Buy an Apartment in Antwerp: Prices, Districts and Costs

The historic core around the Grote Markt and cathedral is compact and expensive for its size. Het Eilandje, the old docks, has the museum (MAS) and newer apartment blocks. Zurenborg, near Berchem station, is known for its Art Nouveau streets and is popular with families. Antwerpen-Zuid has galleries and cafés, and Borgerhout is more mixed and cheaper. Hoboken and Kiel sit on the edges with a more suburban feel. The city also has a large student population, which supports rental demand.

Property in Flanders carries registration duty, currently 12% for most purchases, with reduced rates for buyers occupying a sole home. Notary fees come on top, and a legal deed ('akte') is always signed before a notary. Confirm all figures with a Belgian notary.

Checks to ask for:

• Energy performance certificate (EPC) with the renovation obligations that follow
• Electrical inspection and, for older buildings, asbestos and heating reports
• Soil certificate and urban planning information
• Co-ownership accounts for apartment buildings

Our Belgium buying guide and Belgium financing page cover mortgages for non-residents.

Brussels is under an hour from Antwerp by train, so it is a separate market rather than a neighbour, and the same goes for Ghent. Brussels communes such as Ixelles, Uccle, Schaerbeek and Anderlecht have their own pages. The Belgium overview shows more cities.