Table of Content Welcome to Thomas More 5 Studying as an exchange student 30 1 Academic year and public holidays 30 University College 5 2 Public holidays 31 Thomas More - expect more 6 Words and phrases in Dutch 34 1 ASKING FOR HELP AND DIRECTIONS 34 Thomas More campuses 8 2 How to introduce yourself 34 3 WISH SOMEONE SOMETHING 35 Antwerp 8 4 SOLVING A MISUNDERSTANDING 35 Mechelen 9 5 EXPRESSIONS AND WORDS 36 Sint-Katelijne-Waver 10 Turnhout 11 Facilities 38 Vorselaar 12 1 International office 38 Geel 13 2 Student services (STIP) 38 Lier 14 3 Buddy programme 39 4 Network facilities 40 Belgium & Flanders 16 5 Student union 40 1 BELGIUM 16 6 Student card 41 2 Flanders 18 3 Higher education in Flanders 19 Practical information 22 1 Climate and clothing 22 2 Crime 22 3 Time 22 4 Using the phone 22 5 Mobile phone 22 6 Sockets 23 7 How to pay 23 8 Important phone numbers 23 9 Belgian cuisine 23 10 Transport 25 11 Health & insurance 28 12 Postal system in Belgium 28 Welcome to Thomas More University College Thomas More offers an exciting and diverse study environment where students can obtain international and intercultural competencies. We are happy to welcome you to in our university college. Our international office and student services (STIP) will ensure that your time at Thomas More is an unforgettable experience. It will be a pleasure for us to provide you with whatever assistance you need. We will not only provide practical assistance but also try to offer you a wide variety of fun and relaxing activities such as sight-seeing tours, sports and cultural activities. Also the student unions will make sure you enjoy different leisure and party activites. We hope that you will make the most of your stay in Belgium and that you will enjoy your international experience in this exciting environment. Thomas More - expect more About KU Leuven Association K.H. Kempen and Lessius Colleges recently Thomas More is a member of the K.U. Leuven joined forces and became more, Thomas More. Association. Thomas More is the university college for those The K.U. Leuven Association is based on a who expect more from their future: more structured cooperation between the K.U. opportunities, more ideas, more challenges. Leuven and twelve other institutions of higher Every day, Thomas More inspires over 14.000 education (“hogescholen”). students on 12 locations in the heart of Europe. and hosts over 3000 students of KU Leuven. Its members have a total of 70.000 students in campuses in 23 towns and cities across We also gladly welcome international students Flanders, i.e. 44 percent of the total number from all around the world. Your internship of Flemish students in higher education. abroad is an excellent way to broaden your academic horizon, discover new points of view The challenges higher education in Flanders and immerse yourself in other cultures and faces, are very demanding. In order to ensure languages. a long-term effect for their efforts, the members of the K.U. Leuven Association have opted in favour of a strong decision-making and executive structure. The primary aims of the K.U. Leuven Association are: - To offer a wide range of study and training - To improve the quality of education - To improve the quality of research by concentration and intensive cooperation 6 7 Thomas More campuses ANTWERP MECHELEN Host of the Carolus campus, Sanderus Host of De Ham, Kruidtuin, De Vest campus and Sint-Andries campus and the Lucas Faydherbe campus A CITY FULL OF SURPRISES AUTHENTIC AND SENSATIONAL Antwerp is a trendy and vibrant city, that’s Mechelen is situated in the heart of Flanders - for sure. The many cafés, squares, beautiful halfway between Antwerp and Brussels. buildings and the good atmosphere make Mechelen offers some wonderful examples of Antwerp a modern metropolis. historical heritage such as the imposing Saint If you’re looking for a city that is lively and Rumbold’s Cathedral, the large beguinage, cosmopolitan you’re at the right place. Maybe eight historical churches, the belfry which is we can sum up a couple of reasons why you now part of the town hall and many museums. should definitely visit this marvelous city: As a Nature lovers will enjoy a stroll through the big city Antwerp is the capital of the Antwerp parks and scenic areas in and around the city. region. Thanks to the stores of its world famous Walk along the floating footpath on the river designers it is a dream for fashionistas – if you Dyle which lights look for a place to go shopping and discover a up at night or make a magnificent boat trip. lot of cultural places, that is the place to go! Antwerp has quite some eye-catching For more info visit: architecture, both historical and modern. The www.toerisme.mechelen.be city has one of the largest seaports in Europe and its train station is considered as one of the most beautiful of the world! For more info visit: www.visitantwerpen.be 8 9 SINT-KATELIJNE-WAVER TURNHOUT Host of the Nayer campus Host of the Turnhout Campus HORTICULTURE WORLD CENTER OF THE PLAYING CARDS Sint-Katelijne-Waver is a small village located Turnhout is a vibrant town with lots of things in the province of Antwerp. to see and to do. This village has 4 areas: the centre, Onze- Lieve-Vrouw-Waver, Elzestraat and Pasbrug- Every two years the town hosts the comic Nieuwendijk. Sint-Katelijne-Waver has festival ‘Strip Turnhout’. It is the oldest comic about 20,000 inhabitants or ‘kadodders’, the festival in Belgium and also one of the largest nickname of its inhabitants. which hosts artists from all over the world. Sint-Katelijne-Waver is known for its The ten-day film festival called ‘Mooov’ takes horticulture. Farmers cultivate around 40 kinds place in spring. of vegetables. And they also have Europe’s largest co-operative auction (vegetables, fruit Turnhout’s cultural centre also organizes & biological products). concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances This village really is the heart of the local and workshops throughout the year. vegetable cultivation. For more info visit: But Sint-Katelijne-Waver is more than only http://www.visitturnhout.be horticulture, they also have some cultural heritage. Roosendael Domain, which used to be an abbey, and the botanical garden of the Ursulinen Institute are some examples. For more info visit: www.toerismeskw.be 10 11 VORSELAAR GEEL Host of the Vorselaar campus Host of the Geel Campus SURPRISINGLY NATURAL ONCE YOU VISIT, YOU WILL STAY Vorselaar is a small village, situated in the heart Geel is a small town but it covers a fairly large of the Kempen region. There is no industry to area. be found, only nature and green open space. Geel is well world-wide known for the early The village was built around a triangular adoption of deinstitutionalization in psychiatric market square in the centre. The centre used care. This practice is based on the positive to consist only of the church, the castle and effects that placement in a host family gives the convent which were constructed centuries the patient, most importantly access to family ago and still carry many stories with them. life that would otherwise have been denied. The rural area around Geel offers a lot for There are numerous cultural associations that nature lovers: woods, sand dunes, a bird set up events throughout the year for you to sanctuary and many walk and bicycle paths. experience. For more info visit: www.geel.be All in all, Vorselaar is a typical rural village with its traditions, active student life and a thriving food service industry and a yearly folk festival “Na Fir Bolg”. For more info visit: www.vorselaar.be 12 13 LIER Host of the Lier Campus CHARMING AND FUN Lier is a charming small town in the Antwerp province. It is known for its “Beguinage”( semi-monastic community of women called “Beguines“), which is one of the oldest in Flanders. Other landmarks in the city centre are the City Hall and the Gummarus church. The Zimmer Tower is a famous curiosity in Lier. Here you can see Louis Zimmer’s world- famous Centenary Clock, the Astronomical Studio and the Astronomical Clock. For more info visit: www.toerismelier.be 14 15 Belgium & Flanders 1 BELGIUM Capital: Brussels Official languages: Dutch, French, German The Kingdom of Belgium (Dutch: België; French: Government: Parliamentary democracy and Belgique; German: Belgien) is a country in northwest Constitutional monarchy Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union King: Filip I and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other Independence declared: 04.10.1830 major international organizations, including NATO. Currency: EURO Time Zone: UTC + 1 Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometers Summer Time Zone: UTC + 2 (11,787 square miles) and has a population of about Internet code: .be 10.5 million. Calling code: +32 Belgium’s two largest regions are the Dutchspeaking Before you come to Belgium it is a must to read about region of Flanders in the north, and the French-speaking the country and its inhabitants. The internet is a rich southern region of Wallonia. A small German-speaking source of information. Community exists in eastern Belgium. Brussels (the capital) is officially bilingual but is a mostly Below you will find some websites. On these websites French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region. you will not only find interesting facts about Belgium but also tips for the Traveler (visa, health risks, money, Belgium’s linguistic diversity and related political and transport,…) cultural conflicts are reflected in the political history and a complex system of government.