U.S. Embassy in Belgium

The following information was compiled because clothing and shoes are sized according to a different system in Belgium and other European countries than in the U.S. Oven settings are different and Belgians, like most Europeans, use the metric system which may be unfamiliar to you.

U.S. Sizes and Belgian Equivalents Women’s Clothing

U.S.	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22
Belgian	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50

Men’s Clothing

U.S.	36	38	40	42	44	46
Belgian	46	48	50	52	54	56

Men’s Shirts

U.S.	14	15	16	17	18	19
Belgian	36	37	38	39	40	41

Women’s Shoes

U.S.	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Belgian	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42

Men’s Shoes

U.S.	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Belgian	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45

Children’s Clothing

Age	Size	Age	Size
1 month	54	4 years	102/110
3 months	60	5 years	116
6 months	67	6 years	122
12 months	74	7/8 years	128
18 months	80	9/10 years	134/140
20 months	86	11/12 years	146/152
24 months	92	13/14 years	158/164
3 years	98	15/16 years	170/176

Children’s Shoes

U.S.	Belgian	U.S.	Belgian
3	18	11	30
4	20	12	31
5	22	13	32
6	23	1	33
7	24	2	34
8	25	3	35
9	27	4	36
10	29	5	38

 

Children’s sock sizes are the same as shoe sizes.

Temperature

To convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade, subtract 32, then multiply by 5, and then divide by 9.

Many European ovens have temperature regulators numbered zero to nine. This chart should help you find the proper setting.

Setting	Centigrade	Fahrenheit
Very cool	110	225
	120	250
1	140	275
2	150	300
3	160	325
4	180	350
5	190	375
6	200	400
7	220	425
8	230	450
9	240	475
Very hot	260	500

Measurement Units Length

According to the metric system, which is used in Belgium and throughout Europe, there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter (cm.), 100 cm. in a meter and 1,000 meters in one kilometer. Additionally:

1 inch	2.54 centimeters
1 foot	30.50 centimeters
1 yard	91.44 centimeters

Area

1 square inch	6.4516 square centimeters
1 square yard	0.836 square meter
1 acre	0.4047 hectare or 4.047 square meters
1 square mile	289 hectares

Weight

1 gram	0.4 ounce
1 ounce	28 grams
1 pound	450 grams
1 kilo	2.2 pounds
8 ounces	1 U.S. cup or 16 tablespoons
16 ounces	2 U.S. cups or 1 pound
8 ounces	250 grams (approximately)
16 ounces	500 grams (approx.)
36 ounces	1,000 grams (approx.)

Liquid Measurement

1 gallon	3.8 liters
1 pint	0.47 liter
1 quart	0.95 liter
1 liter	0.26 gallon
1 liter	2.1 pints
1 liter	1.06 quart
1 teaspoon	1 cuillère à café = 1 koffielepeltje = 5 milliliters
1 tablespoon	1 cuillère à soupe = 1 soeplepel = 15 milliliters
1 cup	1 tasse = 1 kop = 237 milliliters