Who's living in Brussels' business flats?

Frenchman Georges Sciberras (pictured) has been living in an Aedifica apartment in Brussels since 2011, and every weekend he returns to his family, who live near Lyon. He manages French company Antargaz’s Benelux division, which provides Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany with propane, butane and natural gas.

“I discovered this apartment via the internet. It suited me as I am only in Belgium for three years and preferred something furnished. The apartment is very well equipped and has a housekeeping and maintenance service. Apart from books, I have not added anything to the apartment, which is decorated and furnished to my taste.

“The area where I live, Rue Souveraine in Ixelles, is lively with plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as being close to public transport, which is useful as I don’t have a car. I Like Brussels very much and can easily visit various sites on foot. When I return to Lyon, I take the TGV.

“My wife and two sons, who are 19 and 15, visit me sometimes during the school holidays. We have enjoyed visiting various places in Belgium: Liège, Bruges, Ostend and Ghent. I will stay in Belgium until the end of 2014 and then I will possibly be based in Paris, though I may work abroad again in future. It is quite unusual for French people to move away or live as an expat as I do, but I’m quite adaptable and fortunately my wife has previously worked for an international company, so she understands and is supportive of my career.”

Italian Nicola Iarossi has lived in Brussels since 2010, having previously spent time in Germany, the US and Thailand. He works in the private sector entertaining contacts with the EU institutions. He rents from B-Apart Hotels

“The main reason I chose this kind of flat is that my work in Brussels is not well defined in its timeframe; the short-term contract under which I can operate here is continuously renewed rather than extended for a longer period. A business flat gives the right mix of privacy, comfort, personalisation and services: housekeeping, maintenance, security, communications facilities etc. It also means that, as a newcomer to the city, you don’t have to spend a long time searching for the best offers on the market before finding somewhere to live.

“A slightly hidden advantage, in the case of a flat like the one where I live, lies in the capabilities of a furnished apartment to put the guest in contact with the cultures and tastes of the host country, allowing faster integration. The kindness and flexibility I have experienced from the administrators to understand and react to specific, personal needs is also a great added value.

“I chose to live in the city centre, near the Grand Place, as it’s more vibrant than elsewhere. The crowds are a mix of tourists and locals of different races, and the city’s biggest cultural events and venues are just few steps away. At the same time it’s very well connected to the airport, main train stations and metro lines, avoiding the need to rent or buy a car.

“I like to have a good breakfast in the morning, for which I would recommend Arcadi cafe in Rue d’Arenberg with its various cakes, or the sophisticated but familiar atmosphere of my favourite cafe, AM Sweet, in Rue des Chartreux. For a light meal I prefer the young and friendly character of the Maison des Crêpes, beside the Bourse, and for a most robust dinner, the brasserie style of Le Phaon Royale in Saint-Catherine.

“Of course, I’ve personalised my apartment. When I’m staying somewhere for more than a month, it’s impossible for me not to try and make it closer to my tastes in terms of design and atmosphere. It’s very subtle and consists of adding a few objects, whether functional or decorative, like small lamps, vases or gadgets: during my travels abroad I have had the possibility to buy small artisan decorative objects, but I also get them in my frequent visits to Zig Zag or Maison du Monde, which are near the flat.

“I expect to stay here at least till the end of 2013, but hope to have the chance to remain longer, as I find the city very interesting and comfortable. When I move, the most likely place would be Italy, but working in the US remains a possibility.”

 This article was first published in Newcomer, Autumn 2013