Ghent City Guide

Capital of East Flanders and Belgium’s third city, Ghent pairs a beautifully preserved medieval core with one of Europe’s most dynamic university economies. With over 80,000 students fed by Ghent University and several colleges, the city is the student capital of Flanders, and student housing is among its most reliable investment niches, marked by minimal vacancy and steady rental yields. For investors, Ghent offers a balanced profile: gross yields range roughly 3.8–5.0% depending on area and property type (around the Belgian national average of 4.3%), with the strongest demand and tightest vacancy in prime central districts such as Sint-Pieters. Apartments average around €3,063 per square metre, and roughly €432,000 buys a substantial 130–160m² terraced house. Regeneration is a key theme: rapidly evolving districts like Dok-Noord, Muide, Gentbrugge, and Ledeberg are seeing new housing projects, lofts, and green architecture, while planned tram extensions are expected to lift values along their corridors. The city is also a magnet for foreign investment, 41 projects worth over half a billion euros were announced in 2025, set to create nearly 1,800 jobs and a third of all Flemish foreign-investment employment. With a metro population near 479,000 and Flanders prices up roughly 3.6–4.1% in 2025, Ghent combines defensive student-led income with clear regeneration and employment-growth upside.