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How to choose between Laeken, City or Grimbergen
Hi all,
I have to move for a 3 month to 6 months assignment to Brussels. My working office will be in Vilvoorde and I will go there by car. So my point is that I am young (30) and want to have something of the city (cafes, shopping, restaurants), but don't want to spent much more than 30-40 minutes to work. I am not into big partying, but looking for a "big-city" feeling.
I can choose of:
- Laeken (next to atomium)
- Schaerbeek (Avenue de Heliport)
- Schaerbeek (Av. Britsiers)
- Grimbergen
My main concern is that I want to feel save even coming late at home or if my wife will spend some month here walking and shopping.
Thanks for hints
Heliport is Gare du Nord. Seedy, prostitutes. No.
Grimbergen is village. Not big city. No.
Britsiers is probably OK for commuting to Vilvoorde by car, and a reasonable compromise.
Laken / Atomium could be a bit bland, and some bits of Laken are a bit rough. But it could be just what you're looking for as well.
Visit both.
Avenue de Heliport, definitely avoid. I was in the area for a month, and sometimes had to leave work later, and there were some questionable characters around. As J said, is close to the prostitution area, and there are some older buildings which I think are used for social welfare recipients, and that leads to some shady characters loitering around. I was glad when I didn't have go to that area. Is ok during the day, but not so nice later in the evening.
'Grimbergen is village'.
A village with a population of almost 35,000!
It's a pleasant place and Vilvoorde is literally straight down the road - 3 or 4 kms max.
Of the four options which you suggest and, bearing in mind your concerns for your wife, it would certainly be my choice. It hasn't got a "big-city" feeling but the centre of Brussels is not much more than 10 kms away.
And Grimbergen has an excellent, and recently expanded, wellness centre - Thermae Grimbergen - which your wife might well enjoy.
Grimbergen would probably be the nicest and safest place to live by far, if those are your options. It's true, however, that it's not part of the big city, except perhaps Strombeek-Bever. It's more of a suburb.
Also bear in mind that Grimbergen (like Vilvoorde) is in Flanders, where Dutch is the sole administrative language, whereas the other three locations are in the Brussels Capital Region, where both French and Dutch are official (with French being predominant in practice). Regions can also have differences when it comes to taxes, insurance, etc. Keep Belgium's internal borders in mind when making a choice.
