Leaving Belgium

In case you've never lived in Belgium or you do and are planning to leave, this is more or less what you have to do:

• Buy Newcomer, an introduction to life in Belgium, a very useful magazine.
  

1. Give your landlord notification at least 3 months before so that he can find all sort of maintenance things left to do and that you have to pay.
2. Cancel your internet/television provider two months before so you can hear them say it's all taken care of even though it's not. (actually, I know from experience that in Portugal after 6 months they still call you concerning delayed bills that were paid 7 months before).
3. Arrange for a moving company or for friends with car. Either way be prepared to tip.
4. Check your passport/ID expiration date and if it has empty sheets (I don't know why but some countries want at least 6 empty ones).
5. If you can buy some currency of your new country (India and Angola for example, do not allow buying bills outside the country).
6. Go to your bank, just for fun.
7. Go to the post office to redirect your mail. Expect to pay 50e or 60e.
8. Take a morning for the city hall's foreign service and return your nice Belgian ID. Be prepared to pay up to 50e for that privilege.
   
9. Donate clothes, furniture, stuff you do not need to Oxfam or Les petits riens. They usually come and pick it up at a ridiculous early hour.
   
10. Invite your friends and give them all your expired food and drink items.