The Best of Both Worlds: Living in Mol, Working in Brussels

Yes, you can! Work in Brussels, live in Mol, and give your children a school experience they’ll love. Miguel Ruiz Osés and his family have found the perfect balance: he commutes to Brussels by train, while his children enjoy a short 10-minute bike ride to the European School of Mol. Surrounded by green spaces, fresh air, and a strong sense of community, life here offers a pace and quality that’s hard to find in the city.

We asked Miguel a few questions about his experience:

What do you value most about your arrangement (living in Mol while working in Brussels)?

Living in Mol and commuting to Brussels gives our family a wonderful balance: we enjoy the peace, nature, and sense of community of the Kempen, while being close to vibrant cities like Antwerp, Hasselt, and Brussels, with all their cultural opportunities.

Would you recommend this lifestyle to other families working in Brussels, and why?

I think that it depends on each family’s situation. In our case, we both come from small cities in Spain, so the idea of living in a big city was never particularly appealing. When we arrived in Belgium, our children were just starting school, and once we discovered the European School in Mol, it quickly became clear that this was the perfect place to raise a family — a calm and welcoming environment where we could truly feel at home, build meaningful connections, and still enjoy the diversity and openness of the expat community.

What do your children enjoy most about attending our school and living in Mol?

Our children enjoy a wonderful mix of experiences — the warmth and diversity of the European School in Mol, where they’ve made friends from all over Europe, and the freedom and safety of life in Mol, where they can ride their bikes, play outdoors, and explore nature with confidence.

Living in Mol offers calmer, greener surroundings, smaller class sizes, and a close-knit school community—all without losing touch with the opportunities and vibrancy of Brussels. If your family is looking for the perfect balance between work, life, and education, the European School of Mol might just be the ideal place to call home.