Let me just get straight to the point: Hard work should be rewarded, not punished.
Yet we live in a system where the rule is: the harder you work, the more you get squeezed. In Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, England… it’s the same old story everywhere. (Incidentally, entrepreneurs from Germany and England are already emigrating in fairly large numbers.)
The strongest shoulders are supposed to bear the heaviest burdens; I understand that to a certain extent. But at what point does that become an excuse to overtax successful and/or ambitious people?
By the way: It's not just about "successful" people. The average employee who goes to work day in and day out often doesn't realize how much is being skimmed off their salary (their employer does, though) before it even appears in their account.
Then there's the jealous mentality. Do you drive a slightly more expensive car? Then you're often quickly seen as a capitalist, a profiteer, or someone who earns "too much." Instead of finding inspiration in success, many see it as something to be punished for.
As if that weren't enough, we live in a culture where you're expected to incur as many expenses as possible. "Because that's good for the economy." Yeah, sure. But if you're forced to invest every year—simply to pay less tax—are you still building your future? Or are you stuck in a never-ending rat race, constantly burning yourself out and forgetting what's truly important in life?
Taxes: The Endless Game Where You Always Lose
You get taxed on everything. Everything.
- Income? Taxable.
- What are you buying? VAT.
- Investments? Securities tax.
- Your savings? In the Netherlands, you even pay tax on notional returns.
- Your house? Property tax, property tax, gift tax.
- Car? Road tax, road tax, fuel excise duties.
- Death? Inheritance tax – in Belgium, this can amount to up to 50% if you haven't arranged it properly. A nightmare for those who haven't had the chance to arrange this in time, and scandalous that such a thing is even possible.
- Your dog? Taxed. (Yep, in Germany)
And as if that weren't enough, they're constantly coming up with new ways to fleece you. Crisis taxes, environmental taxes, municipal taxes... In Germany, they've even gone so far as to impose a radio and TV tax and even a dog tax (but cats are exempt; makes sense, right?).
Seriously, am I the only one who thinks this is completely insane?
The Sheep Mentality: “But You Get A Lot In Return?”
That is the standard reaction: “But you get so much in return.”
Right.
Let's do some math. How much have you paid in taxes in your life, and what have you received in return? How much pension will you ultimately receive? And if you need a nursing home later, how much will you pay for it?
Spoiler alert: more than your pension will probably allow.
We live in a system where you're completely squeezed dry, until you're no longer useful. After that, you're written off. Literally.
And while you toil every day, there are others working three hours a day, clocking in eight hours on their time clock, collecting subsidies, taking advantage of health insurance, and people receiving benefits for months or years without doing anything or any proper follow-up.
And…—sorry, I'll say it again—we have a political circus to pay for.
My opinion about it is now clear, I think: It's a disgrace.
Speeding fines, speed checks and other bullying
And then those “safety measures.”
Come on. Don't tell me that speeding tickets, average speed checks, and other absurd traffic regulations are solely for safety and the environment. They're supposed to generate revenue.
Why else would we have speed cameras on wide, straight stretches where accidents are rare? Why do we pay one of the highest road taxes in Belgium, yet drive on roads that look like they've just been through a war on one side of the country?
In most cases, it has nothing to do with safety. It's all about money-making.
I Refused To Participate Anymore
I've been self-employed/solopreneur since college. And I'm a staunch advocate of it.
Just imagine if everyone were self-employed. An extreme idea, I know. But much of that 'permanent contract' mentality would disappear. Suddenly, you would have to perform, you would have to deliver value. That is also exactly the reason why freelancing has been on the rise so much in recent years.
For that reason (and yes, the gray weather certainly contributed), I decided to stop letting myself get carried away and leave Belgium behind. I'm eager to work hard and create value. And no, I don't regret it for a second..
Okay, I admit, every now and then I miss a hearty beef stew with fries and a generous dollop of mayo, a frikandel special, and/or a Bicky Burger. And to be fair, Belgian restaurants remain top-notch.
Cyprus: Perfection? (Nope!)
Cyprus is certainly not the perfect location, but here I have:
- More freedom
- 320 days of sunshine per year
- Turquoise waters and beautiful beaches
- Magnificent nature and mountains
- More time for my health
- More time for friends, family and acquaintances
But anyway, Cyprus isn't perfect either (the bureaucracy is a nightmare), but you know what? I'm not paying anywhere near that much for it. And *that* is a deal I *do* want to make.
I spend the taxes I save on improving my quality of life, a few charities, local businesses in both Cyprus and Belgium, and... in my honest opinion, much better than on the state.
What do you want? I really want to connect and hear from you.
Look, if you're happy in Belgium or the Netherlands, that's perfectly fine. With this video/blog post, I absolutely don't intend to point fingers. It's simply my story and the feelings I have that I share with the world.
But let's be honest: You've undoubtedly already cursed the sky-high taxes.
The question is: is it worth staying stuck in that system? Or is something holding you back from taking action? How much of your time and energy are you actually giving away in exchange for some "certainty" and breadcrumbs?
What Should We Do Then?
Many people ask me: “But what can we do about this?”
Do we block the streets? Do we protest? Do we hope for political change?
My answer: Too late, forget about it.
I'm absolutely against strikes, violence, blocking the streets, etc. But I am a firm believer in taking action yourself. Leave, or try. Worst case scenario, you just return.
Everyone always has a choice, and every choice has consequences. Do you stay in the rat race? Or do you choose freedom and take matters into your own hands?
Want to compare again? (Sorry, couldn't resist)
| Tax | Belgium | The Netherlands | Germany | Cyprus (Resident) | Cyprus (Expat Non-Domiciled) |
| Progressive income tax | Up to 50% | Up to 49.5% | Up to 45% | Up to 35% (first €19,500 tax-free) | Up to 35% (first €19,500 tax-free) |
| Social contributions for self-employed persons | 20,5% | ~27% | ~18% | 15.6% (but much more favorable calculation) | 15.6% (but much more favorable calculation) |
| Wealth tax | None (although withholding tax and securities tax apply) | Yes (Box 3 Savings Tax) | No | No | No tax on capital income |
| Inheritance tax (inheritance tax) | Up to 50% | Up to 20% | Up to 30% | 0% | 0% |
| VAT | 21% | 21% | 19% | 19% (5% on essential goods) | 19% (5% on essential goods) |
| Solidarity tax | No | No | Yes (Soli) | No | No |
| Church tax | No | No | Yes (church tax) | No | No |
| Fuel excise duties | High | Very high | Relatively low | Low | Low |
| Road tax | High | Very high | Relatively low | Low (no BIV when purchasing a vehicle) | Low (no BIV when purchasing a vehicle) |
| Corporate tax | 25% | 19% – 25,8% | 30% – 33% | 12,5% | 12,5% |
| Tax on dividends | 30% withholding tax | 26.9% (Box 2) or 31% (Box 3) | 26.375% (incl. solidarity contribution) | 17% (defense tax), not applicable to foreigners | 0% (no defense tax) |
| Tax on rental income | Combined with progressive income tax | Taxed in Box 3 (notional return) | Progressive tax, depending on income | 0% on rental income, unless under 'defense tax' (3%) | 0% (no defense tax on rental income) |
| Investment tax | 30% (withholding tax on interest & dividends) + 10% capital gains tax | Box 3 Savings Tax | Capital gains tax of 26.375% | No capital gains tax, except for real estate in Cyprus | No tax on capital gains |
| Tax on crypto | 30% (capital gains on crypto are taxable) | Box 3 (flat-rate return, unless professional) | 26.375% unless crypto is held for more than 1 year (then tax-free) | No tax on crypto | No tax on crypto |
