SofieFlat

Internship in Brussels: where to live for 5 months?

Five months in Brussels
getting your home right

The Berlaymont, European Commission headquarters | SOFIEFLAT

The Berlaymont

Rue de la Loi in the European Quarter | SOFIEFLAT

European Quarter

EU flags outside the Commission | SOFIEFLAT

EU flags

The Schuman roundabout | SOFIEFLAT

Schuman

A Brussels metro station | SOFIEFLAT

The metro

The Mont des Arts garden | SOFIEFLAT

Mont des Arts

Saint-Gilles town hall | SOFIEFLAT

Saint-Gilles

The Grand-Place in Brussels lit up at night | SOFIEFLAT

Grand-Place

SNCB train at the platform, direct links between Charleroi and Brussels | SOFIEFLAT

By train

Neighbourhood photos: Wikimedia Commons, resized — Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) (CC BY 4.0), Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) (CC BY 4.0), Amio Cajander (CC BY-SA 2.0), William Murphy (CC BY-SA 2.0), Romaine (CC0), Julian Lupyan (CC0), M0tty (CC BY-SA 3.0).

The European Commission’s Blue Book traineeship

The programme — Twice a year, the European Commission welcomes graduates for a five-month paid traineeship. Traineeships start on 1 March or 1 October; the next session runs from 1 March to 31 July 2027.

How many trainees? — According to the Commission, around 1,000 people take part in each session. They all arrive in Brussels at the same time, so it is best to look for accommodation as soon as your selection is confirmed.

Five months: neither a hotel nor a standard lease

A monthly rental — Five months is long for a hotel and often short for an unfurnished flat. An equipped home rented by the month, with self check-in, lets you settle in from day one without buying furniture.

Sharing with a fellow trainee — A two-bedroom home shared by two trainees lowers the cost for each, while everyone keeps their own room. A separate office is a real plus when one of you works remotely or is preparing for a competition.

Choosing the right area — From Brussels-Midi, trains run directly to Brussels-Schuman station, in the heart of the European Quarter; the metro is also an option, changing at Arts-Loi. Brussels-Midi also makes it easy to go home at weekends by Eurostar, TGV or ICE.

Our loft for two trainees

The MidiStation loft offers 110 m² with two bedrooms, a private office, an equipped kitchen and a terrace, near Brussels-Midi station. It is rented by the month, with self check-in: a way to share a home for the length of a traineeship. For a specific request, write to us with your traineeship dates. See also our article on the Brussels-Midi district.

Frequently asked questions
Internship in Brussels

When do the European Commission’s Blue Book traineeships start?

Blue Book traineeships last five months and start on 1 March or 1 October. The March 2027 session runs from 1 March to 31 July 2027.

How do I get to the European Quarter from Brussels-Midi?

Trains run directly from Brussels-Midi to Brussels-Schuman station, in the heart of the European Quarter. The metro is also an option, changing at Arts-Loi.

Can two trainees share a home?

Yes: a two-bedroom home shared by two trainees lowers the cost for each. Our MidiStation loft, near Brussels-Midi, has two bedrooms and a private office.



 

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