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You receive an education, please your teachers, and obey them at all times. You address them politely and only when it's called for. Your teachers have no lives, no interests beyond their profession. They do not have first names, only surnames, and they most certainly are not your friend. (55)
This quote stood out to me because of the stark contrast it is compared to the schooling I have experienced. This quote explains how cold Catholic teachers or ''nuns'' must be in Belgium in order to uphold respect. It sounds like they cannot have connections with their students beyond their studies, such as a support system, or a mentor. I chose this secondary source because it is an informational document that truly analyzes what happens between the walls of Belgian schools. This article both confirms and denies this description of Belgian teachers by instructing to only engage with students when it comes to schoolwork and teaching, but to also encourage them to be good citizens and to have confidence.

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''There's my girl!'' He pinches her cheek and plants a wet kiss on her forehead. She rubs it off as inconspicuously as she can. ''I've got gaufres. Fancy a bite to eat?'' (290)
For many people, after hearing ''Belgian'', the next word that comes to mind is ''waffles'', that is why it is almost necessary to include this quote. In this quote, Sophie's father mentions ''gaufres'', which means ''waffles'' in French, one of Belgium's official languages. Liege waffles are a traditional Belgian recipe, but after reading my secondary source, you will see that a lot of the tradition has been lost over the years. I chose this secondary source because it includes not only a brief history of the waffles, but also a recipe. There is no better way to represent a Belgian waffle other than seeing how its really made.

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The corridor is deserted. Most of the girls are in the refectory having lunch but Sophie saw Hannah go into the toilet and is waiting for her to come out. She looks down the quiet hallway at the mustard yellow walls and oak panels stretching away on one side, the tall windows with no curtains on the other. Through a half open door she peers into a classroom; neat rows of wooden desks, a few words of Latin chalked on a blackboard, a plaster bust of Socrates. (153)

This quote gave me great insight into not only the image inside of the ''castle'', that is Hannah and Sophie's Belgian high school, but even the lingo used by Belgians in that time period. Even though Europe is similar to Canada in many ways, it is important to note the small differences such as saying ''refectory'' over ''cafeteria'' or learn Latin over French. I chose this secondary source because it best represents what I pictured while reading the part when Sophie peaks through the door. This image looks like a classic Belgium classroom (and is actually in The Museum of Folklore in Belgium) and has the blackboard with Latin and rows of desks that were described.

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Stock Photo - A woman visitor looking at an old classroom scene, the Museum of Folklore, Bruges, Belgium, Europe

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Download this stock image: A woman visitor looking at an old classroom scene, the Museum of Folklore, Bruges, Belgium, Europe - EC8M6G from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.

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The people have come in their hundreds of thousands, to join the White March, the biggest demonstration in Belgium's post war history. (153)

After the arrest of Marc Dutroux, a Belgian serial killer that abducted little girls, and killed five, the country of Belgium was in a state of shock. The citizens could not believe that something like this could happen right under their noses, or the polices, this is why the anger was quickly directed at them. The country suspected a cover-up by the police so they gathered in Brussels on the 20th of October, 1996 to advocate for more protection of their children and a better functioning justice system. I chose this secondary source because it is hard to comprehend the magnitude of people and emotions that were present for this march without seeing it in real life, so the best we can do is a video.

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Last weekend they went to an art installation in Deurne. Hannah has never seen anything like it. They entered a cave and waded through water in their welllies, peering into dimly lit chambers and mysterious statues. Belgium has many natural wonders, ones of which Hannah had never experienced. Damiaan was keen in opening her up to the world, and she liked  that. (306)

Belgium may typically be known for their bright festivals and rich cuisine, but it also has its fair share of natural wonders, such as its array of caves. The most fascinating caves to research are by far the caves of Han-Sur-Lesse, these caves are a popular Belgiam tourist attraction that has about 250,000-300,000 visitors every year! These caves were formed due to an underground erosion from a river, and for most of its length, is a river. There are also large rooms that can have ceilings as high as 417 feet! I chose this secondary source because I felt the closest way to simulate the tour Hannah and Damiaan took was through a video. In this video, a tourist is travelling through the caves and commentating throughout. Also, not only do you get to see the magnificent destination, but the journey along the way.

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A Belgian, so they say, is born with mortar running through his veins, destined to build his own unique sanctuary on this earth, But somehow, every pile of bricks in Bachte ends up looking exactly the same. (25)

Throughout my research, I have discovered that the more common saying is ''Every Belgian is born with a brick in their stomach'' which means that building/owning your own home is one of the biggest lifetime goals of any Belgian. This quote also sheds light on how the residential areas look in Belgium. Many houses are very similar. I chose this secondary source because it sheds light on not only the eagerness that Belgian's have to buy homes, but critiques this eagerness and analyzes why the Belgian property market is what it is. It is noted that the private property market in Belgium has been much less inflammatory than those of its neighbouring countries. This occurs due to high taxation on real estate, the bank's unwillingness to lend money to financially insecure clients, and the small rental market.

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The prices of private real estate in Belgium have for decades now been much less volatile than those in neighbouring countries. At the same time, prices survived the economic and financial crisis of 2007-2008 relatively unscathed. How did that happen?

Part of the reason is that private real estate prices in Belgium never rose as high as they did in neighbouring countries, firstly because local banks typically do not lend money if the client is already spending more than one-third of their regular monthly income on the repayment of other debts . Secondly, the tax on the purchase of real estate in Belgium is very high, with a headline figure varying between 10 and 12.5%, which discourages regular moves. Lastly, rents are not particularly high in Belgium because the rental market is not large: the typical Belgian would rather own his or her own house than rent.

The stability of the private property market attracts private investors. While taxation on property purchases is high, the taxation of the income from property for private investors is typically not high, providing you let the property to an individual as a private residence.

Before getting started in this market, however, it's worth looking at some key characteristics:

* Be sure about the property you want to buy and the price you want to pay for it. The system of making free offers you can withdraw at any time does not exist in Belgium. An offer is binding if accepted by the vendor, and the formal buying process ("Compromis de vente") is triggered;

* You buy a property, in the condition you find it, without recourse to the former owner excluding some exceptional circumstances. Get a real estate expert to check it out in detail before you sign;

* Refurbishing an old house or changing the purpose of a non-residential building is regulated by strict planning rules which you have to follow;

* An estate agent, a property expert and a notary are all typical parties in any transaction. The notary is even mandatory. Assuming the vendor has his own notary, you have the choice to engage one of your own without any extra cost to the total notary costs of the transaction, which are calculated according to the sale price;

* It is more than worth the cost to ask for a valuation of the property by a real estate expert before committing to buy. Those few hundred euros extra could save you from paying too much for the property, or from buying a property without knowing exactly what state it is in;

* For mainstream properties Belgian banks are typically willing to up to 100% of the purchase price of the property, subject to the acceptance of your credit file .

There are plenty of information seminars held to help you prepare for a smooth buying process.
Dave Deruytter
Head of Expats & Non-Residents at ING Belgium

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The prices of private real estate in Belgium have for decades now been much less volatile than those in neighbouring countries. At the same time, prices survived the economic and financial crisis of 2007-2008 relatively unscathed. How did that happen?