Belgium Life

Belgium Life Sharing my experience as newbie in Belgium,after spending 7 years in China, originally from Pakistan.

03/09/2026

Many students ask me to guide about getting a PhD in Belgium, so here is what i know.

Unlike back home, you don’t apply for a PhD “seat” — you apply for an open, paid research position. Here’s what that means:

🔹 Funding routes:
• HEC scholarship (common, but not the only way)
• University-funded PhD positions (paid, advertised as job vacancies)
• FWO/BOF/ERC-funded projects (professors hire PhD students as researchers)
• Self-funded/joint programs (less common)

🔹 How to apply:
• Check university vacancy pages (KU Leuven, Ghent, VUB, UAntwerpen) — PhD openings post year-round, not fixed intake
• Cold-email professors with a tailored CV + short motivation
• Need: Master’s degree, CV, transcripts, 1-2 recommendation letters, sometimes a proposal
• English test (IELTS/TOEFL) required unless previous degree was in English

🔹 Timeline: Start looking 8-12 months ahead. Visa (type D) takes 6-8 weeks.

🔹 Common mistakes: Only relying on HEC, generic emails to professors, non-European CV format

Came here for postdoc but get asked this daily — hope it helps! Save & share with someone applying. 🧡

PhD in Europe, scholarships, expats, study, living abroad, pakistan, India,

02/09/2026

Just posting because i had to….
expat in Belgium, Life as an expat, Umrah Diaries, makkah, madinah, mom life,

01/09/2026

Stop arriving at the Haram only to find it packed 😰
The Nusuk app just dropped a game-changing update for Umrah pilgrims — and if you’re planning Tawaf or Sa’i, this is going to save you so much time and stress.

Here’s what’s new 👇

📊 LIVE CROWD LEVELS
The app now shows real-time crowd density for:
→ Mataf (where you perform Tawaf around the Kaaba)
→ Masa’a (where you do Sa’i between Safa & Marwah)
Instead of walking in and hoping it’s not too busy, you can check first and choose a better time or a less crowded area.

🧭 TAWAF & SA’I TRACKER
No more losing count or using hand tally counters. The app has a built-in tracker to help you keep count of your circuits digitally.

🗺️ INTERACTIVE HARAM MAPS
Navigate the Grand Mosque with interactive maps that help you find your way around — especially helpful if it’s your first Umrah or you’re with elderly parents / kids.

Why this matters:
When the Haram is busy (peak seasons, weekends, after Maghrib), knowing the crowd level beforehand makes your worship smoother, safer, and way less exhausting. It’s a small feature, but the impact is huge — especially for families, elderly pilgrims, or anyone who wants a more comfortable experience.

💡 Pro tip: You can also access crowd info by scanning QR codes placed around the mosque if you prefer not to dig through the app.
Save this for your next Umrah trip & share it with someone who’s going soon! 📌
—
Umrah2026 NusukApp UmrahTips Tawaf Saee Makkah UmrahSeries Haramain MuslimTravel IslamicReels UmrahGuide GrandMosque HajjAndUmrah DigitalUmrah SaudiVision2030

31/08/2026

DID YOU KNOW “HARAM” DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN “FORBIDDEN”? 🤯🕋

One question I often wondered about was:

“If haram means something that is forbidden in Islam, then why is Makkah called Haram?”

The answer is actually beautiful. 🤍

The Arabic word ḥarām (حَرَام) has a broader meaning than simply “forbidden.”

It can refer to something that is sacred, inviolable, protected, or not to be violated.

That’s why we say:

🕋 Al-Masjid al-Haram — the Sacred Mosque

And the surrounding sacred sanctuary of Makkah is also known as Al-Haram.

Allah designated Makkah as a sacred sanctuary, where certain things that would ordinarily be permissible are not allowed — including hunting and harming the natural life within the sanctuary.

And here’s another interesting point:

🌿 Madinah also has a sacred sanctuary, known as the Haram of Madinah. However, its sacred boundaries and some of its specific rulings are different from those of Makkah.

So the next time you hear “Haram” in relation to Makkah, don’t automatically translate it as simply “forbidden.”

Sometimes, it means SACRED. 🤍

✨ The Arabic language is so rich, and understanding the meaning behind these words can make our Umrah experience even more meaningful.

Did you know this meaning of Haram? Tell me in the comments 👇

Save this for your Umrah journey 🕋 and share it with someone who might be wondering the same thing!

30/08/2026

One of the most peaceful places we visited in Madinah🌴

This is Bir Al Faqir — the Well of Al Faqir, also known as Bir Al Mithab or the Well of Salman Al Farsi RA. It is a historic site in Madinah associated with Salman Al Farsi RA, a companion of the Prophet ﷺ, and traces its significance to the early days of Islam.

The Story 🤍
Salman Al Farsi RA was originally a slave seeking truth who eventually embraced Islam. To secure his freedom, his master set seemingly impossible conditions — he had to plant and nurture 300 date palm trees AND pay a large sum of gold as ransom.

The Prophet ﷺ, moved by Salman’s devotion and the cruelty of the terms, immediately intervened — turning this impossible task into a monumental community wide act of faith, charity and miracle. The Prophet ﷺ himself planted the palm trees with his blessed hands, and they bore fruit in a very short time — this was a prophetic miracle.

The name Al Faqir is thought to derive from the word “faqqiru” — the act of digging the ground for planting palm saplings — the very word the Prophet ﷺ used when instructing the companions to prepare the holes.

The Site Today 🌴
The well has recently been restored and reopened under the supervision of the Madinah Region Development Authority. The restoration includes water channels, a new bridge, informative signs, palm trees, a paved courtyard and stone benches for visitors. Entry is completely free. There is also a small open mosque right opposite the well. And just an 8 minute walk away is the Ghars Well — another well with profound Islamic history from the Seerah.

The place is clean, well maintained and perfect for a short visit to relax and learn about Islamic history — highly recommended for families and visitors to Madinah.

✅ Located in the Aliya area of Madinah, near Masjid Quba
✅ Free entry — no booking needed
✅ Clean, restored and family friendly
✅ Small mosque opposite the well to pray in
✅ Combine with a visit to Ghars Well nearby — only 8 mins walk
✅ Best visited after Asr when it’s cooler and golden 🌅

Save, share
makkah, madinah, hajj, umrah, ziyarat

27/08/2026

When I was pregnant back in China, maternity leave was a luxury not a right. 😔 You took what your employer was kind enough to give you — and you were grateful for it.

In Belgium? Having a baby comes with a whole PACKAGE of rights for BOTH parents. 🇧🇪🤯

Let me break it down 👇

👩 MATERNITY LEAVE — For Mum:

Maternity leave includes 15 weeks of paid time off, with the possibility to extend for multiple births. Six weeks can be taken before the expected due date and nine weeks after childbirth.  🙌

And it’s not just time off — it’s PAID. You receive benefits through your health insurance fund so money keeps coming in while you bond with your baby. 💛

👨 PATERNITY LEAVE — For Dad:

Fathers are entitled to 20 days of paid paternity leave, which can be taken flexibly — either separately, consecutively, or split into 40 half-days — within the first four months of the baby’s birth.  😮

The employer pays full salary for the first 3 days, while public health insurance covers the remaining 17 days at 82% of salary.  ✅

Back home dads go back to work the next day. 😂 Here the LAW says — stay home, be with your family! 🙌

👨‍👩‍👧 PARENTAL LEAVE — For BOTH Parents:

And when maternity and paternity leave ends? Employees with at least 12 months of service and who have a child under 12 years old are entitled to up to 4 months of parental leave per parent per child.
So BOTH mum AND dad each get 4 months. Per child. EVERY child. 💛

This can be taken full time or part time and is available to both mothers and fathers.  So you can choose what works best for YOUR family! ✅

Let me add this all up for you 😮

👩 Mum gets → 15 weeks maternity + 4 months parental
👨 Dad gets → 20 days paternity + 4 months parental
👶 Baby gets → TWO present, protected, paid parents 💛

Back home having a baby meant financial stress, rushing back to work and dads who barely got a day off. 😔

In Belgium having a baby means the whole system wraps around your family and says — take your time, we’ve got you. 🙌🇧🇪

Save this & share it with every expat parent.

Follow for more real expat life

26/08/2026

Back home in Pakistan or India, being sick at work meant one thing — you go anyway. 😔

Fever? Go to work.
Flu? Go to work.
Can barely stand? Go to work.

Because taking a sick day meant losing pay, losing your job or losing your reputation. 😭

In Belgium? The law literally protects you the moment you fall sick. 🇧🇪

Here’s exactly what happens when you’re sick in Belgium 👇

🤒 Day 1-30 — Your employer pays you 100% of your salary.
Not 50%. Not 80%. One hundred percent. Full salary. Straight into your account. ✅

No begging. No guilt. No “are you sure you can’t come in?” Your job is protected by law and your employer cannot say a single word. 💪

😮 After 30 days — the government steps in.
The Health Insurance Fund covers extended sick leave at 60% of your salary  — so even after a whole month of being sick, you’re still getting paid! You don’t just fall off a cliff financially. 🙌

📄 What you need:
A medical certificate from your doctor. That’s it. No long process. No proving yourself. Just a certificate and you’re protected. ✅

🛡️ Can your employer fire you for being sick?
NO. Belgian law protects you from dismissal during sick leave. Your job will be there when you get better. 💛

And here’s the part that really got me 😮

If for some reason you couldn’t take your annual leave because of illness — those holiday days don’t disappear. They carry forward for up to 2 years! 

So being sick doesn’t cost you your holidays either. 🤯

This is what a country that actually values its people looks like. 🙌🇧🇪

Save this & share it with every expat working in Belgium! 📌

Follow for more real expat life in Belgium 🇧🇪✨
Check highlights “BE FunFacts” for more! 👆

25/08/2026

Back home in Pakistan, taking a day off felt like asking for a favour. 😔 You’d work sick, work stressed, work through everything — because asking for leave meant risking your job or your reputation.

In Belgium? Your boss is LEGALLY forced to make you take holidays. 😂🇧🇪

Let me say that again — your employer can get in TROUBLE if you don’t take your leave. 🤯

Here’s what Belgium gives every employee by law 👇

Here’s what Belgium gives every employee by law 👇

🏖️ 20 fully paid days off every single year — minimum! And in many sectors it goes up to 26 or even 30 days! ✅

💰 Double salary in May — called Vakantiegeld, Belgium actually pays you EXTRA money before summer just so you can enjoy your holiday properly! 😮 It’s 92% of your gross monthly salary on top of your normal pay!

📅 Minimum 2 weeks uninterrupted — your employer must give you at least 2 continuous weeks off between May and October. No splitting it into single days! 🙌

😤 Didn’t take your leave? Your employer is legally required to make sure you take it before the end of the year. They cannot just let it disappear. And if special circumstances like illness stopped you — your leave carries over for up to 24 months! ✅

🔴 And if your employer refuses your leave? That’s illegal. Full stop. 💪

Back home I worked for years without a proper holiday because I was scared to ask. 😔

Here my employer reminds ME to go on holiday. 😂💛

This is what working in a country that actually respects humans feels like. 🙌🇧🇪

Save this & share it with every expat working in Belgium who doesn’t know their rights! 📌

Follow for more real expat life in Belgium 🇧🇪✨
Check highlights “BE FunFacts” for more! 👆

belgiumlife funfact workinginbelgium expatlife belgiumbenefits worklifebalance

24/08/2026

Back home in Pakistan or India, if your child or parent gets sick — you either go to work anyway or you lose your job. There’s no in between. 😔

In Belgium? The law actually protects you. 🇧🇪

It’s called Zorgverlof — and it’s one of those things nobody tells you when you move here. 😮

Here’s exactly what Belgium gives you 👇

🏥 Short Term Care Leave:
Every employee has the right to be absent from work for up to 5 days per year to provide significant personal care or support to a family member who needs it for a serious medical reason.  These days are specifically to care for someone — not just when YOU are sick! ✅

😷 When YOU are sick:
All employees in Belgium who fall ill or are injured are entitled to 30 days of paid sick leave at full salary.  30 FULL days. Full salary. No stress. 🙌

🏨 Seriously ill family member:
Employees can take a full or partial career break of up to 3 months to care for a seriously ill family member.  And if you need more flexibility, full time workers can reduce their work hours by 1/5 or half for up to six months per dependent person.  💛

☁️ Terminal illness:
Employees can take up to 3 months of leave to care for a terminally ill family member, with the option to extend.  Because Belgium understands that some moments in life are more important than work. 🥹

What you need:
📄 A doctor’s certificate
📋 Inform your employer in time
✅ That’s it — your job is protected by law!

Back home we hide our family problems and go to work anyway because we’re scared. 😔 Here the law says — your family comes first and your job will still be there when you come back. 💛

This is what a system that actually cares about people looks like. 🙌

Save this & share it with every expat working in Belgium! 📌

Follow for more real expat life in Belgium 🇧🇪✨
Check highlights “BE FunFacts” for more! 👆

belgiumlife funfact expatlife worklifebalance belgiumbenefits

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