Buying Furniture and Appliances: IKEA, Krefel, and Second-Hand Shops
Most Belgian apartments are handed over as a "blank canvas," which often means no light fixtures, no curtain rods, and occasionally, no kitchen appliances. I remember my first night in Ixelles, staring at bare wires hanging from the ceiling and realizing I didn't even have a kettle to make coffee. This guide solves the logistical nightmare of outfitting your Belgian home from scratch.
The Reality of Furnishing a Home in Belgium
When you sign a lease in Belgium, you are likely entering one of two worlds: the "meublé" (furnished) or the "non-meublé" (unfurnished). If you found your home through a platform like HousingAnywhere, you might have secured a spot that already has the basics, but for the vast majority of long-term expats, the "non-meublé" reality is a shock. In Belgium, "unfurnished" doesn't just mean no sofa; it often means the previous tenant took everything down to the lightbulbs.
Before you start shopping, you must understand the Inventory of Fixtures (État des Lieux): Why It's Crucial Before Moving In. This document will record the state of the apartment before you bring in a single IKEA box. I learned the hard way that dragging heavy wardrobes across a parquet floor without felt pads can lead to a hefty deduction from your deposit three years later. Take photos of everything before the furniture arrives.
The logistical challenge in Belgium is often the architecture. If you are moving into a beautiful 19th-century maison de maître in Brussels or a narrow townhouse in Ghent, your biggest enemy isn't the price—it’s the staircase. Many Belgian stairwells are too narrow for a standard mattress, let alone a refrigerator. This is why you will constantly see external furniture lifts (lifts) blocking the sidewalks on Saturdays.
The Big Box Retailers for Furniture
For most newcomers, the first stop is inevitably the blue-and-yellow giant. IKEA has a massive presence in Belgium, with stores in Anderlecht (Brussels), Zaventem, Gent, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Liège, Arlon, and Mons.
IKEA and the Belgian Assembly Culture
IKEA is the "safe" choice, but there are local quirks to consider. If you don't have a car, getting to the Zaventem or Anderlecht branches involves a bit of a trek. I recommend renting a van through Moving Companies in Belgium: Dockx Rental Trucks vs Full Service if you plan on a big haul. IKEA Belgium also offers a delivery and assembly service, which is a lifesaver if you are dealing with a complex "Pax" wardrobe system.
One "pro tip" I always give fellow expats: check the "Circular Hub" (formerly the As-Is section) near the checkouts. Belgians are surprisingly diligent about returning items, and you can often find floor models or slightly dinged tables for 50% off. Given the high cost of living, these savings add up when you are also trying to manage Standard vs Bi-Hourly Electricity Meters: Day and Night Tariffs to keep your utility bills low.
Maisons du Monde and Habitat
If you want something with a bit more "Euro-chic" flair than IKEA, Maisons du Monde is ubiquitous in Belgian shopping malls and city centers. Their style ranges from industrial loft to coastal farmhouse. While beautiful, their delivery times can be notoriously long—sometimes up to 12 weeks for a sofa. Habitat is another step up in quality and price, offering more minimalist, high-end designs. These stores are great for "statement pieces" once you have the basics from IKEA sorted.
Le Roi du Matelas
In Belgium, we have specialized stores for almost everything. For beds, Le Roi du Matelas is a staple. Don't be fooled by the permanent "70% off" signs; it’s a marketing tactic, but the quality is decent for the price. Buying a mattress in Belgium can be confusing because of the "Ergo" standards. Ensure your bed frame and mattress match—EU sizes are standard here, but double-check if you brought a bed frame from the UK or US, as they won't fit Belgian mattresses.
Where to Buy Large Appliances
If your apartment is a true shell, you’ll need a "frigo" (fridge), a "machine à laver" (washing machine), and perhaps a dishwasher. In Belgium, two names dominate the landscape: Krefel and Vanden Borre.
Krefel vs Vanden Borre
Krefel is often slightly cheaper and has massive showrooms on the outskirts of cities. They offer a "lowest price guarantee," but the real value is in their delivery and installation. For a small fee, they will bring the appliance up to your floor, plug it in, and—crucially—take away your old one if you have one.
Vanden Borre is known for its "Service Contract." They are the Belgian version of a high-end electronics boutique. If your washing machine breaks down, their repair network is legendary. When I moved into my third apartment in Brussels, I chose Vanden Borre for my dryer specifically because I knew the ventilation in the building was poor and I might need technical support later.
Online Giants and Amazon Belgium
For smaller appliances like kettles, toasters, and coffee machines, Amazon Belgium has become a dominant force since its official launch. While you used to have to order from the French or German sites, the local Belgian site offers faster shipping and, more importantly, the correct Belgian/French power plugs (Type E).
I always suggest having Airalo set up on your phone the moment you arrive. You’ll spend hours in empty apartments waiting for delivery drivers from Amazon Belgium or Krefel, and since Setting Up Internet Fast: Using 4G/5G Routers While Waiting for Fiber can take weeks, having a solid data connection is the only way to stay sane while tracking your packages.
The World of Second-Hand Gems
Belgium has a deeply ingrained "circular economy" culture. Whether it’s out of environmental concern or just the Belgian love for a good bargain, shopping second-hand is not just for students; it’s a lifestyle.
Kringwinkel and Les Petits Riens
In Flanders, look for "De Kringwinkel." These are massive, government-subsidized thrift stores. They are organized, clean, and often have a "furniture only" section. In Brussels and Wallonia, the equivalent is "Les Petits Riens" (Spullenhulp in Dutch). The flagship store in Ixelles (Rue de Namur) is a multi-story treasure trove where you can find everything from vintage mid-century modern sideboards to nearly-new kitchenware.
Online Marketplaces: 2dehands and Facebook
The local version of eBay or Craigslist is 2dehands.be (also known as 2ememain.be). This is where the real deals are. Belgians often sell high-quality furniture for very low prices simply because they are moving and don't want to pay for a furniture lift.
Facebook Marketplace is also incredibly active, especially in expat-heavy areas like Etterbeek, Schaerbeek, and Waterloo. Look for groups like "Brussels Expats Sell/Buy" or "Ghent Expats." If you find a great wardrobe on 2ememain but don't have a car, you can use Buying a Used Car (Voiture d'Occasion) with Car-Pass Guarantee to find a cheap runaround, or simply hire a "man with a van" via apps like RingTwice.
Brocantes and Flea Markets
No guide to Belgian furniture would be complete without mentioning the "Brocante." Every Sunday, somewhere in Belgium, a street is closed off for a flea market. The most famous is the Jeu de Balle in the Marolles district of Brussels. It’s open 365 days a year. If you go at 2:00 PM when the vendors are packing up, you can snag incredible deals on mirrors, chairs, and lamps. Just be prepared to haggle in a mix of French, Dutch, and hand gestures.
Logistics: The Infamous Furniture Lift
I cannot stress this enough: check your windows. In most of the world, you carry a sofa up the stairs. In Belgium, you rent a "lift."
A furniture lift is a motorized ladder with a platform that reaches up to your window or balcony. Most furniture stores will ask you during checkout: "Do you need a lift?" If you live on the second floor or higher, the answer is almost always yes. If you don't book one and the delivery drivers arrive only to find they can't fit the sofa in the elevator, they will take it back to the warehouse and charge you for a second delivery.
| Store Category | Best For | Price Range | Delivery Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA | Basics, Kitchens, Wardrobes | € – €€ | 1 – 2 Weeks |
| Krefel / Vanden Borre | Large Appliances (Fridge, Washers) | €€ – €€€ | 2 – 5 Days |
| Amazon Belgium | Small Appliances, Kitchen Tools | € | 1 – 2 Days |
| Maisons du Monde | Decor, Stylish Furniture | €€ – €€€ | 2 – 12 Weeks |
| Kringwinkel / Petits Riens | Second-Hand, Vintage, Budget | € | Immediate (Carry out) |
When the lift arrives, you also need to ensure there is parking space on the street. In many communes, you must go to the town hall (commune) 48 hours in advance to request "No Parking" signs for a small fee. If you skip this step and there are cars in the way, the lift cannot operate. This is the kind of Belgian bureaucracy that causes "expat burnout," but once you've done it once, you're officially a local.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
Once the furniture is in, the work doesn't stop. Belgian homes, especially the older ones, are prone to humidity. If you buy expensive wooden furniture, make sure it isn't pressed directly against an outer wall, or you'll find mold behind it by December.
If you’ve bought a lot of second-hand items, they might need a deep clean. Many expats save time by Hiring a Domestic Cleaner via Titres-Services (Dienstencheques). While they aren't professional furniture restorers, having a weekly cleaner can help maintain your home and keep those second-hand "Jeu de Balle" finds looking fresh.
Lastly, remember the Garbage Sorting Rules: Blue, Yellow, White, and Green Bags Explained. When you finish unboxing all that IKEA furniture, you will have a mountain of cardboard. You cannot just leave this on the sidewalk. Cardboard (Yellow bag or tied with string) has specific collection days. If you miss it, you'll be stuck with a hallway full of boxes for another two weeks.
Furnishing a home in Belgium is a rite of passage. It’s exhausting, expensive, and involves more ladders than one might expect. But once you’re sitting on your "Brocante" velvet chair, drinking a Belgian beer, and looking at the light fixtures you finally figured out how to install, it will finally feel like home.
Disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes only. Prices, store locations, and delivery policies in Belgium are subject to change. Always verify the specific terms and conditions of a retailer before making a major purchase. The author is not responsible for any issues arising from third-party services, lift rentals, or assembly mishaps.
