Work and Travel in Belgium

VOLUNTEER AND PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN BELGIUM FOR TRAVELLERS

Belgium is often part of the classic Western European backpacking trip. But don’t just travel in Belgium sampling its renowned beer and chocolate, spend more time getting to know the country by picking up a volunteer job here.

Volunteer opportunities in Belgium are available in abundance and now has never been a better time to stay longer in this fantastic country.

Take a look at our travel guide to Belgium to find out more about what’s on offer in Belgium for you.

1. Learn How to Brew Beer in Belgium

Everyone knows that Belgium is filled to the brim with independent breweries who produce craft beer that’s known the world over. Not a lot of people know that many current brewery workers started off as volunteers. It’s possible to work in Belgium at a small brewery and learn the art of beer making.

As well as getting free beer in exchange for your help, you’ll nearly always get free accommodation on top of that. If you want to travel in Belgium this is one of the most unique ways to spend your time.

2. Teach English at a Homestay in Belgium

Homestays are the best way to get to know the locals. You’ll also find yourself in parts of the country tourists don’t normally go to.

A popular way to work and travel in Belgium is to teach English as part of a homestay. Despite many young people having a good grip of English, the main languages of the country are French and Flemish. English, however, is necessary for most jobs, so there’s a real demand for native English speakers.

You don’t need to have any formal qualifications to teach on a private basis as part of a homestay.

3. Experience Work on a Permaculture Farm in Belgium

Western Europe is extremely concerned about the environment. Normal people are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprints and become more self-sufficient. Belgium is no exception.

If you care about the environment and love getting closer to nature, work and travel in Belgium through the network of permaculture farms across the country.

You’ll be staying with either a family or other volunteers and you’ll be responsible for gardening tasks like watering, seeding, and digging.

Volunteer Work Visa/Permit Requirements for Belgium

Backpackers who want to take advantage of the volunteer opportunities in Belgium need to bear in mind that Belgium is part of both the European Union (EU) and the Schengen zone.

That means once you obtain a Schengen visa you will be able to stay for 90 days in every 180 days in the whole of the Schengen zone.

Citizens from current EU nations are able to enter Belgium, stay, and work for as long as they want without applying for any special type of visa under the Schengen Agreement.

North American nations, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea can get a Schengen visa when they arrive in any Schengen country.

Other countries, such as China, South Africa, and Russia must apply for a Schengen visa in advance of their arrival. A successful visa application, in nearly all cases, will entitle the holder to a stay of 90 days in the whole Schengen zone.

VOLUNTEER WORK VISA / PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR BELGIUM

Backpackers who want to take advantage of the volunteer opportunities in Belgium need to bear in mind that Belgium is part of both the European Union (EU) and the Schengen zone.

That means once you obtain a Schengen visa you will be able to stay for 90 days in every 180 days in the whole of the Schengen zone.

Citizens from current EU nations are able to enter Belgium, stay, and work for as long as they want without applying for any special type of visa under the Schengen Agreement.

North American nations, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea can get a Schengen visa when they arrive in any Schengen country.

Other countries, such as China, South Africa, and Russia must apply for a Schengen visa in advance of their arrival. A successful visa application, in nearly all cases, will entitle the holder to a stay of 90 days in the whole Schengen zone.

SEASONAL BACKPACKER SKILLS NEEDED IN BELGIUM

SPRING WORK

Spring is a pleasant time to come to Belgium because it’s outside of the big high season yet the weather makes it possible to take on most types of projects.

You should consider working on one of the many farms in Belgium throughout spring. You’ll have the chance to work in an outdoor environment, meet local people, and have some excellent experience to add to any future CV.

SUMMER JOBS

The summertime is the high season in Belgium. The most common type of work in Belgium at this time of year is working in one of the hundreds of hostels across the country.

There’s a hostel to suit every taste, whether you want to work in the cities of Brussels, Antwerp, or Bruges or move into the countryside. The work is simple and you’ll receive free accommodation in exchange for just a few hours of work every week.

Other volunteer opportunities in Belgium during summer revolve around summer camps. Many young people go away to camps. These could be sports camps, English teaching camps, or other artistic camps. You don’t usually require any specific qualifications to partake in them as volunteers. Just be charismatic and fun to be around!

AUTUMN

Autumn time in Belgium is when young people go back to school. If you want to teach English in Belgium, this is the time of year to get a new job. You can either volunteer in a school or work as a private tutor for families offering additional tuition to young people.

Make sure you apply for these positions months in advance, as most organisations like to fill any gaps early. For more professional settings, you should already hold a teaching qualification, such as the TEFL.

Working on farms during the harvest time is another excellent option. Refer back to the ‘Spring’ section for more information on this.

WINTER

Wintertime in Belgium can bring bitterly cold weather and an absence of volunteering opportunities. However, one of the few winter options you have available is working on the ski slopes.

North Belgium offers a limited amount of Alpine-style skiing that often goes unheralded around the world. This means most visitors are locals.

Volunteer in one of these ski resorts, either inside the chalets or on the slopes themselves. Previous experience should be considered a ‘must’ as there are so few positions available.

ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING IN BELGIUM

Work and travel in Belgium is easy for most Westerners. There are an abundance of opportunities and the Schengen visa offers a generous amount of time to explore the country.

Belgium is like any other Western country in that the population is diverse, has amalgamated many cultures, and has a long history of welcoming people from all over the world.

Do you want to work and travel in Belgium this year?