Expatriation: the appeal continues unabated

They are the largest foreign population in Belgium in general, and in Brussels in particular. While around 130,000 French nationals are registered with the consulate, it is estimated that between 250,000 and 260,000 live in the Plat pays, a large half of them in the capital. "The official figure, which is quite low, is explained by the fact that not everyone registers with the consular authorities, particularly those with dual nationality and students.explains Anne-Christine Genouville, Director of the France-Belgium Chamber of Commerce. I have lived in Brussels for twelve years and it is clear that the number of French people has risen sharply over the last decade."The flagship districts are Ixelles and Uccle, where the French lycée is located.

According to Anne-Christine Genouville, three factors explain this growing appeal. Firstly, and quite recently, the possibility of registering until September at the university where the quality of education is remarkable, particularly in the fields of health, art and architecture. Another explanation is the fact that Belgium is France's third-largest economic partner. "Many come to work for French companies based in Belgium"continues the director. Finally, one thing that has often been mentioned, but which in reality only affects a small percentage of French expatriates: tax advantages, especially when it comes to property.

"At the end of the day, the decisive factor was and still is emulation between fellow countrymen.says Anne-Christine Genouville. All those who left for professional reasons conveyed an image of great well-being and made their loved ones back in France envious."Because Brussels is a city that's easy to live in. And this reputation circulated at precisely the moment when Paris began to become less safe, more expensive and less clean. For Julia Eva Perez, a woman in her thirties who has lived in Brussels for seven years, the emulation was in fact the trigger. "My sister, an actress, had been living there for some years, and I followed her progress from afar. The artistic buzz of Brussels attracted me."explains Julia Eva Perez. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, she decided to specialise in comics and illustration. "As I was interested in graphic novels, Brussels was the ideal city for me."she continues.

Today, Julia Eva Perez has obtained artist status, which is highly prized because it enables her to secure a fixed income as a freelancer. "I also joined Smart, a cooperative where artists can get administrative advice."This structure, set up by the Brussels-Capital Region, is one of the many ways in which the region supports creative people. "Of course it is, rental prices and the lower cost of living also played a part"she explains. Today, Julia Eva Perez has a studio in Anderlecht and finds her inspiration in art galleries, museums," she says.and also the kindness and simplicity of people who make it easy for you to network."

For Laurent Byé, who moved to Brussels as Regional Director of an Israeli company after spending many years in the Middle East, the choice of career was also guided by the appeal of a city that has become one of the most attractive in the world. on a human scale offering the business opportunities of a major capital. "Logistics are very easy, and the airport is very close to the centre. And the green spaces and quality of budget accommodation, compared with major capitals such as London, Paris or Amsterdam, are a real plus."says this father of three. "The only downside is the almost confiscatory tax rates on earned income."he notes. Yet it was in Brussels that he took the entrepreneurial plunge and set up Setelia, a consultancy firm operating in the IT and digital sectors.

New Berlin

Christophe Chatillon, founder of the mobile applications company Tapptic, arrived in Brussels fifteen years ago. He had just sold a high-tech company in Paris and wanted to start all over again. "Brussels was a capital city, but on a human scale, with a more relaxed atmosphere, and only a few kilometres away. 1 h 20 from Paris"explains this entrepreneur. However, high-tech was not very developed at the time, and nice little cafés to work in were rare. "All that has changed completely over the last six years. Brussels is now a start-up-friendly place, with numerous investment funds, incubators and coworking spaces.... It's a bit like the Berlin of fifteen or twenty years ago"says Christophe Chatillon. He also sees another advantage in the fact that decision-makers and senior executives are much more accessible than in France. "The system of subsidies for new businesses has also evolved and become more structured"he assures us.

Today, Christophe Chatillon, like many other French people, has no intention of leaving. The image of Brussels as a grey city lacking in dynamism has disappeared. "I also appreciate the almost Germanic professionalism of the Belgians, but with relaxed Latin style"he says. This dual influence also means that, in his view, setting up a business in Belgium allows products to be properly tested before being exported. "Brussels is highly recommended for start-ups"concludes this high-tech specialist.