Useful apps
Belgium runs a lot of everyday life through apps, some of them official and effectively mandatory. The good news is that once you have the main ones installed, most day-to-day tasks become quick and paperwork-free.
This page explains the essential official apps, transport apps, and other apps that make daily life easier.
Overview
A small number of apps cover most of what you will need day to day, split roughly into official identity and government tools, getting around, and everyday convenience. Installing the official ones early saves time later, since several other services rely on them.
Official and government apps
These apps are used to confirm your identity and access official services, and are worth setting up as soon as possible after arrival.
- itsme - confirms your identity for banking, government services, and signing documents digitally. Requires your eID or a Belgian mobile number to activate.
- MyGov - gives access to your official personal documents and records in one place.
- Doctena - for booking appointments with doctors, dentists, and other healthcare providers online.
Transport apps
Getting around West Flanders is easier with the right app for each mode of transport.
- De Lijn - for bus and tram schedules, tickets, and real-time updates across Flanders.
- SNCB / NMBS - for train times, tickets, and disruptions on the national rail network.
- Google Maps or Citymapper - for combined route planning across walking, cycling, and public transport.
Everyday life apps
These apps are not official but make daily life noticeably smoother once installed.
- Too Good To Go - for buying unsold food from shops and restaurants at a reduced price.
- HelloFresh and similar services - popular for meal-kit deliveries.
- Banking apps from your bank (for example Belfius, KBC, or BNP Paribas Fortis) - most day-to-day banking in Belgium happens through an app rather than in a branch.
- For banking and payment apps, see the Payment methods in Belgium page, since these are worth choosing carefully alongside your bank account.
Good to know: Set up itsme as soon as you have your eID, since it is needed for many other services, from opening a bank account to signing a lease digitally.
Sources
- itsme
- MyGov.be
- De Lijn
- Belgium.be
- SNCB / NMBS
