News

The retail market in Belgium is on the move again. Retailers are once again looking to expand, developers are launching new projects, and both high streets and retail parks are showing renewed dynamism. Yet closing deals today is not becoming any easier. That may seem contradictory, but there is a clear reason. The way retail decisions are made has fundamentally changed.

Retail locations are changing. Where classical shopping streets and malls once dominated, attention is now increasingly shifting toward large mixed-use urban developments. The Loop in Ghent is one of the clearest examples of this trend.

From 9 to 13 March, Avenue’s Residential team will be in Cannes for MIPIM. Each year, this international real estate fair brings together capital providers, developers and advisors to network and discuss market developments. There is no denying that the residential real estate market has evolved significantly in recent years. Avenue Residential actively responds to this change by bridging the gap between developers seeking liquidity and investors looking for targeted opportunities.

After years as runner up, Avenue takes the leading position in Out of Town retail agency for the first time this year. With 57,767 square meters leased, more than fifty transactions and a market share of 20.3 percent, the team confirms its position in a segment that is attracting a growing number of investors. This result mainly underlines the strength of the Belgian peripheral retail market. The take up is exceptionally high and this is not a new phenomenon, as the periphery has been known for years as a stable market where rental prices rise steadily. For investors, this predictability creates confidence.

Avenue understands better than anyone the challenges a starting retail business must face. The holiday season is the perfect moment to reflect on your investments, look ahead, and seize new opportunities. At Avenue, we believe that investing in commercial real estate can feel like giving yourself a gift: a well-chosen investment that delivers value year after year. That’s why we’ve compiled our insights into a set of tips—or “Christmas gifts”—that every smart investor can use to start 2026 stronger and more profitable. Time to unwrap our advice.

Karel Burrick on the Future of Residential Real Estate: Block Sales as a Response to a Market in Transition

Avenue understands better than anyone the challenges a start-up retail business must overcome. To support entrepreneurs—and to show that we approach real estate in a creative and innovative way—we organized a competition in which one start-up could open a pop-up store for free for an entire month in one of Belgium’s most premium retail locations.

Five years ago, Kenneth, Stijn and Hendrik took their first steps with Avenue. What began with a small team and an ambitious plan quickly grew into an established name in the retail real estate market. Today, Avenue has over fifteen people and has taken its first steps into the residential market. Time to look back — and ahead.

Preliminary figures from CIB show that demand continues to rise while supply lags behind, especially in Brussels, Ghent, and Leuven. These three cities will attract around 261,500 students in 2025, including a growing share of international students, making competition for affordable rooms particularly fierce.