Moving from Croatia to Belgium, can you give me some advice?
I’m planning to move from Croatia to Belgium to join my girlfriend, who’s a dentist working at a private clinic in Hasselt (Flanders). I hold a master’s degree in Surveying/Geodesy and currently speak fluent English, plus basic Dutch (actively learning now).
I’m trying to gauge the job market in Flanders for my field (geodesy / land surveying / geomatics / GIS) and would really appreciate any insight on:
Job prospects in geodesy/surveying/GIS – Are there private surveying firms, public administration, utility/infrastructure firms, or engineering consultancies hiring? Is a Dutch language requirement strict, or is English environments common in international firms?
Recognition of my Croatian MSc – Any experience with NARIC/recognitie van diplomas for Croatian degrees in Flanders?
Alternative roles – If the surveying market is tight without fluent Dutch, what not related roles should I target?
Job boards / networks – Any Flanders-specific job boards, recruiters, or professional associations g., worth watching?
A bit more context: I’m an EU citizen (Croatia), so no visa/work permit issues. My girlfriend is settled in Hasselt, so we’d ideally stay in the Limburg/Flemish Brabant area, but I’m open to commuting.
Thanks in advance for any tips, contacts, or reality checks!