Aalst for newcomers: registration everyday life, sub-municipalities
Guide for newcomers
Aalst: carnival city between Brussels and Ghent
First steps
Aalst lies in East Flanders on the Dender, about 24 kilometres north-west of Brussels and roughly halfway to Ghent; around 91,000 people live in the city. Besides the centre, the merged municipality includes eight sub-municipalities, from Baardegem to Nieuwerkerken. Aalst is known for its carnival, the old aldermen's house with its belfry on the Grote Markt and Dirk Martens, who founded the first printing press in the Low Countries here in 1473. If you are new here, your first weeks are mainly about registration, waste bins and the route to work – this guide takes you step by step through these points and through choosing the right sub-municipality.
If you come from Germany and stay longer than three months, you register with Burgerzaken (Vreemdelingenzaken) no later than three months after arriving; the neighbourhood police officer (wijkagent) then checks whether you really live there. We can take care of the transport from Germany: Beste Umzug Unternehmen is based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and plans your move to Aalst, including assembly and packing. Further routes can be found under long-distance moves, and destinations with their own pages under Locations. Within the EU you do not need customs papers for your household goods.
Request a quote for your move from Berlin to Aalst
Fixed price after a survey, liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB)
Call us on 01625978461 or request a quote online for your move to Aalst. We give you the fixed price after the survey, whether it is a flat-share room in the centre or a complete family move to Erembodegem. You apply for the permit for the parking space outside the door at least seven days in advance – we coordinate the date accordingly.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Your move from Berlin to Aalst
Planning, transport, assembly
We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and drive around 786 km to Aalst via the A2, the Netherlands and the E40; by lorry that takes two days. In the city centre around the Grote Markt, with its old buildings and narrow streets, we clarify access and the parking space in advance; in the sub-municipalities it is often the access to a detached house. We give you the fixed price after the survey; we are liable for your belongings under the HGB, and additional insurance is available. Within the EU your household goods need no customs papers, and on request we store furniture in the meantime until the new flat is available.
Packing Service
Office Move
Senior Move
Furniture Transport
Six steps after moving in
These points belong on your list after a move to Aalst. The information comes from the City of Aalst and ILvA; deadlines and times may change, so check them on aalst.be before visiting the authorities.
Register within 3 months
Visit from the wijkagent
Update your ID card
Waste bins via ILvA
Parking space permit
Residents' card and trains
Move affordably with a part load
Everything
for your move
Anyone moving to Aalst first sorts out registration with Burgerzaken, waste bins with ILvA and the parking question around the Grote Markt. For commuters to Brussels or Ghent, what counts is being close to one of the three stations in Aalst, Kerrebroek or Erembodegem. Families often look at sub-municipalities such as Moorsel, Baardegem or Herdersem, while young professionals tend to choose the centre. We take care of the transport from Germany and advise on access, the parking space permit, storage and furniture assembly, so that your first days in the new flat go smoothly.
Choosing a sub-municipality
Organising moving day
Costs, timing and special cases
Frequently asked questions about living in Aalst
The centre and eight sub-municipalities
Since the municipal merger, Aalst has comprised the centre plus the eight sub-municipalities Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade, Meldert, Moorsel and Nieuwerkerken – each with its own village centre. The centre around the Grote Markt and the belfry lies largely in the Dender valley; Erembodegem extends along both sides of the river.
Baardegem, Herdersem, Meldert and Moorsel are known as the "Faluintjesgemeenten" and are more village-like. We do not give specific rents because we do not have a reliable current source. When flat hunting, it is always worth checking the distance to the nearest station and school.
Work, trains and quality of life in Aalst
Aalst lies roughly halfway between Brussels and Ghent, and many professionals commute by train from one of the city's three stations. According to Wikipedia, the textile industry is the most important economic factor; in addition there is cut-flower growing, for which Aalst is regarded as Belgium's centre, and hop growing for the breweries in the surrounding area.
Quality of life shows in the carnival from Sunday to Ash Wednesday, the winter fair and the cycle paths along the Dender. The former aldermen's house on the Grote Markt is considered the oldest town hall in Belgium. Anyone moving to the city will find short distances in the centre and quieter locations in the sub-municipalities.
Prices that convince
| Rooms | Price |
| 1 | from €365 |
| 2 | from €609 |
| 3 | from €894 |
| 4 | from €1,329 |
| House/villa | individual quote |
| Long-distance move | from €3.90/km |
Contact us for a free survey and a personal quote.
These factors determine your moving price
Besides the pure volume, the distance covered plays a major role – here we calculate from €3.90/km. The floor of the flat and the lack of a lift also increase the effort. If a parking restriction zone has to be set up, there are additional costs, as there are if you book furniture assembly or a shared load.
What we do for you
Whether private or business – we bring your things safely to their destination.
Furniture transport: We transport sofas, wardrobes and beds scratch-free. furniture transport
Part load: Share the cargo space and save costs. part load
Home move: A complete service for your change of home. home move
Company move: Planning and delivery for offices of every size. company move
Clearance: We empty cellars, attics and flats. clearance
Move with assembly: From disassembly to the finished set-up. move with assembly
From Berlin to Aalst – and back
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and travel to Belgium; Aalst is around 786 km away. The route is described in the guide to moving to Aalst. Further destinations are shown in the locations overview, and long routes on the long-distance moves page.
Registering in Aalst: reporting your new address and the residence check
According to the City of Aalst, you report your new address to the municipality of your new place of residence within eight working days of the move. In Aalst the Burgerzaken team is responsible, split into Belgians (Bevolking) and non-Belgians (Vreemdelingenzaken). If you are new to Belgium, book an appointment under the topic "Niet-Belg: Verblijfsrecht en inschrijving" (non-Belgian: right of residence and registration). The administration is located in the Administratief centrum, Werf 9, 9300 Aalst (tel. 053 77 9300, [email protected]).
The procedure has three steps: first you report the move, online using form BV-A-019, by email ([email protected] or [email protected]) or in person. The neighbourhood police officer (wijkagent) then checks whether your main residence really is at the new address. You are then registered at the new address and invited to update your ID card. An adult member of the household can report the move for the whole family. The city states the cost as 12.50 euros.
Have your national register number, the names of everyone moving with you, the new address, a phone number for the neighbourhood police officer and the times you are usually at home ready. For non-Belgians with a Belgian residence card, the ID card update takes place without an appointment.
You also apply for waste bins online with the city, which forwards the request to the intermunicipal company ILvA; reporting to Burgerzaken does not replace this. To plan the move, read Moving to Aalst: costs and districts.
Everyday life in Aalst: recycling parks, stations and parking
For recyclables and bulky waste, according to the city, Aalst has two recycling parks, both run by ILvA: Aalst I (Bergemeersenstraat 143) and Hofstade - Aalst II. As a resident you may use both; the system and charges are the same. Opening hours change weekly: in the week from 26 October to 1 November 2026, Aalst I was open Monday to Wednesday from 1 pm to 7 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm. Current times are available from ILvA (tel. 053 85 85 45, [email protected]).
Aalst has three stations: Aalst station with ticket counters and waiting rooms, Aalst Kerrebroek station just outside the ring road and Erembodegem station. The last two have no ticket counters; in Erembodegem there is a bicycle station and parking nearby.
Near the centre, the city lists six public car parks: Keizershallen, Hopmarkt, De Burcht, Postsite, Ridderstraat and Station. Residents can apply for a residents' card (bewonerskaart); details are available at parkeren.be.
For the removal van on public land, the city requires a free permit (inname openbaar domein), which you apply for via Eaglebe at least seven calendar days in advance. In a car-free zone a separate permit is also required. You will find further tips for getting started in the long-distance moving guide for Aalst; the specifics of entering Belgium are explained in Moving to Belgium: customs formalities.
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