Student job Zaventem: work at Brussels Airport

In 2026 you may work 650 hours per calendar year at the reduced solidarity contribution, according to the NSSO. That counter runs across the whole year and adds up all your employers. You track it yourself through Student@work.

Within those 650 hours you pay a solidarity contribution of 8.13 per cent in total, instead of the ordinary social security contributions: 5.42 per cent for the employer and 2.71 per cent for you. That leaves you with more net pay.

On the hours above 650, the ordinary contributions of 13.07 per cent apply to you. Only those extra hours are affected: your first 650 hours stay at the reduced contribution.

You remain a dependant as long as your net means stay below 12,300 euros, a uniform amount for income year 2025. For income year 2026, a first band of 7,010 euros of your student pay is also exempt in that calculation.

Every vacancy shows its hourly rate. In car rental you earn 13.62 euros an hour. On average, a student worker in Belgium earns 14.21 euros gross per hour in 2026, according to Securex.

If you come from the EEA or from Switzerland, you work as a Belgian student does. If you come from outside the EEA, the wording on your residence permit determines how much you may work: with “labour market unlimited” the same rules apply as for Belgian students, with “labour market limited” you may work up to 20 hours a week during the school year and without limit during the school holidays.

From the age of 15 you may do light, non-industrial work as a student, under the Royal Decree of 19 April 2026. Some airport roles ask for a higher minimum age, so always check the vacancy itself.

Brussels Airport-Zaventem station is underneath the airport, with direct trains from Brussels, Leuven and Antwerp among others. If you come by train, your employer is required to contribute to your commuting costs.