Do you like traffic jams and the search for parking? Or would you prefer to relax without a worry in the world, steadily moving towards your destination in a train, tram, bus or metro? The extensive public transport system in Belgium will take you to every corner of the country and every in between.

Train

The railway network in Belgium will take you almost anywhere you wish to go. Trains are quick and efficient, travelling to all major cities and dozens of smaller towns. The national railway company operating public trains is known as NMBS in Dutch and SNCB in French. You’ll find everything you need to know about schedules and routes on the company website(opens in new window) or via their app (in Dutch)(opens in new window).

Bus, tram and metro

The public bus system is an excellent supplement to the train network. There are three regional companies that run buses around Belgium.

De Lijn(opens in new window) is the regional bus service for Flanders. It also operates trams, including the Coastal tram(opens in new window) (known as the kusttram in Dutch), which has 67 stops along the Belgian coast. On routes that are not as frequently travelled, instead of scheduled buses, a dial-a-bus system(opens in new window) (called Belbus in Dutch) operates. It is a specific demand-driven bus service that runs only when reservations have been made.

The local public transport operator in the Brussels metropolitan area is known as MIVB in Dutch and STIB in French(opens in new window). It runs metro, bus and tram services. You’re fine using a single multi-pass ticket or a monthly or yearly pass on all these different services.

TEC(opens in new window) is the regional bus service for Wallonia.

Bike-sharing services

You may find that your specific destination is not as conveniently served by public transport as you might hope. Perhaps there’s a long walk from the bus stop. Maybe the schedule doesn’t suit you. Or you might just prefer to have a little more independence. No problems. The majority of cities - and even towns - in Belgium have bike-sharing services in place.

In most cases, you use an app to register, rent, unlock and return a bike. When you have a subscription, you’re welcome to use one of the bikes to pedal your way from place to place, before returning the bike at any bike station when you’re finished. How convenient is that?

Bike-sharing options include more standard initiatives, with Mobit(opens in new window) and Blue-bike(opens in new window) in several towns and cities around Flanders. There are also monthly subscriptions for electric bikes via Swapfiets (in Dutch)(opens in new window), as well as access to e-cargo bikes via Cambio(opens in new window) and children’s bikes through Op Wielekes (in Dutch)(opens in new window). What if you’re happy to pedal, but don’t particularly want to pedal hard? Donkey Republic(opens in new window) offers electric bikes.

You’ll find a lot of cities strongly encourage bike sharing initiatives. The bike-sharing company in Antwerp is called Velo.(opens in new window) Ghent has De Fietsambassade(opens in new window) and Villo!(opens in new window) operates in Brussels.

There are almost definitely going to be occasions when you will prefer - or even need - to travel by car. This means you’ll want to know your driver’s licence is valid.

You’re welcome to use a licence from another EU/EFTA country for as long as you wish. But if you’re from a non-EU/EFTA country, you’re only allowed to do this for up to six months (or 185 days). Afterwards, you’ll have to update to a Belgian driving licence.

Do this at your local municipal office. There’s no need to stress here. It’s a fairly straightforward exchange if you meet the following conditions:

• You’ve been registered in Belgium for at least 185 days
• The driving licence model of the country of origin is recognised
• Your foreign driving licence is still valid
• Your driving licence was issued during a period when you were not registered as living in Belgium
• Your nationality corresponds to the country that issued the licence and/or you have proof that you resided in that country for at least 185 days
• Your driving licence is verified as being authentic.

Category B driving licence

In Belgium, you need a Category B Driving Licence to drive a regular car. Apply for your licence at the municipal office. What do you need to do to be approved for a licence?

• You need to be at least 18 years old.
• You need to pay 47 euro;
• A theory exam;

• A practical exam that includes a hazard-recognition test or risk perception test that you do on the computer, plus a driving test on public roads (in Dutch)(PDF file opens in new window) (in Dutch).

Car-sharing services

A lot of people in Belgium decide they would prefer not to own a car. No problems. Not even if you find there are times when a car would be handy … After all, there are car-sharing services (in Dutch)(opens in new window) that allow you to jump behind the wheel whenever you feel the need.

Wondering how car-sharing services work? Generally, organisations put their own cars at the service of their members. As a member, you pay the organisation for the use of a car. You’ll find the cars are available from several sites; everything from train stations to the local supermarket. You collect the share-car from there, use it and return it to the same location. All costs related to servicing and maintenance are covered by the car-sharing organisation.

There are also community-based car-sharing organisations. Members of the organisations use an online platform to rent out their cars for other people use. Anyone who signs up as a user is permitted to rent any car on the platform at a price determined by the owner.

In private car-sharing, the car is owned by a person. The owner does not make a profit, but receives the real cost of the car per kilometre shared. You’re able to start your own car-sharing group or to join an existing one. Every group is welcome to establish its own agreements and rules.

Vehicle inspections

There are plenty of benefits to owning a passenger car. It’s always there for you, you’re able to leave your junk in there, park it outside your door and set the seat and mirrors to your preferences. But there are responsibilities too. For example, your car needs to undergo an inspection within four years of first being registered in Belgium. After that, you’ll have to have it inspected every year. This inspection is to be performed within two months of the expiry of your last inspection certificate. Passenger cars must also be inspected before you’re permitted to sell them on the second-hand market.

What if you drive a hearse, a company car, minibus, motorhome, semi-trailer or farm vehicle? All these vehicles need to be inspected every year as well. There are inspection centres (in Dutch)(opens in new window) spread across Flanders. They’re often quite busy, so it’s best to book your inspection sooner rather than later.

Low-emission zones

A low-emission zone (LEZ) is a defined area that certain types of vehicles that emit too many noxious substances are not allowed to enter, except under specific conditions. If you enter a LEZ with an unauthorised vehicle, or without authorisation, you might be fined. There are two low-emission zones to be aware of in Flanders. One in the city of Antwerp(opens in new window), the other in Ghent(opens in new window). It’s also worth noting that the Brussels-Capital Region is a LEZ.

Your vehicle needs to be registered before you’re permitted to drive into LEZ areas. However, the conditions for registering vary from one LEZ to the next. Always check in advance what you need to do. Your bank account will thank you.

Taxis

Taxis qualify as a public-utility service. Everyone is allowed to use a taxi, but they are not considered to be part of the public-transport network.

A traditional taxi, operating from a taxi stand, always has a taxi light on the roof of the vehicle and works with a meter to calculate costs. The municipality often sets the fares for a taxi like this. You’ll find these taxis at train stations, the airport and so forth.

There are also privately operated taxis that you’re able to stop on the street. The operator sets their own fares based on the type of equipment in the vehicle. The fares need to be presented on a yellow-and-black card that is on the rear, right-hand-side window of the vehicle.

There are also taxis that you order via an app. In this situation, you and the driver agree on the price for the journey before departure. You choose to approve the price quoted by the driver through the app. You also need to make your payment via the app.

Finally, there is ceremonial transport. It’s probably not the first type of transport to come to mind when you think of taxis, but it falls under the same definition. It’s most commonly used as the part of a ceremony; weddings, funerals or baptisms. In this situation, you enter into a written agreement for the transport. The agreement is valid for at least three hours.