I'm so full, I couldn't manage another brick!

There’s an expression here that goes ‘Every Belgium has a brick in their stomach’. No, not a reference to the cuisine, but to the fact that in every Belgium, supposedly, there’s a builder eager to get out. Unfortunately for the skyline quite a few have!

Having always lived in and loved old properties I was amazed when we first came to buy a house in Belgium that outside the beautiful attractions of Gent, Bruges and Antwerp, you’re likely to find Dallas style ranches, Spanish haciendas, Swiss chalets and ultra futuristic grand designs that would leave Kevin McCloud speechless.

And, all on the same stretch of road!

Where are the Flemish town houses I’d seen in Van Eyck paintings? The rural farmhouses of Streuvels novels? I know Flanders was caught geographically in the cross fire of both world wars but surely some architectural history survived?

Town planning is your answer, or rather lack of it. In the UK if you live or have ever lived in a listed building or an area of outstanding natural beauty, you’ll know planning permission is the bug you reluctantly bare. Here, sadly, build as you please appears to be the norm and characterless communities merge in to one another. Two years ago building restrictions were introduced and finally pockets of beautiful Flemish architecture are being preserved.

Which brings me to the house we’ve bought. Countless weekends were spent trying to find a property with history and old features. Eventually we found one, a wonderful Herenhuis, a gentleman’s house, in the centre of a small village opposite the church. Hooray.

We’re already the talk of the village, Richard Branson and his glamorous wife (ok I made that bit up) are moving in. I don’t know where they got the Richard Branson idea from.

And the first question we’re always asked by our neighbours, yes you’ve guessed it
‘So, are you knocking it down and building a new house?’ NO!

Thankfully you’ll find no brick in this stomach.




Aalst U Blieft