ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Punctuality and correct behavior are important, and things are generally quite formal. Business cards are welcome. Business languages are French or English.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m.-5.30 p.m.
Economy
AHK Debelux (German-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
(Office Germany)
Belgisches Haus, Cäcilienstraße 46, D-50667 Cologne
Tel: (0221) 257 54 77.
Internet: www.debelux.org
AHK Debelux (German-Belgian Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce)
(Belgium
Office) Manhattan Office Tower, Bolwerklaan 21 Avenue du Boulevard, B-1210 Brussels
Tel: (02) 203 50 40.
Internet: www.debelux.org
Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Bruxelles (Brussels Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
500 Avenue Louise, B-1050 Brussels
Tel: (02) 648 50 02.
Internet: www.ccib.be or www.500.be
Kamer van Koophandel en Nijverheid van Antwerpen (Antwerp Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Markgravestraat 12, B-2000 Antwerp
Tel: (03) 232 22 19.
Internet: www.kvkaw.voka.be
Agence pour le Commerce Exterieure (Foreign Trade Agency)
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 30-b 36, B-1000 Brussels
Internet: www.abh-ace.org
Flanders Foreign Investment Office (FFIO)
Gaucheretstraat 90, B-1030 Brussels
Tel: (02) 504 88 71.
Internet: www.ffio. com
Business contacts
AHK Debelux (German-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
(Office Germany)
Belgisches Haus, Cäcilienstraße 46, D-50667 Cologne
Tel: (0221) 257 54 77.
Internet: www.debelux.org
AHK Debelux (German-Belgian Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce)
(Belgium
Office) Manhattan Office Tower, Bolwerklaan 21 Avenue du Boulevard, B-1210 Brussels
Tel: (02) 203 50 40.
Internet: www.debelux.org
Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Bruxelles (Brussels Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
500 Avenue Louise, B-1050 Brussels
Tel: (02) 648 50 02.
Internet: www.ccib.be or www.500.be
Kamer van Koophandel en Nijverheid van Antwerpen (Antwerp Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Markgravestraat 12, B-2000 Antwerp
Tel: (03) 232 22 19.
Internet: www.kvkaw.voka.be
Agence pour le Commerce Exterieure (Foreign Trade Agency)
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 30-b 36, B-1000 Brussels
Internet: www.abh-ace.org
Flanders Foreign Investment Office (FFIO)
Gaucheretstraat 90, B-1030 Brussels
Tel: (02) 504 88 71.
Internet: www.ffio. com
COMMUNICATION
Phone
The country code is 0032. There are numerous public coin and card phones in Belgium, a country located in Europe according to computergees. The Telecard calling card is available in post offices, train stations and newspaper kiosks.
Cellphone
GSM 900 and 1800. The network providers include Base NV / SA (Internet: www.base.be), Mobistar (Internet: www.mobistar.be) and Proximus (Internet: www.proximus.be). There are numerous roaming agreements with other European providers. The network coverage is excellent.
International roaming can be used within the EU at the Euro tariff. Customers of all European mobile network operators automatically make all calls in and from other EU countries at the euro rate. However, the Eurotariff does not apply to other mobile communications services such as SMS, MMS and data transmission.
Internet
The main provider is Proximus (Internet: www.proximus.be). Internet cafés are becoming fewer and fewer. Fast food restaurants such as McDonalds offer free internet access via WiFi in the larger cities. Mobile surfing on the Internet is also made possible by the Goodspeed Wi-Fi hotspots, which are subject to a charge (Internet: goodspeed.io/de).
Post Office
Post traffic within Europe is fast and reliable, letters to other Western European countries take 1-3 days. You can write in poste restante at post offices in larger cities. Postage stamps are available from post offices, tobacco shops, and many shops that sell cards. Opening times: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m.; different on weekends. Other regulations also often apply in holiday regions.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
MONEY
Currency
1 euro = 100 cents. Currency abbreviation: €, EUR (ISO code). There are banknotes in the values 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, coins in the denominations of 1 and 2 euros, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
Credit cards
American Express, MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa are accepted. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question. An extensive network of ATMs is accessible by credit card. Numerous shops, boutiques, restaurants and car rental companies etc. accept credit cards.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
An extensive network of ATMs is accessible with an ec / Maestro card. Cash in the local currency can be withdrawn from ATMs using an ec / Maestro card and PIN number. In many European countries it is also possible to pay with the ec- / Maestro card in shops. Cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted in Europe and worldwide. Further information from banks and credit institutes. The same applies to the German Sparcard, the successor to the postal savings book as a means of procuring currency in other European countries. With a Sparcard and PIN number, cash can be withdrawn from European ATMs with the Visa Plus logo.
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank customer card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the options for using their card from their bank prior to departure.
Bank opening times
Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-4 p.m., some banks are also open on Saturday mornings.
Foreign exchange regulations
For travelers within the EU, there are no restrictions on the import or export of national and foreign currencies.
Travelers entering or leaving the EU and carrying cash of € 10,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currencies or other easily convertible values such as checks made out to third parties) must declare this amount to the customs authorities.
