Up my street: The Bulletin's neighbourhood guide to Woluwe-Saint-Lambert

Stretching from the edge of the EU quarter to the Flemish border, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe in Dutch) in the east of Brussels attracts an affluent, international crowd, drawn by its attractive houses, good public transport and road links, proximity to the EU institutions and the presence of one of the city’s European Schools. We asked Bulletin readers to share their experiences of living here.

“This is a lovely, stylish neighbourhood but still close to the city centre,” says Michele from Italy. “I love the buildings, the people, the quietness… I wouldn’t change anything about it. I’ve had very good experiences at the town hall, almost everyone there speaks English and they are very polite.” Pedro from Portugal has lived here for six years. “It’s quiet with lots of amenities and parks; life is very relaxing here and it’s easy to get to the city centre,” he says. “Though there are lots of older snob people living here!”

Belgian Nicolas has called this part of town home since the late 1990s. “It’s calmer than other parts of Brussels,” he told us, “with good transport and nearby shopping options. I’d like to see more events, more bike lanes, more shops open on Sundays…” “This is a green, clean, friendly place to live, and ideal for families,” says one Irish resident who’s lived here for 25 years. “But it could do with more safe cycle paths and a better connection to airport.”

Eva from the Czech Republic describes this part of Brussels as a “calm, green and safe residential neighbourhood, where you can find everything you need. It’s well looked-after, but there are things that could be improved, and I would appreciate fewer cars in our street.” “It’s fantastic and fabulous,” adds Sachin from India. “I like the calmness and availability of everything like shops, parks and cafes.”         

“This is a cosy residential area close to the city centre; it’s green, calm, great for families and close to the European institutions,” says one French resident who has lived here for 16 years. “But the delays for catching a metro to Stockel at the weekend are bad – sometimes more than 10 minutes’ wait.”  

“It’s just the perfect place in Brussels,” according to Catalin from Romania. “It’s calm, green, well-connected to the city centre and close to the airport and business areas in the eastern part of Brussels. I like the fact that it’s residential but so well-connected,” adds fellow Romanian Daniel. “It’s got good amenities, like a big hospital, schools, creches, a shopping mall etc. But buying or renting property here is expensive. I had no hassle at the town hall. It took at most three weeks to get my resident card; I’ve heard this is an issue for foreigners in other communes but not really here. The staff don’t always speak English but will try to get the message through and are polite.”

As mentioned, property in this part of town comes with a relatively high price tag, though there is a steady supply of real estate meaning costs aren’t the highest in the city. Purchase prices for three- and four-bedroom houses start at about €500,000, with larger properties reaching €1.6 million, according to property website Immoweb. Studio apartments are available to rent for around €600 a month, modern furnished one-bedroom apartments for €900 and two-bedroom flats of 100m2 starting at about €1,000.

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert is well-served by public transport. There’s no railway in this part of town, but metro line 1 runs through the commune as far as Crainhem, while trams 7 and 25 skirt its western edge and several buses pass through here, including a night bus from the city centre.

Favourite spots

Pizzeria Mare e Monti • W shopping centre• Moulin de Lindekemale: “wonderful old-world dining in a beautiful 17th-century setting” • Chapel of Marie la Misérable • Malou park and castle • Georges Henri Park • Wolubilis cultural centre • Running along the path parallel to Boulevard de Woluwe as far as the ponds • Running along the old railway line between Beaulieu and Stockel • Student bars around Alma metro station • Cook & Book restaurant and bookshop • Little farm at the Rodebeek Park: “a little bit of a secret place where you get the feeling you’re in the countryside” • Le Coq en Pâte Italian restaurant • Avenue Georges Henri: “lots of good restaurants and bakeries” • Fonteyne The Kitchen deli and takeaway • The restaurants between Square Meudon and Tomberg • Le Nénuphar Vietnamese restaurant • Yoga Loft • Monthly antique market on Place Saint-Lambert • Mawal Lebanese restaurant • The New Diplomat for cocktails • Poseidon sports complex • Da Mimmo contemporary Italian restaurant • Le Brasero fish and grill restaurant • Roodebeek Park • Walking along the Woluwe river • Yama Sushi Japanese restaurant

Positives

• Safe, calm and clean
• Good for families
• Multicultural  
• Good public transport connections to city centre, EU quarter and airport
• Close to highway
• Plenty of supermarkets, restaurants and sports facilities

Negatives                                                   

• Lots of roadworks
• Property is expensive