Offering flexibility, premium facilities and a readymade community of digital nomads, coliving spaces are taking off in Belgium’s boisterous capital.
A single bedroom in Ixelles (Photo: Spotahome.com)
Brussels boasts a uniquely international atmosphere. Home to hundreds of multinational companies and a huge expatriate community, it’s a popular spot for those looking to live abroad. It’s also at the forefront of the coliving movement, which means finding an affordable and stylish to settle for a few weeks, months or even years, is easier than ever. There are now hundreds of coliving spaces peppered across the country, ranging from traditional shared houses to upmarket skyscraper studios. We’ve cherry-picked five of the most stylish coliving spaces based on design, price, location and reviews.
4-bedroom Ixelles house
This cheap and cheerful coliving space is located in Ixelles, a residential area moments from restaurants, supermarkets and a large, leafy park. It’s an ideal spot for students, just a 10-minute walk from the Universite Libre, but suitable for everyone and anyone. The bedroom is spacious and the house has its own garden. It’s been recently renovated to a high standard too. Rooms are fully furnished but bills are an additional €100 per month, paid directly to the landlord. From €400 per month.
Find out more at Spotahome.com
Chic room for rent in Schaerbeek
A spacious double room in Schaerbeek (Photo: Spotahome.com)
For those who are keen on the idea of sharing a living space with like-minded individuals but less so on the queuing for the bathroom, this chic apartment is an excellent option. There are four double bedrooms and three spacious bathrooms, as well as a lovely large balcony. As with all properties listed on Spotahome, the landlord is vetted and highly responsive too. The minimum stay is three months and there is no maximum, so if you fall in love with your new pad you could just stay forever. Bills are included too. From €615 per month.
Find out more at Spotahome.com
Marlow
Those looking for more green space will be hard-pressed to find a better location than Marlow. It’s situated in Uccle, Belgium’s greenest district, which is packed with parks and more than 500 hectares of the Foret de Soignes. The house is as trendy as the location is leafy, styled like a 1930s speakeasy with large naturally-lit workspaces and a huge living room. There’s also an onsite gym and cinema room, as well as a dedicated dining area for dinner parties and a garden for balmy summer evenings. Fees include weekly cleaning, monthly groceries and all utilities, including WiFi and Netflix. From €620 per month.
Find out more at Cohabs.com
Marolles
Marolles is located in the heart of the city(Photo: Cohabs.com)
This nine-bedroom house is ideal for those who want to live in the city centre, but don’t want to break the bank doing so. A stone’s throw from Porte-de-Halle, squeezed between brilliant bars, boutiques and restaurants, this home is right in the thick of the action. The house features a large living-kitchen-dining area, as well as a small working place for remote workers. There’s also a basement gym. Rooms vary from fairly cosy for single occupancy to premium small studios which are suitable for couples. Netflix, weekly cleaning, monthly groceries and a special monthly breakfast are included in the price, alongside utilities too. From €710 per month.
Find out more at Cohabs.com
Stephanie 47
Set just around the corner from Audrey Hepburn was born, Stephanie 47 is located in Ixelles, possibly Brussel’s most upmarket neighbourhood. The house is packed with personality, from its ornate spiralling staircase to its dual-level cinema room. With 16 bedrooms, this coliving space is slightly larger than most but there’s plenty of room for everyone. The open-plan living-kitchen-dining room stretches across the ground floor, there’s a sprawling terrace and garden, and a gym. Fees include high-speed WiFi, Netflix and weekly cleaning. From €720 per month.
Find out more at Cohabs.com