Choose Ghent for a picturesque, cozy medieval vibe with stunning canals and a younger student feel, perfect for wandering, or pick Antwerp for a bigger, more cosmopolitan city experience with major art museums, high fashion, excellent shopping, and grand architecture like the stunning train station. Ghent is often seen as more charming and less crowded, while Antwerp offers more of a bustling city buzz and diverse cultural depth, both are easily reachable by train from each other and Brussels.
❣️Bruges is the most beautiful city in Belgium. When you come to Bruges, you will be attracted by its long history. There are many ancient buildings and charming streets here.
Is the Shopping Better in Ghent or Antwerp? Antwerp is a world-class destination for shopping. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Antwerp is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores.
Combining modern and Middle Ages, Antwerp has a lot to offer all types of travellers. In terms of population, Antwerp is twice the size of Ghent so if you are looking for a city with an intimate feel, Ghent might suit you better.
Belgium's "30% tax ruling" refers to a special tax regime for expatriates and inpatriates, allowing employers to reimburse certain recurring relocation costs tax-free, generally up to 30% of gross remuneration, capped at €90,000 annually, plus other specific costs like school fees, replacing older schemes for many. This regime aims to attract international talent, exempting these allowances from tax and social security, with conditions like minimum salary thresholds (€75k for non-researchers) and a 5-year duration (extendable).
At the end of the 1930s, Antwerp was the preferred destination for many of the Jews who chose to flee the rampant anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany. Historians estimate that there were about 35,000 Jews in the city on the eve of World War II. Many of them were foreigners, who did not have Belgian nationality.
Explore Antwerp and Ghent in one day on a guided tour from Brussels. Enjoy round-trip transfers, a professional guide, historic monuments, and charming neighborhoods.
Bruges is famous for its fairytale feel, canals and picturesque old town. Antwerp on the other hand is famous for its port, diamonds and historic city centre. Each city oozes character and charm but both give visitors different experiences of Belgian life.
1. De Panne. De Panne is Belgium's westernmost seaside town and is known for its wide beach. Here you can get a breath of fresh air, sail on the beach or enjoy a quiet day in the sun.
Don't believe us? OK, so, the crew used castles in the UK such as Alnwick Castle for those majestic outdoorsy shots. Of course, Gravensteen being in the heart of Ghent city wasn't the good choice for that kind of scene. Instead, it was the inside of Gravensteen used for all sorts of shots.
CECIL COURT THE REAL DIAGON ALLEY. Cecil Court being "just off Charing Cross Road" and with its curious mix of bookshops and antique shops, is widely believed to be the real Diagon Alley, or at least the thoroughfare on which Diagon Alley was based.
There's plenty to enjoy at Alnwick Castle every day. Alongside special events and performances, you can join a guided tour to discover the castle's history or its role as a filming location, try your hand at archery, or even learn to fly a broomstick in the very spot where Harry Potter first soared.
They are both great cities with rich history and lots of culture. Antwerp is bigger, big city feeling, better for fashion addicts, more hype. Ghent blends a beautiful medieval look with a vibrant young artistic, rebel vibe, many students and locals who love going out, all within walking distance.
all loans, whereby the beneficial owner is not subject to income taxes, or, with regard to the interest income, is subject to a tax regime that is substantially more advantageous than the Belgian tax regime, and.
In Belgium, all drivers must give priority to any vehicles joining a road from the right, even if they have stopped at a junction or are allowing pedestrians to cross.
Among these labor law reforms, it had been announced that — since 1 July 2025 — employers are no longer required to pay the regular employer social security contributions on the portion of an employee's salary that exceeds a quarterly threshold.
