“If the dream is a translation of waking life, waking life is also a translation of the dream,” says Rene Magritte, the famous Belgian surrealist painter known for questioning onlookers’ preconditioned perceptions of reality.
Waffles, chocolate and beer! This is what most of us know about Belgium. Right? But there is much more than meets the eye in this exciting country that holds fascinating facts. Before taking a closer look at the payment methods in Belgium, we better learn more about Belgian culture and daily routine. Let’s discover what makes Belgium so remarkable and diverse.
Officially the Kingdom of Belgium, Belgium is located in Northwestern Europe and shares borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the North Sea. It has a population of around 11.5 million, and the capital is the famous Brussels. Sharing the same border with the world economy’s heavy stones carries tremendous significance for Belgium and the Belgian economy.
This diverse country has two communities that differentiate themselves with language; the Dutch-speaking Flemish community, which takes up around 60 per cent of the population, and the French-speaking community, which takes up around 40 per cent of the people. There is also a small German-speaking community that lives in the East Cantons. This diversity in language is reflected in many aspects of Belgium, such as how they are governed.
If we have already discovered the basic A101 about Belgium, let’s continue with some fun facts. Belgians love their beer! There are more than 1000 kinds of beer brewed in Belgium, and this country is believed to be the birthplace of some of the finest beers in the world. In Belgian culture, everyone sips beer with meals or at any time of the day and “soft beer” can be served even to children. In the ’70s, this “soft beer” with low-alcohol content was served during school lunch. Americans with a legal drinking age of 21 would have a heart attack if they heard this!
Another delicacy Belgium is known for is definitely chocolate. Belgian chocolate is said to be the most pleasing in the world, and indeed Belgians are picky about their chocolate. This country has a long history of cocoa seeds because it has imported considerable excesses from its African colony, the Belgian Congo, for over a century.
The raw materials used in chocolate production do not originate in Belgium; major cocoa producers are in Africa, Central America, and South America. Nonetheless, the country is associated with products dating to the early 17th century, recognised for their precise savours. Every country’s chocolate flavour varies due to how they prepare it and the origin of the cocoa. Belgian chocolate is characteristically more buttery, medium sweet with medium bitterness. It uses high-quality ingredients and leaves a soft finish on the tongue.
Last but not least, the symbol of Belgium is the peeing boy! Yes, you read that correctly. The peeing boy statue or Manneken Pis of Brussels. This little guy can be seen in different costumes; in fact, he has an entire museum reserved for his outfits. This museum is called GardeRobe Manneken Pis Museum, located in the heart of Brussels.
Life in Belgium is relatively secure and peaceable. On average, the rent in Brussels is much more affordable than in the other capitals of European countries. Belgium also has adequate universal healthcare accessible with affordable monthly insurance. Education is also gratis in Belgium, with nominal additional fees for university education.
This country has incredible cuisine, pleasant and welcoming people, and free healthcare and education. What else can we expect from a country? This is why Belgium is under the limelight of expats, tourists, immigrants, digital nomads and exchange students. Indeed, Brugge, Ghent and Antwerp are listed as top-ranked among the best digital nomad spots around the globe.
The only roundabout is the fact that it is challenging to find a job in Belgium as a foreigner. While applying for jobs, you might often see “EU citizens only”. The reason is it costs more for employers to employ non-EU citizens. But if there is a will, there is a way. Do not give up quickly!
Choosing Payment Methods in Belgium
As impressive and kaleidoscopic as it is, when it comes to payment methods, Belgium is similar to the rest of the European Union countries. Belgians love their credit cards, cash for small payments and digital wallets. The country has a massive Internet penetration of up to 84%. This rate also gives some tips regarding the most used purchase forms of consumers to shop online.
What Are The Different Types of Payment Methods in Belgium?
To clear the clouds, we can separate preferred payment methods and practices in Belgium into four main categories. All-time favourite cash, easy-way debit/credit cards, innovative digital wallets, and futuristic money, cryptocurrencies. In this part of our article, we will evaluate these diverse payment options through their pros and cons. Therefore you can make up your mind to pick the one meeting with your needs.
Payment practices in Belgium
- Cash in Belgium
Belgians still use cash for their in-store payments. Euro is the official fiat currency in Belgium, just like in most of the EU countries. Belgians look like they will continue using cash for a while. For small in-store payments, cash is still heavily used. So you can buy your delicious Belgian waffle or sailor-style mussels with some Euros; however, paying by banknotes from your wallet for purchases over 500 Euros can be weird.
- Credit Card in Belgium
Credit cards are also prevalent in Belgium. Major credit cards such as MasterCard, Maestro and Visa are highly circulated in both in-store and online payments. If you are travelling from a foreign country, generally, you should have no problem using one of these. Credit cards can be swiped almost everywhere in the country, and cardholders can withdraw cash from any ATM placed around the cities.
- Digital Wallets in Belgium
Digital wallet usage in Belgium is prevalent, especially among the younger population. Digital wallets are mostly preferred due to their easy use and other perks like affordable international money transfers and low exchange rates compared to traditional banks.
Plus, digital wallets can be considered one of the best online payment methods thanks to their trustworthiness and swift transfer times. Creating a digital bank account with a few clicks is also possible, while it is still time-consuming in a traditional bank system. Everyone can find a digital wallet covering their spending habits. If you are considering using a digital wallet, you can find one that best fits you from the available digital wallets in Belgium.
- Cryptocurrency in Belgium
Cryptocurrency is one of the most trendy assets for investors in the financial market and is totally permitted in Belgium. You can buy and trade cryptocurrencies using one of the numerous trading platforms. Yet, please keep in mind that cryptocurrencies are not considered legal tender. This is why businesses cannot operate and accept their payments in any cryptocurrency. If you are a newbie crypto trader, you can readily find a beginner-friendly platform, start trading crypto coins promising great benefits, and relish your profits without breaking any law.
Jeton Wallet in Belgium!
Hallo België! Je bent op de juiste plek!
As Jeton digital wallet, we have been in the European market for long years and have learnt a lot about the consumers’ expectations and concerns. Here, you will find a seamless online payment service taking the user-orientation as the main principle. We always focus on the demands of our users, and in light of these, we constantly revise to present the finest service.
In Jeton Wallet, you will find innovative, suitable solutions for domestic and international money transactions while you can also schedule your payments like mortgage, insurance or utility bills. Our digital wallet comes with a mobile application, Jeton App. This is a practical application not to lose track of your cash flow. You can safely reach your account with a few clicks and check your entire transaction history. Money transfers between two Jeton users are free of charge, whereas others will have low transaction fees
Jeton accounts send you a Euro IBAN to swiftly send and receive the money within Europe. What’s more, our European users will have a Visa-based debit card, Jeton Card, which is similar to any debit card for in-store and online purchases. Since Jeton Card is presently linked to the Jeton app, users can detect every single movement in their account.
Would you like to discover more about exceptional benefits? Please visit jeton.com and reach one of our proficient customer support members with a solution-oriented mindset. Together we are more vigorous than ever!
