Dear Erasmus students,
You can also check on
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g188673-Activities-Kortrijk_West_Flanders_Province.html
Friday, 7 July 2017
Thursday, 6 July 2017
Kortrijk Wi-fi
Dear Erasmus students,
In the centre of the city there is free Wi-Fi, you just have to log in with your Facebook.
When you get outside of the train station - toward perron 1(the centre) you can immediately connect to the internet :)
In the centre of the city there is free Wi-Fi, you just have to log in with your Facebook.
When you get outside of the train station - toward perron 1(the centre) you can immediately connect to the internet :)
Google maps
Dear Erasmus students,
You can download offline areas on Google maps on your phone so you can find your way even without internet.
It is very easy and useful :)
You can download offline areas on Google maps on your phone so you can find your way even without internet.
It is very easy and useful :)
Lost in translation
Dear Erasmus students,
The language spoken here is Dutch-Flemish and Kortrijk has it's own dialect.
In fact each region has it's own dialect.
But don't worry, most of the people also speak English and French.
It would be good for you to learn some words in Dutch to make your daily life here a bit easier, for example when you go shopping.
Here is a site from where I started learning Dutch:
http://www.learndutch.org/courses/dutch-vocabulary-beginners/
Also there is a dictionary you can install on your phone that works without internet :)
The language spoken here is Dutch-Flemish and Kortrijk has it's own dialect.
In fact each region has it's own dialect.
But don't worry, most of the people also speak English and French.
It would be good for you to learn some words in Dutch to make your daily life here a bit easier, for example when you go shopping.
Here is a site from where I started learning Dutch:
http://www.learndutch.org/courses/dutch-vocabulary-beginners/
Also there is a dictionary you can install on your phone that works without internet :)
Getting fat in Kortrijk
Dear Erasmus students,
In Belgium the most popular foods are fries with mayo (I personally prefer the Samurai sauce) and waffles, so be ready to gain some weight :)
Some fries places:
In Belgium the most popular foods are fries with mayo (I personally prefer the Samurai sauce) and waffles, so be ready to gain some weight :)
Some fries places:
- Frituur Bossuwé (Stationsplein)
- Paul's Boutique (Paul's Fresh Food Boutique, Kleine Sint-Jansstraat, Kortrijk) (Yanto's, Doorniksesteenweg, Kortrijk) (Paul's Boutique (Appel) Zandstraat 19, 8500 Kortrijk)
- De Petaterie (Sint-Amandsplein, Kortrijk)
- Louis' Burger Bar Kortrijk
- JACK Premium Burgers Kortrijk
Some pizza places:
- Domino's Pizza
- Pizza Hut (personally I really don't like the pizza they have here)
Some pitta(shaorma) places:
- The Pitta House (located in the same street as the bars)
- Pitta Bodrum (very close to the residence, just over the bridge)
Bars/nightlife in Kortrijk
Dear Erasmus students,
The most famous place in Kortrijk for the nightlife is Het Straatje (literally translated as the little street) - which is a little street close to the train station where you can find the following bars:
Then you have Vlaasmarkt with:
Other places in Kortrijk:
A let's call it "real club" is Diedjes http://www.diedjies.be/
From what I understood it is open only on Sundays so be careful with the hangover on Monday.
It is located in Kuurne, about 20 minutes by bike.
There is also an event hall called De Kreun(Conservatoriumplein 1)where a lot of concerts and parties take place.
The best way to know what kind of events they all organise is just to like them on Facebook.
There might be more places but these are the ones I know.
Feel free to comment if you find other nice places and I will add them.
The most famous place in Kortrijk for the nightlife is Het Straatje (literally translated as the little street) - which is a little street close to the train station where you can find the following bars:
- Den Bras - alternative, not a dancing place
- Den Trap - alternative, sometimes there are nice parties where you can dance
- De Geverfde Vogel - good dancing music, good dancing place
- Cafe 56 - dancing place
- De Luxe - dancing place
- Stradivarius - dancing place
Then you have Vlaasmarkt with:
- The Gouden Aap - good music
- Gainsbar
- Ziggy
Other places in Kortrijk:
- deDingen (Budastraat) - really cosy, nice cafe
- Balthazar (Paleisstraat)
- Vagant (Voorstraat) - nice music, dancing place
- Le Chat Noir (Kapittelstraat) - really cool, alternative place
- La Bodeguita del Medio (Stationsstraat) - for the cocktail lovers
- Cafe des Arts (Hazelaarstraat)
- 't Kanon (Doorniksesteenweg)
- Bootel Ahoi (Handelskaai 1) - this is actually a hotel boat but you can just go have drinks on the boat
- Staminee Boulevard (Groeningelaan 15 )
- Shooters - here you can play pool, sometimes they organise karaoke
- De Maxx - you can play pool and bowling
A let's call it "real club" is Diedjes http://www.diedjies.be/
From what I understood it is open only on Sundays so be careful with the hangover on Monday.
It is located in Kuurne, about 20 minutes by bike.
There is also an event hall called De Kreun(Conservatoriumplein 1)where a lot of concerts and parties take place.
The best way to know what kind of events they all organise is just to like them on Facebook.
There might be more places but these are the ones I know.
Feel free to comment if you find other nice places and I will add them.
Shops in Kortrijk
Dear Erasmus students,
These are the most famous supermarkets that you will find in Kortrijk:
If you want to see the exact schedule just Google for openinsguren (opening hours) and you will find the exact schedule of each shop.
Another option is the nachtwinkels(night shops) and other shops where you can find food also at night and on Sundays.
There is a big Arab shop close to the residence where you can find a lot of things.
!If you don't feel like cooking but want to eat something good The Arab shop, Carrefour and Delhaize sell already cooked chicken for around 6 euros and they are delicious!
There are two shopping malls in Kortrijk:
They are also normally closed on Sundays.
Things for your room you can find in:
Another shops where they have make-up, creams, shampoos etc is Kruidvat: https://www.kruidvat.be/fr/
Sometimes they have offers: buy one & get the 2nd half price; buy two & get 4.
These are the most famous supermarkets that you will find in Kortrijk:
- Colruyt - 10minutes walking from the residence (Sint-Sebastiaanslaan 2)
- Lild - 10minutes walking from the residence (Sint-Sebastiaanslaan 3)
- Carrefour - 15minutes walking (Burgemeester Vercruysselaan 22) & 15minutes with the bus (Walle 2)
- Delhaize - 15min walking (Steenpoort 2-this is a small one) & 15min with the bus(Pater Beckstraat 47)
- Albert Heijn - 15 min with the bus located in the Ring shopping mall (Ringlaan 34)
- Aldi - 17 minutes by bus (Sint-Denijsestraat 103) & 25 minutes walking (Gentsesteenweg 68)
If you want to see the exact schedule just Google for openinsguren (opening hours) and you will find the exact schedule of each shop.
Another option is the nachtwinkels(night shops) and other shops where you can find food also at night and on Sundays.
There is a big Arab shop close to the residence where you can find a lot of things.
!If you don't feel like cooking but want to eat something good The Arab shop, Carrefour and Delhaize sell already cooked chicken for around 6 euros and they are delicious!
There are two shopping malls in Kortrijk:
- K in Kortrijk - located in the centre of Kortrijk: http://www.k-in-kortrijk.be/
- Ringlaan - located a bit further, in Kuurne: http://www.ringshopping.be/
They are also normally closed on Sundays.
Things for your room you can find in:
- Euroshop - where you can find a lot of things for your room, for the kitchen, self care etc: http://www.euroshop.be/fr/storepickup/euro-shop-kortrijk/
- Action - where you can find some things to eat but a lot of other stuff for your room: https://www.action.com/nl-be/fr/locations/kortrijk/
- Zeeman: https://www.zeeman.com/fr_be/
Another shops where they have make-up, creams, shampoos etc is Kruidvat: https://www.kruidvat.be/fr/
Sometimes they have offers: buy one & get the 2nd half price; buy two & get 4.
Sim cards
Dear Erasmus students,
You have some options for choosing a phone card in Belgium.
Depending on what interests you most(minutes, mobile data) you can choose between these companies:
There might be others as well but these are the ones I know :)
You have some options for choosing a phone card in Belgium.
Depending on what interests you most(minutes, mobile data) you can choose between these companies:
- Vikings: https://mobilevikings.be/en/v2/
- Lyca: http://www.lycamobile.be/en/
- Proximus: https://www.proximus.be/en/id_zwpr_p/personal/products.html
- Base: https://www.base.be/en.html
- Orange: https://www.orange.be/fr/produits-et-services
There might be others as well but these are the ones I know :)
Going by train and arriving in Kortrijk
Dear future Erasmus students,
It is very easy to travel by train in Belgium: http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx
First of all a train ticket here is between two stations. If you need to get from A to C, but need to change the change in B you will buy one ticket for A-C.
Also, the tickets are not made for one specific train. You do not have any train number, seat number or hour on your ticket. You just have the date, the departure station and the arrival station. If you miss your train you can just take the next one.
Here are some nice offers:
If you are under 26 you can buy a Go Pass 1 that costs 6,2 euros between any 2 stations in Belgium. You can buy it online.
http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/tickets/go-pass-1.aspx
If you are under 26 you can pay 52 euros for Go Pass 10 that includes10 trips between any 2 stations in Belgium.
http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/passes-cards/go-pass-10.aspx
If you are over 26 you pay 77 euros for Railcard of 10 trips
http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/passes-cards/rail-pass.aspx
It's most of the times the cheapest to buy a Go Pass 10 than buy a ticket each time, but it depends on how far the destination is and if it is weekend. The Go Pass 10 is simply a ticket that you have to fill in each time before you get on the train and show to the ticket controller.
Always mention if you are under 26 when you buy tickets.
Usually during the holidays there is a one week unlimited travels with 12euros for the ones under 26, so you will be able to see the whole Belgium very very cheap.
If you land on Zaventem-Brussels National Airport you have to take a train to Kortrijk. Besides the train ticket you also have to buy a Diablo Fee (5,25Euros): http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/tickets/diabolo-fee-to-airport.aspx
You can find the timetable of the trains here: http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/query.exe/en
You just have to type that you come from ‘BRUXELLES-NAT-AIRPORT’ and that you travel to ‘KORTRIJK’.
There is usually one direct train every hour, at 13 minutes past but there are also other trains where you have to change in Brussels South or Gent. If you have a big luggage it's best just to take the direct train.
If you land on Charleroi (Brussels South), you can either take the bus to Brussels South (Bruxelles Midi) http://www.charleroi-airport.com/en/acces/shuttle-buses/index.html or the
bus to the railway station of Charleroi and then take the train to Kortrijk http://www.charleroi-airport.com/en/acces/train-bus/index.html .
It is very easy to travel by train in Belgium: http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx
First of all a train ticket here is between two stations. If you need to get from A to C, but need to change the change in B you will buy one ticket for A-C.
Also, the tickets are not made for one specific train. You do not have any train number, seat number or hour on your ticket. You just have the date, the departure station and the arrival station. If you miss your train you can just take the next one.
Here are some nice offers:
If you are under 26 you can buy a Go Pass 1 that costs 6,2 euros between any 2 stations in Belgium. You can buy it online.
http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/tickets/go-pass-1.aspx
If you are under 26 you can pay 52 euros for Go Pass 10 that includes10 trips between any 2 stations in Belgium.
http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/passes-cards/go-pass-10.aspx
If you are over 26 you pay 77 euros for Railcard of 10 trips
http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/passes-cards/rail-pass.aspx
It's most of the times the cheapest to buy a Go Pass 10 than buy a ticket each time, but it depends on how far the destination is and if it is weekend. The Go Pass 10 is simply a ticket that you have to fill in each time before you get on the train and show to the ticket controller.
Always mention if you are under 26 when you buy tickets.
Usually during the holidays there is a one week unlimited travels with 12euros for the ones under 26, so you will be able to see the whole Belgium very very cheap.
If you land on Zaventem-Brussels National Airport you have to take a train to Kortrijk. Besides the train ticket you also have to buy a Diablo Fee (5,25Euros): http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/tickets/diabolo-fee-to-airport.aspx
You can find the timetable of the trains here: http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/query.exe/en
You just have to type that you come from ‘BRUXELLES-NAT-AIRPORT’ and that you travel to ‘KORTRIJK’.
There is usually one direct train every hour, at 13 minutes past but there are also other trains where you have to change in Brussels South or Gent. If you have a big luggage it's best just to take the direct train.
bus to the railway station of Charleroi and then take the train to Kortrijk http://www.charleroi-airport.com/en/acces/train-bus/index.html .
Public transport – Bus and train (Charleroi and Brussels)- With bus A you can travel every 30 minutes between Charleroi Airport and the centre of Charleroi, the last stop is the main railway station of Charleroi (Charleroi-Sud). This stop is located south of Charleroi’s city centre. A journey with bus A takes 15 to 20 minutes, the price is € 6.00 for a single one-way ticket. The bus stop in front of the terminal is called Gosselies Airport. On Saturdays and Sundays the bus runs once an hour.
https://www.airportsineurope.com/airports/charleroi-airport/
Another option when arriving to Charleroi is to take the Flibco bus (https://www.flibco.com/en#/booking) to Gent and from there to go by train to Kortrijk. The price varies between 5 and 15 euros, depending when you take the bus and when you buy the ticket. Check the website for more information.
Another option when arriving to Charleroi is to take the Flibco bus (https://www.flibco.com/en#/booking) to Gent and from there to go by train to Kortrijk. The price varies between 5 and 15 euros, depending when you take the bus and when you buy the ticket. Check the website for more information.
Tuesday, 4 July 2017
Sports and swimming pools
Dear Erasmus students,
There are several gyms in Kortrijk where you can go:
Oxygen: http://www.oxygenfitness.be/club
Basic-Fit: https://www.basic-fit.com/fr-be
These two are very close to the Vives residence.
Jims: http://www.jimsfitness.be/fr
De Kaai: http://www.dekaai.be/home/
Another gym is Lange Munte and it is close to the VIVES Campus.
You have multiple options there. You can choose a subscription that includes fitness, tennis, squash aerobics etc. You can borrow tennis and squas raquets from STUVO.
The price for a subscription is cheap and you have multiple options to choose from.
The squash courts are in the building at Lange Munte, close by Vives campus.
The inside tennis courts are in Marke, Heule, Bissegem and Rollegem. These are little villages, being a part of Kortrijk. They are easy to reach by bicycle.
There are also outside tennis courts where you can play in Heule, not far from the residence.
You can also go to the swimming pool in Kortrijk here:
Magdalena (Sint-Martens-Latemlaan 1) - really close to the residence
Mimosa (Mimosalaan)
The price is really cheap and the places are nice and clean.
There are several gyms in Kortrijk where you can go:
Oxygen: http://www.oxygenfitness.be/club
Basic-Fit: https://www.basic-fit.com/fr-be
These two are very close to the Vives residence.
Jims: http://www.jimsfitness.be/fr
De Kaai: http://www.dekaai.be/home/
Another gym is Lange Munte and it is close to the VIVES Campus.
You have multiple options there. You can choose a subscription that includes fitness, tennis, squash aerobics etc. You can borrow tennis and squas raquets from STUVO.
The price for a subscription is cheap and you have multiple options to choose from.
The squash courts are in the building at Lange Munte, close by Vives campus.
The inside tennis courts are in Marke, Heule, Bissegem and Rollegem. These are little villages, being a part of Kortrijk. They are easy to reach by bicycle.
There are also outside tennis courts where you can play in Heule, not far from the residence.
You can also go to the swimming pool in Kortrijk here:
Magdalena (Sint-Martens-Latemlaan 1) - really close to the residence
Mimosa (Mimosalaan)
The price is really cheap and the places are nice and clean.
The Residence
Dear Erasmus students,
The residence of VIVES for Erasmus students is not located in the campus of the university! Do not confuse the two!
(There are also a few Belgian students living in the residence, on the 3rd and 2nd floor.)
The campus is on Doorniksesteenweg 145, Kortrijk, quite far from the city centre. You have to go by bus or bike there.
The residence is close to the centre of the city, about 10-15 minutes walking from the train station. The address is Meersstraat 1, 8500 Kortrijk.
There is a person responsible for the residence who also lives in the residence, Filip and he has a very nice, friendly dog :). If you have any problems with your room such things that don't work, water that doesn't evacuate from the shower etc please tell him! Do not be shy to ask for help!
When you will arrive here you will receive 3 keys (1 for your room, 1 for your kitchen locker and 1 for your mailbox) and an entrance card.
The residence from VIVES has 4 floors, each floor has it's own kitchen. On each floor there is a storage closet where you can find a vacuum cleaner and some other cleaning products.
There is free WIFI!
The ground floor has a kitchen in the -1 (underground) where there is also a sofa and a TV.
Each single room has it's own bathroom, a one person bed with a mattress, a desk, a chair, shelves, a closet, a basket for trash. The double rooms have the same but two :)
There is heating that you can set from 0 to 5. You just have to spin the thing on the heater in your room.
The kitchens are equipped with fridges, ovens, hotplates and cooker hoods.
Each student has a personal locker in the kitchen where he can put his things. Same number as your room number.
There is a washing machine and a dryer in the residence that you can use but you have to pay separately(see the post about doing your laundry)
Each room has a mailbox outside, same number as your room number.
The bicycles have to be parked in the underground garage. The garage opens with your key room.
We have a nice garden where you can have barbecues. Just ask Filip for it :)
Please do no lose your keys and your entrance card!
The residence of VIVES for Erasmus students is not located in the campus of the university! Do not confuse the two!
(There are also a few Belgian students living in the residence, on the 3rd and 2nd floor.)
The campus is on Doorniksesteenweg 145, Kortrijk, quite far from the city centre. You have to go by bus or bike there.
The residence is close to the centre of the city, about 10-15 minutes walking from the train station. The address is Meersstraat 1, 8500 Kortrijk.
There is a person responsible for the residence who also lives in the residence, Filip and he has a very nice, friendly dog :). If you have any problems with your room such things that don't work, water that doesn't evacuate from the shower etc please tell him! Do not be shy to ask for help!
When you will arrive here you will receive 3 keys (1 for your room, 1 for your kitchen locker and 1 for your mailbox) and an entrance card.
The residence from VIVES has 4 floors, each floor has it's own kitchen. On each floor there is a storage closet where you can find a vacuum cleaner and some other cleaning products.
There is free WIFI!
The ground floor has a kitchen in the -1 (underground) where there is also a sofa and a TV.
Each single room has it's own bathroom, a one person bed with a mattress, a desk, a chair, shelves, a closet, a basket for trash. The double rooms have the same but two :)
There is heating that you can set from 0 to 5. You just have to spin the thing on the heater in your room.
The kitchens are equipped with fridges, ovens, hotplates and cooker hoods.
Each student has a personal locker in the kitchen where he can put his things. Same number as your room number.
There is a washing machine and a dryer in the residence that you can use but you have to pay separately(see the post about doing your laundry)
Each room has a mailbox outside, same number as your room number.
The bicycles have to be parked in the underground garage. The garage opens with your key room.
We have a nice garden where you can have barbecues. Just ask Filip for it :)
Please do no lose your keys and your entrance card!
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Dear Erasmus students, The residence of VIVES for Erasmus students is not located in the campus of the university! Do not confuse the two!... -
Dear future Erasmus students, It is very easy to travel by train in Belgium: http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx First of all a t... -
Dear Erasmus students, The Vives residence is equipped with a washing machine and a dryer. It costs around 3 euros for a load and 50cent...