Looking for Poles in Brussels, Belgium.

♂

Edited by: Mr_Bruxelles Dec 12, 11, 00:55 #1

Hi there,
I'm a 30 years old Belgian guy, I moved to London, England in 2000 aged 19 and spent 10 years there, where I've made many Polish friends, true friends!
I am now again living in Brussels, it's been a year and half already...
I find it hard to meet and befriend polish people here, in London it was the opposite. The reason I think it's because the ones that live and work in Belgium aren't as open-minded as those in London, most of the time they don't speak a word of French or Dutch, which makes it difficult to socialise.
Well if You're Polish and want to hang out, go for a (Belgian) beer maybe improve your French or Dutch with me so you'll help me improve my Polish. just let me know!

Peace!

♂

Dec 12, 11, 11:51 #2

Sorry Mr B

You are clearly walking around with your eyes closed. Again, sorry but again I think your perception that they can't speak French or Flemish is a little misguided also.

There are a lot of Poles in the Anderlecht area. Great little pierogi place there too. http://www.pierogicafe.be/. Worth a visit on a Sunday as they put music on and the place is usually very busy.

We lived in Etterbeek and there were quite a large group of Poles where we lived and whose children attended the school. My wife is Polis so of course the networking thing was easier.

We used to shop in a Polish shop called http://polski-smak.be/ on Chazallaan (or Avenue Chazal depending on which side of the fence you are on) and you can pick up a free publication called Gazetka which has a lot of ads for groups etc as well as personal ads too. Worth a shot......Even worth placing an ad maybe?

Having said all that......yes the Poles in Belgium were rather reserved but there is such a large community there that they were able to stay within their own so I can see your point.

Oh there is also a Polish church in Shaerbeek. That also has a publication (in Polish) but that tends to be more community related stuff.

I wish you luck.

♂

Dec 12, 11, 12:12 #3

Hi there,

Its pretty hard to find a specific group of ppl in Brussels which is a meltin pot. I used to live with my Polish gf in Ixelles (Elsene in Flemish) near ULB. There are a quite a few Polish students there, in chausee d' Ixelles there is also a Polsmak shop near Flagey. There if you enter you can find many events for Polish folks. Also you can get info on Polish events by the EU representation website. I dont know really any Polish cafeteria or bar in Brussels as well. Check here http://www.ritscafe.be/nl/content/polska-night
In any case I have to say by my experience that Brussels is really a city where national groups are not so distinguished by places to go.
For example I am Greek, I ve found 2-3 meeting points in Brussels for Greeks among which none had any signal. Just ppl knew them and they were gathered there almost randomly.

♂

Dec 12, 11, 14:17 #4

I met loads of "foreigners" during my year in Brussels. Illegal Turks, illegal Kossovars (truly scary people! guns, drugs and prostitutes), illegal North Africans, illegal Africans and asylum seeking Armenians. My best mate had done time for rape, which led him to lose his contacts as a pimp. Another bloke I knew well did time for manslaughter. I asked him what it was like to kill someone, and he answered chillingly, "Depends who." I had a great time.

♂

Dec 12, 11, 14:49 #5

Well what to say, I cant agree with you more. I ve stayed there with my gf for almost a year in Ixelles which is considered a quiet neighborhood in Brussels. Actually, Anderlecht, Midi and Skarboek are considered far the worse places. Maybe many foreigners have a different opinion but Brussels is not only Schuman, Malbeek and Av. Louise with cashed-up Eurocrats from diffent countries.Belgium and especially Brussels, Liege and Charleroi have the highest rates of criminality maybe in the world.Check on www.nationmaster.com to see the truth.

In this one year I ve seen a kebab place being shot by Glock ( actually it was the first time I saw a Glock after my military service in Greece). I ve experience 2 girls-student being raped. Our appartment has been broken in while Christmas holidays, along with many others. Another girl being hit in front of my eyes by a drugged driver. In Liege i saw a stubbed-on the stomach guy running in a night shop. Incidents like robbery in the metro or thefts in the street happen almost every day. Generally even the centre is not safe to walk after midnight, where migrant and local drunkards stub each other with broken bottles of beer. Generally so far is the most dangerous place for walking at night according to me. In Charleroi, in the famous bridge in front of the train station i dont know any tourist or local that hasnt been bullied by the junkies that use the bridge as a shelter. I ve never seen so many homeless ppl sleeping in the street, using litteraly every location they can lie down ( stations, bus stops, bridges, tunnels, even bank atms). I have to admit this happens mostly in the French speaking part, Flemish cities are in a better situation.

Turks are generally calm as people. Trouble makers are usually the ones whose origin is from the ex French or Belgian colonies who experience discrimination in all aspects of everyday life even if they have Belgian passports and speak both languages. They have developed a hatred towards their own country in a way. I also had a great time, but its good to have an opinion from abroad. As they say...You cant appreciate what you have if you dont see the worse !!!

VarsovianThreads: 91 Posts: 568 Joined: Nov 23, 06 ♂	Dec 12, 11, 15:00 #6
I hated the druggies - I tried to help one as best I could. He did himself a favour getting imprisoned - he was refused professional help so he smashed a shop window and distributed the goods to passers-by and waited for the police to come. I did have a great time - but was happy to leave my eclectic friends in the end.

♂

Edited by: Sidliste_Chodov Dec 12, 11, 15:17 #7

pavdel:

Belgium and especially Brussels, Liege and Charleroi have the highest rates of criminality maybe in the world.Check on www.nationmaster.com to see the truth.

I did, and what you say isn't true!

Crime stats: Belgium vs United Kingdom

Assault victims 1.2% 2.8%
Ranked 2nd. 133% more than Belgium

Bribe payers index 6.8 7.2
Ranked 7th. 6% more than Belgium

Drug offences 40,856 per 100,000 people 183,419 per 100,000 people
Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Belgium

Murders committed by youths 37 139
Ranked 29th. 3 times more than Belgium

Rape victims 0.3% 0.9%
Ranked 6th. 2 times more than Belgium

Total crimes 973,548 6,523,706
Ranked 2nd. 6 times more than Belgium

Total crime victims 21.4% 26.4%
Ranked 3rd. 23% more than Belgium

♂

Dec 12, 11, 16:08 #8

Well I ve never lived in the UK to know about the situation there. I just compare it statisticly and by living there to rest of countries in Europe that I ve seen and I am telling you there is no comparison.

Besides, I guess police in the UK is much more efficient than in Belgium. Besides the rapes and the shooting incident that I ve mentioned all the other minimum sense crimes are never even reported to the police because its a common secret that police doesnt give a ****. In any case having 40.000 drug cases / 100.000 people you have an image. I remember once we denounced our home burglary, they did not even come to inspect the place. We only completed a report and that was the end.

In any case since the subject is finding Poles in Brussels, I can give you an info about Liege, in front of the train station there is a Polish cafeteria serving Polish beer and some pierogi occasionally.

Mr_BruxellesThreads: 5 Posts: 13 Joined: Dec 11, 11 ♂	Dec 12, 11, 20:10 #9
yes I've seen it in the Liege Guillemin area but never went in it, I always see that Polish pub when on my way to Maastricht. Peace!

♂

Dec 12, 11, 20:24 #10

Yes I've seen that Pub in the Liege Guillemin area but never went in it, I always see that Polish pub when on my way to Maastricht.
Peace!

True, Brussels isn't as safe as London or other places, but I myself live in Schaerbeek and I love it. Knowing some arabic can help if you live around here, I grew up with Moroccans that helps too.

Peace and thanx for all your replies!

I can't wait to be in Kashubian territory on the 24th!

♂

Dec 12, 11, 22:02 #11

In any case I do not have any tendency to insult anybody. After all if you do not like a place you just leave. As I did. Even you as a Belgian you admit that things are not so calm. In any case since as I told you my gf is Polish I met with several Polish people in Brussels. Mostly students and Interns in companies or EU institutions. I do not think they have a problem with the language, they all speak English and some of them French as well. Otherwise how to survive there? The thing is that those kind of ppl come there to intergrateand not to meet fellows from their own place. As everybody.

Yes indeed this pub is in front of Guillemens, but as you know these cafes mostly work in the morning serving coffee to travellers. I remember there are some cultural events organized with cinema movies or buffets like "Malopolska" days. Its very nice.

♂

Edited by: Sidliste_Chodov Dec 12, 11, 22:16 #12

pavdel:

Well I ve never lived in the UK to know about the situation there. I just compare it statisticly and by living there to rest of countries in Europe that I ve seen and I am telling you there is no comparison.

I used the link you provided to "compare it statistically" - to (as you instructed) "see the truth".

And guess what? Belgium is a lot safer than most of the world, so what on earth is this stuff about Belgian cities being the most crime-ridden in the world? It's nonsense, and everyone knows it!

FFS, London's one of the most dangerous places in Europe (and everyone knows that), but London is crime-free compared to Nairobi or Port Moresby!

♂

Dec 12, 11, 22:57 #13

Sidliste_Chodov:

Crime stats: Belgium vs United Kingdom

Assault victims 1.2% 2.8%
Ranked 2nd. 133% more than Belgium

Bribe payers index 6.8 7.2
Ranked 7th. 6% more than Belgium

Drug offences 40,856 per 100,000 people 183,419 per 100,000 people
Ranked 2nd. 3 times more than Belgium

Murders committed by youths 37 139
Ranked 29th. 3 times more than Belgium

Rape victims 0.3% 0.9%
Ranked 6th. 2 times more than Belgium

Total crimes 973,548 6,523,706
Ranked 2nd. 6 times more than Belgium

Total crime victims 21.4% 26.4%
Ranked 3rd. 23% more than Belgium

It may have escaped your notice but the UK has about 45 million more inhabitants than little old Belgium.

♂

Edited by: Mr_Bruxelles Dec 12, 11, 22:57 #14

pavdel:

In any case I do not have any tendency to insult anybody. After all if you do not like a place you just leave. As I did. Even you as a Belgian you admit that things are not so calm. In any case since as I told you my gf is Polish I met with several Polish people in Brussels. Mostly students and Interns in companies or EU institutions. I do not think they have a problem with the language, they all speak English and some of them French as well. Otherwise how to survive there? The thing is that those kind of ppl come there to intergrateand not to meet fellows from their own place. As everybody.

I do not have any Polish acquaintances working in EU institutions or studying, I was talking about the poles I see walking down the streets, those doing manual work, like most of them do here. I guess I have to go out to some polish pubs around here to meet people. I don't drink much so rarely go down the pub...
:-)

I

Mr_BruxellesThreads: 5 Posts: 13 Joined: Dec 11, 11 ♂	Edited by: Mr_Bruxelles Dec 12, 11, 23:10 #15
EdWilczynski: It may have escaped your notice but the UK has about 45 million more inhabitants than little old Belgium. lol, I was thinking the same when I first saw the statistics he put up there. I am Belgian, and I am adamant when I say Brussels is not as safe as London, and it's not policed properly like someone else mentioned. Anyway, hwdp! :)

♂

Edited by: Sidliste_Chodov Dec 13, 11, 00:38 #16

EdWilczynski:

It may have escaped your notice but the UK has about 45 million more inhabitants than little old Belgium.

If you had actually bothered to look up that site, as I did, you would notice that those statistics are given as a percentage of the total population, or state the number of crimes per 100 000 of population.

If he can't be bothered to look up his own sources correctly, and states his "observations" as facts, then he's going to get pulled up on it.

Mr_Bruxelles:

lol, I was thinking the same when I first saw the statistics he put up there.

Read the above - then look up the site you gave us, instead of just posting up a random link which you claim will give us the "truth" about your country.

I get the last laugh this time.

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Unanswered \| Archives
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Poland and Polish Community	Witamy, Guest \| PF Members \| Gold Members

Home \| Unanswered \| Archives \| Random \| Statistics	Time in Poland: 22:33 / May 26
About Us \| Contact Us \| Rules, Privacy \| Poland Advertising	© 2005-12 PolishForums.com