Helpful links
This is a list of organisations that offer services that could be helpful for families in Belgium. Look at the categories below to find the links you might find helpful.
Emergency Contacts
| Emergency number Medical urgencies and fire brigade | 112 |
| Urgent police assistance in Belgium | 101 |
| Poison Centre | 070 245 245 |
| Child Focus | 116 000 |
| CARD STOP (24h/24) | 070 344 344 |
- 1: Support Help Line
- 2: On-call Doctors
- 3: Preparing for Birth and Parenting
- 4: Independent Midwives
- 5: Family Support
- 6: Feeding
- 7: Baby Clinics
- 8: Special Needs
- 9: General Links
- 10: Expat Websites
- 11: Tourism Websites
- 12: Daily Life in Belgium
- 13: Culture in Belgium
- 14: Helpful UK websites on pregnancy and baby
DISCLAIMER: THIS LIST IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY BCT RECOMMENDATIONS
1: Support Help Line
CHS (Community Help Service)
24 hour English speaking help line and counselling services
02 648 4014 (Help Line)
02 647 6780 (Office)
2: On-Call Doctors
www.medi-garde.be
Medi-Garde (French) - 02 479 1818
www.sosmedecins.be
SOS Medecina (French) - 02 513 0202
Femish speaking on-call doctor - 02 242 4344
3: Preparing for Birth and Parenting
BCT Pregnancy in Belgium
Regular evening sessions that provide helpful information when planning for or having a baby in Belgium.
BCT Prenatal CoursesAntenatal courses in English for first time parents-to-be and 'Refresher Courses' for parents expecting their second or subsequent child. Various locations around Brussels.
BCT TENS Machine Hire BCT Valley Cushion Hire www.thevillage.bePregnancy, birth and beyond in Belgium.
www.doulas.beAssociation francophone des doulas de Belgique
www.sococoon.net (FR) and A doula in Belgium on Facebook (EN)A Doula in Belgium by So Cocoon
www.expertisecentrum-vollemaan.beResource for medical services around local birth services. (NL)
4: Independent Midwives
www.zwangerinbrussel.be
A group of independent midwives based in Brussels who can assist home and hospital births. Prenatal and postnatal support care in English, French and Flemish.
www.naissance-amala.be
An association of midwives who offer a holistic approach to pregnancy and childbirth. Specialists available in shiatsu, physiotherapy, perineal reeducation, body-mind therapy and massage, psychology, Feldenkreis method, homeopathy, baby massage, hypnobirthing and osteopathy. Also doula service in French.
www.maisondelanaissance.be
A group of independent midwives who offer pre- and postnatal care in various languages.
www.sage-femme.be
Union professionnelle des sages-femmes belges. Offers a list of midwives by postcode.
www.bollebuik.com
Provides midwives for home births and postnatal care in Dutch, French and English.
Centrale des Accoucheuses
Provides a similar service to the Bolle Buik in French and English.
02 344 2740
5: Family Support
BCT Early Days Support
A team of volunteers offering general emotional support and practical information in the early weeks and months of parenthood.
BCT Experiences Register
A register of members willing to offer parent to parent support on a wide range of personal experiences from miscarriage, postnatal depression, and sleep deprivation to reflux, allergies, special educational needs, potty training and beyond.
www.debakermat.be
Provides short term help for families with a sliding scale of charges. Also provides postnatal care for Mother and baby. Flemish speaking organisation with English speaking helpers.
www.cpas-ocmw1150.be
CPAS - A Woluwe based French speaking network that offers support to families in case of sickness or after childbirth.
02 778 1160
www.familiehulp.be
Largest non-profit in Belgium. Dutch family support network. They offer baby care in the home in 4-hour blocks at set rates until baby is eight weeks old. They also offer household help.
www.liguedesfamilles.be
French speaking family organisation.
www.gezinsbond.be
Flemish speaking family organisation (with English section). Also second hand children's toys and clothes.
www.jeminforme.be/
Information for young people in Brussels.
www.paluche.org
A website aimed at those growing up in Brussels.
6: Feeding
BCT Breastfeeding Support
A breastfeeding support service run by trained volunteers, offering mother-to-mother support.
BCT Bottle-feeding Support
A BCT volunteer offering information about bottle-feeding
www.vzwborstvoeding.be
Dutch speaking breastfeeding support network in Flanders. Contact persons can be found under 'Telefonische Dienst'
051 77 1803
www.infor-allaitement.be
French speaking organisation providing support and information on breastfeeding. Brussels and Wallonia.
02 242 9933
www.lllbelgique.org
La Leche League: Breastfeeding Support and advice.
7: Baby Clinics
Kind en Gezin (child and family) is a Flemish speaking agency, equivalent to the ONE, that focusses on preventative treatment and guidance of young children geared to good outcomes in the future
The French-speaking office of birth and childhood (Office de la Naissance et de l'Enfance) is a public institution developing birth and childhood policies. Prenatal care and consultation clinics for children age 0 to 6 years.
8: Special Needs
Brush
Brussels support for disabled people
02 660 3225 and 02 280 0148
UK organisations:
www.steps-charity.org.ukSTEPS - a charity supporting adults and children with a lower limb or hip condition.
www.downs-syndrome.org.uk
DSA - Downs Syndrome Association
www.newlifecharity.co.uk
Newlife Foundation for disabled children
9: General Links
www.oasis-allergies.org
Fondation pour la prevention des allergies
Support for parents of children with allergies.
10: Expat Websites
www.expatfinder.com
Free expat services around the world or in your area
www.xpats.com
Belgium online in English
Expat life in Belgium - offers free monthly newsletterwww.expatica.com
Information and guidance on administration and discovering what Belgium has to offer.
expatsinbrussels.be
A practical guide for settling and living in Brussels.
11: Tourism Websites
www.visitbelgium.com
Official Belgian tourist office.
www.opt.be
Office for the promotion of tourism in Brussels and Wallonia.
www.bruxelles.irisnet.be
Brussels-Capital region official website.
www.wallonie.be
Official website for Wallonia.
www.flanders.be
Official website for Flanders.
www.vlaamsbrabant.be/en
Flemish Brabant official website.
12: Daily Life In Belgium
www.brusselslife.be/index.php?context=LE0
Brussels Information
www.quefaire.be
Up to date information on what's happening in Belgium.
www.goldenpages.be
Yellow pages online.
www.infobel.com/en/belgium
Phone directory online.
www.sncb.be
Belgian Rail.
www.stib.be
Travelling in Brussels - metro, tram and bus.
www.ibgebim.be
The Brussels Institute for the management of the Environment: including information on green spaces in Brussels.
13: Culture in Belgium
Cultural listings in Belgium.
The localisation section contains links to Brussels Museums.
English language theatre group in Brussels
http://www.thechildrenslibrary.be
English language children’s library
14: Helpful websites on pregnancy and baby
www.nct.org.uk
The UK's largest charity for parents.
www.babycentre.co.uk
Information on pregnancy, babies and toddlers.