Brussels is probably one of the most cosmopolitan capitals in the world. You can meet someone from practically any nationality there! More than 410,000 expats live in Brussels, making up 35% of the city's population, 66% (or 273,000) of whom originally come from an EU country. Among those are the French, who take the lead with 62,000 immigrants, ahead of the Romanians with over 36,000 representatives, whose numbers have multiplied by 14 within 10 years. The largest non-European community to have settled in Brussels hails from Morocco and counts 38,000 members.

There are numerous factors to be taken into consideration when deciding on an area of Brussels to move to: the cost, of course, but also the environment, proximity to shops and public transport, architectural style, greenery, atmosphere, etc.

However, in the case of expats, it seems there are two particular factors influencing their decision: the presence of other expats from their home country as well as being near a school which is specific to their own cultural background. Brussels' attraction as the Capital of Europe means that the city has an abundance of international schools, mainly in the south and surrounding area. It is common to see entire neighbourhoods being set up by expats around these schools.

It is not always easy to navigate between the various classifications of school grades. This comparative overview of the main systems should help you get a clearer idea.

A lot of expats register their children in traditional Belgian schools. Preschool, primary school, secondary school: Brussels offers a large range of schools for children aged between 2.5 and 18 years, be it French-speaking, Dutch-speaking, secular or religious, and all providing a formal education under the guidance of the appropriate government bodies.

In addition, there is also a large number of international schools to be found in Brussels which are directly aimed at particular communities. The presence of these schools largely explains why there is a more condensed number of certain nationalities in specific areas. Here is a small guided tour of the main school establishments...

The European schools are educational institutions which have been established in the EU Member States. These schools offer children a multilingual and multicultural education at preschool, primary school and secondary school. At the end of a specific curriculum, they award the European Baccalaureate diploma.

There are four such schools in Brussels. They welcome students of all nationalities aged between 3 and 18 years, from the four corners of the capital and are aimed first and foremost at children of expats who have come to Brussels to work in the European institutions.

• Bruxelles I : (www.eeb1.eu)
  - Uccle (Avenue du Vert Chasseur 46 – 1180 Uccle)
  - Forest (Rue Berkendael 70-74 – 1190 Forest)
• Bruxelles II : (www.eeb2.eu)
  Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (Avenue Oscar Jespers 75 – 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert)
• Bruxelles III (www.eeb3.eu)
  Ixelles (Boulevard du Triomphe 135 – 1050 Ixelles)
• Bruxelles IV (www.eeb4.be)
  Laeken (Drève Saint-Anne 86 – 1020 Laeken)

The largest and oldest English-speaking school in Belgium offers classes in English to children aged between 3 and 18 years. The students come from every continent and every country in the world.

The top five most represented nationalities include:

1. USA
2. Belgium
3. France
4. United Kingdom
5. Netherlands

ISB - Kattenberg 19 - 1170 Watermael-Boitsfort - (http://www.isb.be)

English/French bilingual school – Preschool, primary school and secondary school

Brussels International Catholic School is an independent school located in the centre of Brussels, close to the European institutions. Situated in newly-renovated buildings, this school offers quality education in a considerate, family atmosphere. Its location mainly attracts a population which is active in the European institutions.

Three establishments in Etterbeek (European Quarter)

Rue Général Leman, 86 (Pre-primary and primary) 
Chaussée de Wavre, 457 (Pre-primary) 
Rue Froissart, 57-59 (Secondary) 

BICS: http://www.bicschool.be

The Jean Monnet French-language secondary school offers the French National Education programme. 
It welcomes students from 37 nationalities and is open to others as well as student exchanges. 
From preschool to secondary school, 2,700 children attend this modern establishment which is making room for new technology.

The school's location in Uccle explains the large number of French immigrants in the area (9,500). Nevertheless, it is the neighbouring area of Ixelles, with its alluring village feel within the city, which attracts the most number of French (almost 11,000). 

Multilingual education from ages 3 to 18.

Lycée Français Jean Monnet - Avenue du Lycée Français 9 – 1180 Uccle - www.lyceefrancais-jmonnet.be

Stemming from Bogaerts Education, founded in 1970 by Rodolphe Bogaerts, B.I.S. is the only IB Continuum World School in Brussels, offering a continuum of three programmes of education: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). Our learning community represents over 45 nations.

The Domain Latour de Freins in Uccle, now houses B.I.S., with 6,600
square meters in a wooded park of 9 hectares. It is one such school in Brussels
that boasts a vast campus for its students with a state of the art
infrastructure.

B.I.S.: Domaine Latour de Freins - Rue Engeland 555 I 1180 I Uccle - Belgium - www.bischool.com

Since 1972 BEPS International School has served the International Community of Brussels by providing quality education for children aged 2½ to 15. It is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Brussels, surrounded by the green of the Bois de La Cambre.

Originally a Primary school, BEPS opened an International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (ages 12-15) on demand of many parents.

BEPS International School - Primary School: 23 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels - Secondary School: 91 Avenue Bel-Air, 1180 Brussels – www.beps.com
 

(Burasseru Nihonjin Gakkō)The only international Japanese school in Belgium, it is located in Auderghem and offers primary and secondary school education.

The school attracts Japanese families with school-aged children to the area surrounding the school, a complete microcosm of the Japanese community in Brussels. Of the 2,700 Japanese expats residing in Brussels, one-third are actually based in Auderghem.

JSB - Avenue des Meuniers 133 -1160 Auderghem - (www.japanese-school-brussels.be)

A few steps away from Montgomery, Ecole Internationale Montgomery (EIM) offers primary and secondary school education.

In a welcoming, friendly family atmosphere, in which every child is able to fit in, EIM provides quality IB education both in French and English, with an average of 10 students in a classroom and 1 teacher for 8 students.

EIM - rue du Duc 133 • 1200 Brussels  • www.ecole-montgomery.be

From the east to the south of Brussels, there are also four large international schools. The presence of American, British and German schools in the east explains why these communities are attracted to the nearby areas of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Saint-Lambert, while Scandinavians will gladly appreciate the southern areas of Brussels such as Uccle and Watermael-Boitsfort. There is also a major British international school in Waterloo.

Sterrebeek (Kennedylaan)

Wezembeek-Oppem (Lange Eikstraat)

Tervueren (Leuvensesteenweg)

Waterloo (Square d’Argenteuil)

Waterloo (Drève Richelle)