More space, without letting go of the Randstad
In Rotterdam, The Hague and Wassenaar a detached villa with a pool easily costs a multiple of what you pay for one in the Antwerp Kempen. More and more entrepreneurs, executives and professionals from the Randstad therefore do the sums: a few days a week at the office or with clients, the rest of the week working from home, in a house with real space. Brecht is well placed for that. The A16 and the E19 form a straight line from the Van Brienenoord bridge to the Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor exit.
Travel times from the Randstad
| From Dennenlaan 58 to | Distance | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Dordrecht | approx. 70 km | approx. 40 min |
| Rotterdam | approx. 90 km | approx. 45 min |
| Barendrecht | approx. 80 km | approx. 45 min |
| The Hague | approx. 115 km | approx. 65 min |
| Wassenaar | approx. 125 km | approx. 70 min |
The travel time to Rotterdam is measured to the Kralingse Zoom. If you would rather not drive, there is the train. Noorderkempen station in Brecht is on the high-speed line between Antwerp and Rotterdam. You board a direct train to Rotterdam Centraal, or in the other direction to Antwerp and Brussels.
A house made for hybrid working
Villa Grandeur was built as a family home in which everyone has a place of their own. Thanks to the split-level layout the 31 m² office sits on its own level, away from the living room and kitchen. The 60 m² attic offers room for a second workspace, guest accommodation or a studio. Those who receive clients do so in an 83 m² living room with grand piano and open fireplace, or on the covered terrace overlooking the pool.
International living
The northern edge of Antwerp is used to international residents. There are international schools in the region, the everyday language is Dutch, and the port, the diamond trade and the chemical industry attract expats from all over the world. For newcomers from the Netherlands it feels familiar and yet different: more time at the table, more privacy around the house, less hurry.
Tax and practical matters
Anyone who moves to Belgium and keeps working or running a business in the Netherlands has to deal with two tax systems. That is perfectly manageable, but calls for advice beforehand, especially for owner-directors and for those with assets taxed in the Dutch box 3. The guide Mortgage and tax sets out the main lines. The asking price of the villa is €1,095,000; the additional costs are shown in the worked example.
