One-quarter more Walloons moved to Flanders last year

In 2016, more than 9,000 Walloon families moved to Flanders, a quarter more than the year before, writes Het Nieuwsblad based on figures from the FPS Interior.

In line with the same trend, the number of families leaving the Brussels-Capital Region for Flanders last year rose by 8.6%, from 18,499 to 20,094, the highest figure since 2009. The number of Flemish people to move in the other direction has decreased for both Wallonia and Brussels, according to the figures.

The trend can be explained by several factors, according to Pieter Decelle of CIB, the Belgian confederation of real estate professionals. The number of Walloons who found a job in Flanders increased by 23.5% over the last two years, he points out in the newspaper.

“There are also a number of government measures at play,” Decelle adds. In Flanders, for example, home buyers pay 5 or 10% registration fees, compared to 12.5% in Wallonia, he says. In addition, the Flemish gift tax on the donation of real estate fell sharply in 2015, which made it cheaper and easier to donate property in the region.