Waterstones to open second store in Brussels in October

British bookseller Waterstones is set to open a shop in Avenue Louise, its second location in the Belgian capital.

The UK’s leading high street bookseller announced the opening almost 30 years since the first Brussels Waterstones store was established in Boulevard Adolphe Max in 1997.

It follows the retailer’s recent successful opening of a branch in the Republic of Ireland, Dublin – its first in the country in 20 years. 

Located between Porte Louise and Place Stéphanie,this second shop in the capital will also be the first new Waterstones in continental Europe in 30 years, following the opening of the Amsterdam store in 1998.

Demand from younger Belgians, who prefer to read books in their original English, has increased over the past few years.

Such has been the relative scarcity of English-language bookstores in the city, the new Waterstones promises to “offer something for every reader” when “catering to Brussels’ already vibrant literary community”.

Spread across two floors, the store will stock an extensive list of titles, dedicated to both adults and children, as well as include a section for games, gifts and stationery.

With the new location in Avenue Louise, one of the city’s upmarket neighbourhoods that is home to high-end boutiques, hotels and restaurants, the store hopes to attract footfall from both international and local customers. 

The bookshop will open to the public at Avenue Louise 20 in October 2026.