Author: Rebecca Bramlett

Rebecca Bramlett moved with her family from the United States to Gent in January 2016 thanks to an eagerly accepted international employment assignment for her husband. After spending nearly 15 years working in higher education (primarily university fundraising), she is now spending her time trying out new titles to add to the obvious “stay-at-home-mom” and “accompanying spouse.” Things like: enthusiastic expat, personal blogger (who is dreadfully behind in posts), amateur photographer, traveler, and lover of animals (especially dogs and horses). You can witness her attempts at these efforts – and her overall quest to squeeze every great opportunity out of her time-limited expat experience – by following her blog, Instagram (@rbbramlett), or Twitter.

Day Trips from Gent to Animal Parks

by Rebecca Bramlett - 7 May, 201919 May, 2019

Are you looking to get out of the city center and spend a day with some animals? Here’s an inspiring list of great zoos and animal parks in Belgium, including some right here in Gent, to get you outside and in touch with the animal kingdom! Pairi Daiza Domaine de Cambron, B-7940

Day Trips From Gent: Hallerbos, The Blue Forest

by Rebecca Bramlett - 12 April, 201913 April, 2019

As beautiful as Gent is, do you ever want to escape the hard, gray stone of our city to see something different? What if I told you that with just a day trip, you can visit one of Europe’s most beautiful forests? Hallerbos, “The Blue Forest”, in Halle, Belgium has been

Finding and Registering for Basic Schools in Gent

by Rebecca Bramlett - 26 February, 201927 February, 2019

As mentioned in our previous post, About Basic Education (Basisonderwijs) in Gent, new residents in Belgium must enroll their school-aged children in school within sixty days of completing their national registration. This article describes how to find and enroll in Pre-Primary and Primary schools in Gent. Factors Expat Families Consider when

How to Find Volunteer Work in Gent

Leisure
Work

by Rebecca Bramlett - 17 February, 201919 May, 2019

Why Volunteer in Gent? If you are reading this article, chances are you have already made the decision to look for volunteer work (vrijwilligerswerk) in Gent. In case you need further convincing, here are some of the reasons volunteering is a good idea for expats: Volunteering enables you to work for

Things to Do in Gent with Kids (Part 3)

by Rebecca Bramlett - 13 February, 201913 February, 2019

“Things to Do in Gent with Kids” is a series of three articles. Part 1 includes information on sports and recreation, as well as meeting other families. Part 2 discusses museums and the Arts. Part 3 shares ways to explore the city, visit historical sites, and stay informed about current

Things to Do in Gent with Kids (Part 2)

by Rebecca Bramlett - 12 February, 201913 April, 2019

"Things to Do in Gent with Kids" is a series of three articles. Part 1 includes information on sports and recreation, as well as meeting other families. Part 2 discusses museums and the Arts. Part 3 shares ways to explore the city, visit historical sites, and stay informed about current

A Kid-Friendly Day Trip to Antwerp

by Rebecca Bramlett - 7 February, 20198 February, 2019

There are many things to do in Gent with kids (see our three-part series of articles on that starting here). However, if you are looking for a change of scenery, consider a day trip to Antwerp! Here I will share some child-friendly things to do in Antwerp that I promise

About Basic Education (Basisonderwijs) in Gent

by Rebecca Bramlett - 3 February, 20194 February, 2019

Photo courtesy of the International School Ghent. For expats with children, finding and enrolling in schools is one of the highest priorities when arriving in Gent. Not only is it a personal priority, it is also a legal requirement. New residents in Belgium must enroll their children (from age 6 until

Things to Do in Gent with Kids (Part 1)

by Rebecca Bramlett - 3 February, 201913 April, 2019

A Conversation with John “Sleepy” Moran of Gent Glas

by Rebecca Bramlett - 11 June, 201831 July, 2019

John “Sleepy” Moran is an American artist living in Gent. He runs Gent Glas, which is self-described as “a unique glass studio, gallery, shop, and café located in the heart of Ghent, Belgium.” His artists’ website, Back Door Art, says that “John Moran is a politically and socially engaged hot glass