Belgium is a Western European country bordered by France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, with a short coastline along the North Sea. The nation rises from flat coastal lowlands to its highest point at Signal de Botrange in the east. Its population and economic activities are highly concentrated in its historic urban centres, particularly around the capital city of Brussels, which serves as a major international administrative hub, and the northern Flemish cities.
The housing market varies significantly between the coastal areas, the capital, and the industrial cities of the south. The region of Brussel-Hoofdstad holds a notable portion of the national housing stock, with Brussels itself, Ixelles, and Uccle commanding prices well above the national average. Antwerp and Ghent also contain major shares of the country's housing. The most expensive properties are found on the coast in Knokke-Heist. Conversely, moving to the southern, more industrial cities of Liège and Charleroi brings a sharp drop in housing costs, where properties are much cheaper than the national average.
