The best area to live in Brussels often depends on where you need to work most frequently. The EU Quarter and Etterbeek suit assignments centred around the European institutions, Evere is worth considering for NATO and north-east Brussels, Diegem for airport-related work, and central Brussels for people working across several locations or prioritising city life.
Choosing an apartment for a temporary assignment is about more than bedrooms, budget and availability. Location can shape the employee’s daily routine just as much as the apartment itself.
A useful starting point is therefore the main workplace. From there, consider how often the employee needs to be there, whether international travel is part of the assignment, how they prefer to get around, and whether they are relocating alone or with family.
Below, we compare four practical areas for international professionals staying in and around Brussels.
EU Quarter and Etterbeek: for assignments around the European institutions
For employees working around Schuman, the European institutions or the organisations clustered around the European Quarter, living nearby can make the working week considerably simpler.
The wider area around Schuman, Place Jourdan, Square Ambiorix and Parc du Cinquantenaire combines a major international business district with residential streets, restaurants, shops and green space.
BBF has several residences in this part of Brussels, including:
This area is particularly worth considering when the European Quarter will remain the employee’s main workplace throughout the assignment.
Who can this area suit?
Employees working primarily around the European institutions, Permanent Representations, associations, consultancies and other organisations based in the European Quarter.
Evere and the NATO area: for work in north-east Brussels
Employees working around NATO or other workplaces in north-east Brussels do not necessarily need to base themselves in the city centre.
Evere provides a more residential setting while remaining relevant for assignments concentrated around NATO and the business areas towards the airport.
BBF options in Evere include:
For employees who spend most of their working week in this part of Brussels, choosing accommodation nearby can be more practical than automatically starting the housing search in central Brussels.
Who can this area suit?
Employees working around NATO, north-east Brussels or nearby corporate and business locations, particularly when a quieter residential environment is preferred.
Diegem and Brussels Airport: for airport-related assignments
Some assignments described as “Brussels” are actually centred outside the city centre.
Employees may work at Brussels Airport, in Diegem or Zaventem, or in one of the business areas surrounding the airport.
For these assignments, Diegem deserves to be considered from the beginning of the housing search.
BBF’s Zilverhof Residence is located in Diegem and provides an accommodation option for people whose work is concentrated around this part of the Brussels region.
Airport access can also become an important housing criterion for employees who travel internationally on a regular basis.
The trade-off is that Diegem offers a different living experience from Schuman or central Brussels. Whether that matters depends on the employee’s priorities during the assignment.
Who can this area suit?
Employees working around Brussels Airport, Diegem or Zaventem, as well as frequent business travellers who value proximity to the airport and surrounding business areas.
Central Brussels: for flexible work patterns and city life
Not every assignment revolves around one fixed workplace.
Consultants, project managers, sales professionals and other international employees may spend their week moving between different offices, meetings and transport hubs.
For these employees, a more central base can make sense.
BBF residences in and around central Brussels include options such as:
A central location may also appeal to employees who place greater importance on having restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and city life close to home.
It is therefore less about minimising the journey to one particular office and more about creating a practical base for a varied working week.
Who can this area suit?
Employees working across several parts of Brussels, people with changing meeting locations, or international professionals who value a central urban environment during their stay.
Brussels location comparison at a glance
| Your main workplace or priority | Area to consider first | Main reason |
|---|---|---|
| European institutions / Schuman | EU Quarter / Etterbeek | Stay close to the main EU working environment |
| NATO / north-east Brussels | Evere | Residential base for work concentrated in north-east Brussels |
| Brussels Airport / Diegem / Zaventem | Diegem | Practical for airport-related workplaces and frequent travel |
| Several workplaces / city-centre lifestyle | Central Brussels | Flexible base when there is no single dominant workplace |
What should be included in a Brussels housing brief?
Once the general area has been narrowed down, a few pieces of information make it much easier to identify suitable accommodation.
For an individual employee or corporate housing request, it helps to provide:
- main workplace or regular work locations;
- arrival and departure dates;
- apartment type or number of bedrooms;
- number of occupants;
- preferred way of getting around;
- frequency of business travel;
- any important household or lifestyle requirements.
This gives the housing provider more context than dates and budget alone and helps avoid choosing an apartment that works on paper but is inconvenient in practice.
Find a BBF apartment that fits your assignment
BBF Apartments offers furnished accommodation across several parts of Brussels and the surrounding business areas, including the European Quarter, Evere, central Brussels and Diegem.
You do not necessarily need to know which residence you want before contacting us.
Tell our team where you will be working, your dates, who will be staying and what matters most during the assignment, and we can help you explore suitable locations and currently available apartments.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I live if I work in the European Quarter?
The EU Quarter and nearby parts of Etterbeek are logical areas to investigate first when most working days are centred around Schuman and the European institutions. BBF options in this area include Europark, Eurosquare, Jubelpark and Jourdan Residence.Prices vary by residence, location, apartment and the services included. Check the individual listings or contact BBF for the current price and full cost breakdown for your preferred dates.
Where should I live if I work at NATO?
Evere is worth considering when NATO or other workplaces in north-east Brussels form the centre of the assignment. BBF has several furnished apartment options in Evere.
Where should I live if I work near Brussels Airport?
Diegem is particularly relevant for employees working around Brussels Airport, Diegem or Zaventem, as well as people who travel frequently for work.
Is central Brussels a good choice for a business assignment?
It can be, particularly if the employee works across several locations or values living in the city centre. If most working days are spent at one workplace outside central Brussels, it is also worth comparing accommodation closer to that workplace.