Belgians are Europe’s richest

Of all Europeans, Belgians are the richest, according to figures published by Eurostat in Le Soir and based on 2011 data. By the end of 2012, the financial assets of Belgian households totalled €981 billion. Even after deducting €210.9 billion in debts, net financial wealth still stands at €770.2 billion. The figures confirm the love affair between Belgians and their nest eggs. The average Belgian owns assets worth €67,158 – a European record. In second position come the Dutch (€61,219), and Luxembourg takes bronze with €60,366. France (€41,407) and Germany (€38,702) trail by a considerable margin. These figures relate only to financial assets. According to the National Bank of Belgium, the total value of Belgium’s housing wealth can be estimated at a little more than €1 trillion.