Hobbies &
everyday habits
Small everyday habits, from how people spend a Sunday to how households are run, can feel unfamiliar at first. The good news is that most of these habits are easy to pick up simply by living here for a while.
This page explains common weekend and evening habits, household routines, and a few social customs worth knowing.
Overview
Daily life in West Flanders is generally quiet, routine-driven, and family-oriented, especially outside the bigger cities. What stands out most to newcomers is usually the rhythm of the week, since shops, streets, and social life follow a fairly predictable pattern.
Weekend and evening habits
Weekends and evenings tend to follow a calmer, more low-key pattern than in many other countries.
- Sunday is traditionally a quiet day, with many shops closed and streets noticeably emptier.
- Cycling, walking, and visiting family are common weekend activities, especially outside the cities.
- Evenings during the week tend to wind down early, with most social plans starting straight after work rather than late at night.
Household routines
A few habits around the home differ from what you might expect.
- Recycling is taken seriously, with strict sorting rules for paper, plastic, glass, and residual waste. Rules vary slightly by municipality, so check your city's waste calendar.
- Curtains are often left open in the evening, especially in residential streets, as a sign of having nothing to hide - closing them can occasionally be read as unusual by neighbours.
- DIY and home improvement (klussen) are a common weekend hobby, and hardware stores are widespread.
Everyday social customs
A few habits are worth knowing early, since getting them wrong is rarely a big deal but noticing them helps you fit in faster.
- Greetings are usually a handshake in professional settings, or three cheek kisses among friends and family.
- Punctuality matters, especially for appointments and meetings - arriving even 5 minutes late is often noted.
Small talk tends to be brief and direct, with people getting to the point rather than making extended conversation. - Dutch, or at least a greeting in Dutch, is appreciated even if the rest of the conversation switches to English.
Good to know: recycling mistakes are one of the most common early slip-ups for newcomers. Check your city's waste sorting guide in the first week, since fines can apply for incorrectly sorted bins.
Sources
- Province of West Flanders
- Belgium.be
- Flanders.be
