New in Mons: Residence Police Visit, Parking Card
Mons for newcomers
New in the Capital of Hainaut: How to Settle In to Mons
The first few weeks
Mons (Bergen in Dutch and German) is the capital of the province of Hainaut in Wallonia and has around 97,000 inhabitants; the official language is French. The old town sits on a hill between the Haine and the Trouille, encircled by the small R50 ring road. In 2015, Mons was European Capital of Culture together with Pilsen, and the site of NATO's SHAPE headquarters has been part of the municipality since 1977. This guide sorts out the first weeks: declaration of residence, police visit, districts, buses, parking and health insurance. We handle the transport as a home removal.
We have no branch in Belgium: we come from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and drive moves to Mons and back. Within the EU, your household goods need no customs declaration. Your belongings are covered under the HGB (§ 451e: €620 per m³), with additional insurance on request. Lead time, route and schedule are described in our long-distance moving guide for Mons; we clarify with you in advance where the vehicle may stop in the old town.
Request a Quote for Your Move to Mons
Fixed price after a survey, no customs
Call us on 01625978461: after a survey or video survey, we quote a fixed price for your move to Mons. Floor, carrying distance, furniture assembly and parking outside the new address are all included in the calculation; your belongings are covered under the HGB.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Before Moving Day in Mons
Old Town, Parking Zone, Date
We come from Berlin and bring your household goods to Mons. Before moving day, we clarify with you where the vehicle can stand outside the new address – the old town inside the ring lies on a slope and many streets are narrow – whether a permit is needed for this, and what the stairwell and front door are like. We set the price after the survey (fixed price), and your belongings are covered under the HGB. You make the declaration of residence yourself within 8 days.
Packing Service
Office Move
Student moves
Furniture Transport
Six First Steps in Mons
These points come up after the move to Mons – from the declaration of residence to the resident's parking card. Deadlines and fees come from the city of Mons; check the current status at the Hôtel de Ville before your appointment.
Residence within 8 Days
Label Your Doorbell
Update Your eID Chip
Apply for a Resident's Card
Choose a health insurer
Bus Instead of Car
Shared Load to Mons
For smaller moves or single pieces of furniture to Mons, we offer a shared load: your belongings share the load space with other consignments heading for Belgium. This is worthwhile for a student room or a first small flat, for example. We agree the delivery day in advance, and here too your belongings are covered under the HGB.
Mons
for newcomers
When you are new in Mons, many questions come up at once: how do I declare my residence, and what applies if I am living in Belgium for the first time? When does the neighbourhood police officer come? Which of the 18 districts suits me, and how do I get to the station by bus? We have summarised the city of Mons's information below. For the move itself, we advise you on schedule, parking and packing.
Paperwork in the first few days
Moving In to the Old Town or a District
Companies, practices and special cases
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Mons
Old Town and 18 Districts: Where to Live in Mons?
The centre of Mons sits in an almost circular shape on a hill, bounded by the small R50 ring road; here you find the Grand-Place, the town hall, the belfry and the collegiate church of Sainte-Waudru. The city includes 18 districts, among them Cuesmes with the Van Gogh House, Jemappes, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Havré, Obourg and Spiennes with its flint mines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We deliberately do not give reliable rent figures or comparisons with Brussels – compare offers, pay attention to the rental deposit and service charges, and check the route to the station and bus before you sign.
Studying, Working and Culture in Mons
Mons is a university city: the Université de Mons traces its roots back, among others, to the Faculté polytechnique founded in 1836, and there is also a UCLouvain campus. The site of NATO's SHAPE headquarters near Casteau is part of the municipality, alongside administration as the provincial capital, retail and services. Industrialisation began around Mons as early as the 18th century with the Borinage.
Culturally, the belfry, Sainte-Waudru, the Mundaneum and the Doudou on the Sunday after Whitsun shape the year; in 2015, Mons was European Capital of Culture. The new station opened in December 2024, and TEC buses run from there into the agglomeration. We schedule the moving date to match the flat handover.
Moving prices by flat size
Our prices are fair and transparent. For a 1-room flat we charge from €339, for a 2-room flat from €594. Larger moves, such as a 3-room flat, start from €915, a 4-room flat from €1,324. For a house or villa, we will of course prepare an individual quote based on your requirements. If you are planning a long-distance move, a per-kilometre rate from €3.95 applies. Feel free to arrange a free survey to clarify all the details.
Price Factors for the Move to Mons
- Moving volume
- Kilometres (from €3.95/km)
- Floor and lift situation
- Parking restriction zone if needed
- Optional: furniture assembly, shared load
Services for your move to Belgium
Every move is different – that is why we offer flexible services.
- Furniture transport – for single pieces of furniture or entire flats.
- Move with assembly – including dismantling and reassembly.
- Home removal – personal and reliable.
- Company relocation – without interrupting operations.
- House clearance – fast and discreet.
- Shared load – the economical choice.
From Berlin to Hainaut – and Back
However long the route: we come from Berlin-Moabit and bring your household goods to Belgium as well as back to Germany. Destinations with their own page can be found in the locations overview, and information on long routes under long-distance moves.
Registering Your Residence in Mons: Deadline, Fee and Police Visit
According to the city of Mons, a change of residence to Mons must be declared within 8 days of moving in; the registration date is the day of the declaration. The city's E-Guichet is recommended, which you log in to with your eID and PIN or with itsme. Alternatively, go to the counter. One adult can report the change for the whole household. The city states €5 per household; you need your ID card or residence permit.
A neighbourhood police officer then visits to check the residence. There is no appointment for this. The house number must be visible, the doorbell must work and your name must be on it, or the registration may fail. After that, you update the chip of your eID. According to the city, it takes 1 to 8 weeks from the declaration to the updated card.
- EU citizens coming to Belgium for the first time should contact the Service des Étrangers. The city distinguishes between employees, self-employed people, students, jobseekers and people with sufficient resources, among others.
- Contact: Hôtel de Ville, Grand-Place 22, 7000 Mons, +32 (0)65 40 51 11.
- Health insurance funds are listed in the RIZIV/INAMI directory, including Solidaris Wallonie and Mutualité chrétienne.
Planning across the border is explained in our long-distance moving guide for Mons, and the formalities in the moving checklist for Belgium.
Centre, Districts and Public Transport in Mons
Mons town hall is at Grand-Place 22 in the centre. According to the city website, the city includes 18 districts, among them Ciply, Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Havré, Hyon, Jemappes, Nimy, Obourg, Spiennes and Villers-Saint-Ghislain. The city does not describe what these areas feel like on the pages we checked, so view flats on site and check the route to the station.
According to the city, the bus network runs from the station into the whole agglomeration. TEC Hainaut operates 23 regular lines, plus two city lines: City R through the centre and City O to Hyon. Express lines run to Binche, for example. Flibco and Flixbus connect Mons with Brussels and Charleroi airports. You can find timetables from TEC at letec.be.
- Resident's card (carte de stationnement pour riverain): according to the city, the first card per household is free, and a maximum of two are possible. The second costs €60 for the 8 central zones and €24 for the zones outside.
- Application: via the citizens' portal or by form at the mobility department, with a copy of your ID and vehicle registration document.
- Children: the city brings together information on primary schools and out-of-school care (accueil temps libre).
A neighbouring city is presented in the guide Living in Namur, and costs and districts in the Mons guide.
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