Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

328 SURVIVAL GUIDE

Communications and Media

Belgium and Luxembourg have excellent
communications links. Both countries are
also areas of rapid change: mobile tele-
phones are replacing landlines and hence
telephone boxes; email is undermining the
postal service; and the Internet is making
inroads into newspaper journalism and
broadcasting. However, both nations have a conserva-
tive streak that battles to maintain traditional services,
but they are also keen to grab a front seat in the com-
munications revolution. As a result, both the old and
the new media are generally well provided for.

The easily recognizable red post

box, on a pavement in Belgium

POSTAL SERVICES

Post offices in Belgium are

open Monday to Friday from

8:30 or 9am to 4 or 5pm. Some

stay open late on Fridays, and

are open on Saturday morn-

ings. In Luxembourg, opening

hours are from 8am to noon

and again from 1:30 to 5pm.

Post offices are the place to

buy stamps, send registered

mail and post parcels. Blue “A

Prior” stickers are needed for

international mail. Stamps of

the most common denomina-

tions are available at some

TELEPHONES

Mobile phone networks cover

the region effectively. Note,

however, that the ability of a

visitor to use a mobile phone

depends on the network, and,

before travelling, it is a good

idea to check with the pro vider

that full roaming services are

available to – and how much

they cost to use. Hotels

generally charge premium

rates to use their landline

phones for international calls.

Public payphones in Belgium

are run by the former state

operator Belgacom. Public

phone booths are still plentiful,

but the service information

can often be difficult to

understand; those in doubt

can use the operator services.

A few payphones still accept

coins, but most take Belgacom

phonecards. Both 5 euro

and 10 euro cards are sold at

newsagents, post offices and

train stations. A similar system

operates in Luxembourg.

Post box sign,

Luxembourg

DIALLING CODES

• In Belgium and Luxembourg, there is no distinction
  between a long-distance call and a local call. The former
  area codes in Belgium have been incorporated into local
  numbers and must be dialled even when making a call
  from within the same area.


• To make a direct call from abroad, dial 00, then the
  country code (Belgium 32, Luxembourg 352).


• For international directory enquiries and operator-
  assistance in French, dial 1204, or in Flemish, 1304.


• For domestic directory enquiries in Flemish, dial 1313.


• For domestic directory enquiries in French, dial 1212.


• For domestic directory enquiries in German, dial 1407.


• For domestic directory enquiries in English, dial 1405.


• For directory enquiries and international operator
  assistance in Luxembourg, dial 11817 or 11816.

1

Lift receiver

and wait for

a dialling tone.

3

The display will show

how many units are

stored on the card and

then tell you to dial.

6

When you have

finished the call,

replace the receiver.

The card will emerge

from the slot and can

be removed.

2

Insert the telephone card, arrow

side up, in the direction that the

arrow is pointing.

4

Key in the phone

number and wait

to be connected.

5

If you want to

make another

call, do not replace

the receiver; simply

press the follow-on

call button.

7

If the card runs out

in mid-call, it will re-

emerge; remove it and

insert another.

Belgacom calling card

USING A PUBLIC TELEPHONE