also provide two phone numbers, one you can call
to make an appointment, and a confidential & anonymous
hotline through which you can reach help 24/7.

CHS
Mental Health Service Centre:
+32 2 647 67 80
Helpline: +32 2 648 40 14

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6 OTHER PRACTICAL
INFORMATION
6.1. OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT
After having secured a permanent address, started your
registration process at the city hall and possibly having
started an affiliation with a health insurance, you can
also open a bank account in one of the branches of the
­principal Belgian and international banks. Banks that most
of our students have used to open a bank account are:

Note that a bank account can only be opened after your

arrival in Belgium. Please check the procedure with the
branch you choose since it differs from bank to bank.

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6.2. PUBLIC TRANSPORT
6.2.1. Ghent and Leuven
Several bus routes allow you to travel through Leuven and
Ghent or through one of the neighbouring towns (Bruges,
Antwerp, etc.). To determine the fare of a bus ride, both
cities and their surroundings have been divided into zones.
The price that you have to pay for a ticket depends on the
number of zones that you travel through. You can choose
between 4 different ways of paying for your ride.
1. For a single journey in the city centre on a city bus or
tram, you can buy a ticket for 1 hour from the driver,
which you should stamp in the machine on the opposite
side of the entry door. It is possible to also purchase a
sms-ticket by sending DL to number 4884. This ­ticket
remains valid for 1 hour’s journey in town, including
changes of bus/tram without restriction.
2. A day ticket allows you to travel on any tram or bus you
like during the whole day.
3. Probably you will be using city buses or trams more
­regularly. Then you are better off buying a Lijnkaart
which you stamp each time you make a journey.
4. If you will be using the buses and trams for longer
­period, it might be a lot cheaper to buy a season ticket.
­Depending on your age, you can buy a ‘Buzzy Pazz’ or
an ‘Omnipas’. Both tickets are valid always and every-
where on buses and trams of ‘De Lijn’. You can also use
these season tickets in other Flemish cities.

More information can be obtained at the shops

of De Lijn (Lijnwinkels).

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6.2.2. Brussels
The public transport network in Brussels is operated by
the STIB. All timetables and live information can be found
on their website:

www.stib-mivb.be

The Brussels campus is well connected by metro (lines 2

and 6), tram (lines 3, 4, 25 and 55) using the stop Rogier.
There are also many bus routes that pass by campus.
The closest train station to the campus is the Gare de
Bruxelles-Nord.

The best way to use public transport in Brussels is with

a Mobib card which you can buy at large metro stations
– for instance Rogier right next to the campus. You can
then purchase 10 journeys (JUMP 10) at a time which will
be ­loaded onto your Mobib card. For single tickets the
­cheapest option is to buy a single ticket with a contactless
bank card at the gate or inside a bus or a tram.

Alternatively, you can buy a subscription for the public

transport system. If you are using public transport every
day, this may be better value for money. You can find out
more about the different types of subscriptions on the
STIB website.

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6.3. CYCLING IN BELGIUM
Cycling is a popular hobby and a way of life in Belgium.
We recommend getting to know the cities and surroun-
ding areas by cycling. Great ­recommendations for beautiful
­routes can be found for instance through Fietsroute or
Provelo. Before you hop on a bike in the busiest areas of
the city, make sure to be aware of the ­traffic rules.

Popular bike rental services are:

• Swapfiets
https://swapfiets.be/en/
recommended by many current
and previous Vlerick students
• Blue-bike
https://www.blue-bike.be/en/
• Billy Bikes
https://www.billy.bike/en/
• Villo Bikes (Brussels)
https://www.villo.be/en/home

If you want to buy a second-hand bicycle, you can check-

out the fleamarkets or second-hand bike shops like Cyclo,
Velosofits or the online shop 2dehands.be.

In Brussels, the most extended bike renting service is the

Villo!, a short-term rental option that allows you to hire
bikes from stations scattered across the city. In addition to
day or weekly tickets, you can also get a year ticket.

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6.4 TRAVEL WHILE IN BELGIUM
Many European countries are within easy reach of Brussels
by train, plane or car.

You can get interesting deals on the

Thalys trains to France, Germany
and the Netherlands

or the Eurostar to London.

We recommend that you also take the time to discover

other cities in Belgium which are accesible by train from
Brussels such as Ghent, Leuven, Brugges, Antwerp, Namur,
Liege, Mons, etc. For 99 reasons why Belgium is uniquely
phenomenal, please see the website
www.uniquelyphenomenal.be.

There are often special deals on train tickets at weekends

when tickets are half price.

You can also buy a ticket which is valid for 10 journeys

throughout Belgium. One or more people can use this
ticket at the same time. For students under 26, this costs
approximately €53 (Go pass). For those over 26, the cost is
approximately €83 (Rail pass).

Check the current prices from the website

of SNCB.

You can also buy single tickets with SNCB mobile app and
present them to the train conductor directly from your
screen.
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OVER 26 AND
TRAVELLING IN BELGIUM?
If you are over 26 and Once you have arrived
are not eligible for a in Belgium and have
student rate, you can ­received the residence
go through a process ID card, ask your health
with your ­mutuelle and care provider for more
receive a status that ­information.
qualifies you for ‘supple-
Another good reason to
mented refunds’, such as
sign up for the Belgian
­discounted train and bus
health insurance!
passes. If you study and
have no income while in
Belgium, you typically
are entitled to receive
­supplemented refunds.

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6.5. CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
Belgium has a temperate climate and its reputation as a
­rainy country is not unfounded. Although there will be
sunny days, we recommend to carry an umbrella! You can
expect to see all four seasons in Belgium with a cold winter
and warm summer. Therefore be prepared to bring winter
and summer clothes.

6.6. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

During public holidays the school and many services will
be closed. Make sure to mark the public holidays to your
calendar. Check the public holidays during your stay on this
website: https://publicholidays.be/

45
7 USEFUL CONTACT
INFORMATION

Fire Brigade
100

Ambulance
100

Police
101

European Emergency
112

Doctor after hours
+ 32 2 479 18 18 (Brussels)
+ 32 70 25 70 25 (Leuven)
+ 32 9 264 71 00 (Ghent at night – Mon to Thu)
+ 32 9 236 50 00 (Ghent weekend & holidays)

Card stop
+32 70 344 344

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LOOKING FORWARD
TO WELCOMING YOU!

GHENT CAMPUS
Reep 1
9000 Ghent, Belgium
+32 9 210 97 11

BRUSSELS CAMPUS
Avenue du Boulevard
Bolwerklaan 21
1210 Brussels, Belgium
+32 2 225 41 11

LEUVEN CAMPUS
Vlamingenstraat 83
3000 Leuven, Belgium
+32 16 24 88 11
Design: Scriptics 09 225 52 02

WWW.VLERICK.COM
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