Brussels and its unique cultural heritage, its streets paved with historical monuments, is gradually emptying. Many Brussels residents choose to leave the capital each year. In 2021, there were 44,905 of them leaving for Flanders (28,200) or Wallonia (16,700). The main reasons mentioned are the price of real estate and the desire to move into larger accommodation, or with a garden.
This figure makes 2021 the year with the highest number of departures for 30 years. “In Brussels, I think there was still a fairly significant impact on prices. There are more affordable prices outside the capital” justifies Martine Dury, director of a real estate agency in Brussels. There are, however, certain neighborhoods in Brussels where prices remain affordable: “It is necessary to go towards the north of Brussels, as in Laeken, there it is reasonable. But the rest of Brussels is too expensive” she adds.
The Covid has also motivated city dwellers to leave the capital, suffocated by successive confinements. “People realized that it was impossible to live comfortably in an apartment with children, working. They need more space, so a larger apartment with outdoor space, a terrace or a garden“says Martine Dury.
However, the population of Brussels continues to grow, reaching 1,220 million in 2021.