{"id":134674,"date":"2026-07-15T13:29:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/belgium-has-become-slightly-more-competitive-compared-with-the-netherlands-our-neighbouring-countries\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T13:29:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:29:29","slug":"belgium-has-become-slightly-more-competitive-compared-with-the-netherlands-our-neighbouring-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/belgium-has-become-slightly-more-competitive-compared-with-the-netherlands-our-neighbouring-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Belgium has become slightly more competitive compared with the Netherlands\u2019, our neighbouring countries.\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"134674\" class=\"elementor elementor-134674 elementor-134669\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8b278b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a8b278b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a03b04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a03b04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">The logistics property market has seen\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">this year\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">also in\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">Belgium and<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Strikethrough SCXW73568979 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">a very<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0poor start. But there is reason for cautious optimism. Chinese players are now also finding their way into Europe. Thanks to Covid, Belgium is more firmly on the radar of international players. It has also become slightly more competitive\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">compared to<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0the Netherlands, amongst others<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0says Mathieu\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">Opsomer<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">,\u202f<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">head<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0of Industrial &amp;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">Logistics<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0Agency\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">BeLux<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">, JLL. He is the moderator of the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">panel discussion\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u2018<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">The future of the logistics market and logistics property\u2019 (with a particular focus on the Ghent region) on WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">2026\u202f (<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">1.30 pm \u2013 max. 2.40\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">pm)\u202f at<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">Flanders<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0Expo<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">at LIB<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">during Transport &amp;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW73568979 BCX0\">Logistics<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW73568979 BCX0\">\u00a0in Ghent.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW73568979 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d700c5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6d700c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1757000 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1757000\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Logistics property got off to an extremely slow \u2013 one might even say disastrous \u2013 start in the first quarter of 2026.  <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a5497c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9a5497c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5acccb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5acccb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">Mathieu\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">Opsomer<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0\u2018<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">There\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">was in the first quarter\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">hardly any take-up,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">just 40,000 m\u00b2\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">there were\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">no major<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0deals. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0In Limburg, 17,000\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">m<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00b2\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0for<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">C<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">arglas<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">, a 10.00<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">0 m<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00b2\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">for\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">Neovia<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">a further<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a010,000\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">m\u00b2\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">for Nippon<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0Express<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">That<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">was it<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0for Flanders. And then there was another 10,000 m\u00b2 for\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">All<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">Exeptional<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">e<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">and end-user in Brussels.\u00a0<span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">We provided\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">in the commentary on the<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">f<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">irst-quarter figures\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">we did<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">already\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">indicated that we\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">were anticipating\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">an improvement<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0in the market, certainly towards the end of the second quarter. And\u00a0<span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">there\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">is now<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0also\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">improvement. W<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">e expect<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0that two major deals totalling around 40,000 m\u00b2 will be finalised very shortly,\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW185505074 BCX0\">certainly before<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0the end of the summer<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0will be signed<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0and<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0announced.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">And m<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">aybe the second quarter\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">already\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">exceed\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">n<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u00a0100,000 m\u00b2<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">\u2019<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW185505074 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW185505074 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fbfc4c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0fbfc4c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a97f05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3a97f05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">There was hardly any demand for logistics property last year\u2026 <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc8a486 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"dc8a486\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2743de elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e2743de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">Mathieu\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW238302235 BCX0\">Opsomer<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u00a0\u2018<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">There is\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW238302235 BCX0\">the <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW238302235 BCX0\">demand side<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u00a0and there is\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">the<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u00a0supply side.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">We cannot, however, deny that we\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">in the sector\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">were all working on the supply side last year. The closure of a number of companies, including Audi Brussels, a company employing 4,000 people<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">at\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">the forefront<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">was no exception to this.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">There have been<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">n\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">many sites coming onto the market due to closures of international companies that have moved abroad. This has\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">ensured\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW238302235 BCX0\">for<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u00a0ensured<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u00a0that they could be sold<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u00a0and\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">which was\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">therefore\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">part of the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">business for us<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">\u2019<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW238302235 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW238302235 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8ffbde e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b8ffbde\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c842c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0c842c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why did even family-run property investors invest less? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afe4605 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"afe4605\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d78587 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d78587\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">Mathieu\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW214740960 BCX0\">Opsomer<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0\u2018 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">We were involved in<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0various<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0projects that we were<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">o<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">negotiating with <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">family property investors.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">In principle, if they decide to buy<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">, then they<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0purchase<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0it<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\"> under normal circumstances <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">as well<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">. They\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW214740960 BCX0\">have<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW214740960 BCX0\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW214740960 BCX0\">so to speak,\u00a0<span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">the<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0money ready to hand.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">We have recently begun to\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">also<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0observe that even amongst these family-run property investors, there are now parties who are only\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW214740960 BCX0\">are only willing to sign if there is one<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0or more clauses setting out conditions precedent.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">And why is that? Do these people no longer have the money? No, but\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">they<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0also face challenges in their portfolios<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW214740960 BCX0\">challenges: <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">a default here, a\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">defaulting debtor<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0there<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u2026 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW214740960 BCX0\">and<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">suddenly they find themselves with\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">many<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">square metres<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">vacant space.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\"> There are <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">also <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">among <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">their\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">clients\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">parties\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">who can no longer <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">afford\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">to pay the rent. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">These <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">property players<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">are now saying that they want to resolve those problems\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">in their existing portfolio\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">first.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">If I were in their shoes, I would do exactly the same<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW214740960 BCX0\">\u2019. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW214740960 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64924b8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"64924b8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3520dfa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3520dfa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Let\u2019s turn our attention back to the demand side for a moment: Belgium\u2019s economic situation. It\u2019s not exactly brilliant.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5021c82 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5021c82\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd1a7de elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd1a7de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">Mathieu\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW162500096 BCX0\">Opsomer<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">\u00a0\u2018<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">That\u2019s right<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">. <\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">And let\u2019s be honest, if we look at a new trend\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">in\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">2026, it\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">that\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">the major Chinese logistics players, who have been the subject of discussion for years<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">, are now entering the market. The enquiries are concrete, the tenders are concrete, so before the end of the year a number of major logistics transactions will be announced in Belgium<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">involving Chinese\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW162500096 BCX0\">logistics companies<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">\u2019<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW162500096 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW162500096 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9796b3e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9796b3e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4496189 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4496189\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Is Belgium still competitive enough for logistics property?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9584797 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9584797\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-121037f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"121037f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mathieu Opsomer<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: \u2018Industrial logistics in Belgium has always been here.\u00a0 Some call it a grey market, but we call it a very stable market with a number of established players, such as WDP, Montea, Intervest, and then there are the established developers: Weerts Group, MG Real Estate, Bolckmans Group, Heylen Warehouses \u2026\u2019<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Internationally, our position has certainly not deteriorated since the pandemic. In the Netherlands, the go-ahead had been given for years. Everyone was welcome. Any (agricultural) site was transformed into an industrial estate in no time at all, and a 200,000 m\u00b2 logistics facility would spring up there. In Belgium, however, nothing could be done because of night work, the trade unions\u2019 stance, and so on. Meanwhile, in many regions of the Netherlands, for a host of reasons \u2013 such as the nitrogen issue, urban sprawl, the labour shortage, a different political outlook, and so on \u2013 the light is now \u2018amber slash red\u2019. Here, meanwhile, the status is \u2018orange slash green\u2019.\u00a0 There is a growing realisation here that something really needs to be done. If things have become more difficult for our main competitor, it means that things have become a little easier for us.\u00a0 In the future, within a few years, there may well be more competition from northern France, particularly for Zeebrugge, Ostend and Ghent. Especially when I hear about all the projects Belgian developers are working on in Dunkirk and Calais. But we\u2019re not quite there yet. The Netherlands remains our biggest competitor.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e18f84f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e18f84f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e2de77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4e2de77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">We are living in a completely different world today than we were a few years ago. Is the geopolitical situation having a negative impact on logistics property?  Suppose there really is a positive turn of events in the war in Ukraine or Iran. Or suppose Trump loses the mid-term elections. Could something like that have an impact  on the logistics property market?  <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5914c5f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5914c5f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-910b143 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"910b143\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">Mathieu\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW33077792 BCX0\">Opsomer<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">\u00a0\u2018Anything that brings greater certainty and stability\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW33077792 BCX0\">brings,\u00a0 can<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\"> help to boost the market. That\u2019s nothing new. It\u2019s just as important, however, that we maintain a realistic view of the market. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">During and<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">\u00a0n<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">the pandemic, there was an unprecedented boom.\u00a0 We must compare today\u2019s situation with the pre-pandemic period. For the past two years, we have been back at a comparable level. Over the past few quarters<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">, and certainly in the first quarter of 2026<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW33077792 BCX0\">were slightly<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">\u00a0more difficult<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">, partly due to the geopolitical <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW33077792 BCX0\">uncertainty\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW33077792 BCX0\">\u2019<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW33077792 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW33077792 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c1860e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1c1860e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92204ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92204ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">In recent years, it has been said that there is more potential in Wallonia. Hasn\u2019t Li\u00e8ge Airport lost some of its momentum as a logistics hub for the south? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fdaa17 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7fdaa17\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba6074e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba6074e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mathieu Opsomer:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u2018After Covid, we were at the very peak of the logistics sector in Flanders. Within the Antwerp\u2013Ghent\u2013Brussels logistics golden triangle and along the major transport corridors in Flanders, we had a 0% vacancy rate. Compared with our<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> neighbouring countries, that was unprecedented. So we had absolutely nothing available in this prime logistics location. Everything was fully occupied. As a result, of course, a great many investors, developers and logistics operators started looking to the other side of the country.\u2019<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And then, initially, there was Li\u00e8ge, which has always behaved somewhat like an outsider within Wallonia, as an extension\u00a0\u00a0of the Flemish Antwerp\u2013Limburg axis. Li\u00e8ge did very well at the time and was also full. So, out of necessity, people then turned their attention to Mouscron &amp; Tournai, close to Kortrijk and Waregem, and even to Charleroi. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At present, the prime properties in Flanders are still virtually fully occupied. However, in the slightly older buildings or those in slightly less desirable locations, there is currently some vacancy. So there is once again a supply of properties in Flanders, which means people are looking less towards Wallonia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a31283 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7a31283\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ebb81c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7ebb81c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Flemish government was a candidate to take over the site made available by Van Hool.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf259d9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"bf259d9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf6a602 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf6a602\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">Mathieu\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">Opsomer<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">She didn\u2019t succeed. Is that a bad thing? Personally, I don\u2019t think so. One might wonder whether the government <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">should be using <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">taxpayers\u2019 money<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0for such investments\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">make<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">. It is, after all, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">a <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">truly beautiful site, the likes of which are rare in Belgium. New economic activity does indeed need to be created; I fully agree with that<span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">But to now join the bidding at that location for a<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0major\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">industrial<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0logistics<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0redevelopment<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u2026<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0It is\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Strikethrough SCXW176591949 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">not at all<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">very\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">difficult<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">accessible for a\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Strikethrough SCXW176591949 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">major industrial or<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\" lang=\"NL-BE\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\"> logistics company. If you\u2019re in any doubt, I suggest you simply try driving there <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">That<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">easy<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">, is it?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">It<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0is an\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">extremely difficult\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">location in terms of access.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">I suspect the buyer will subdivide the site for local developers. Where<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0the local council\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">is\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">dreams of \u2013 a single large-scale production like in the old days \u2013 sounds like wishful thinking to me. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0W<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">hat jobs will be created and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">there\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">will be lots of<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">2<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">500 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">m<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00b2\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">to 1 hectare\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">for<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0local\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">SMEs<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">makes much more sense.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">That will\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">then\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">undoubtedly\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">a mix\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">of\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">local\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">SMEs<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">will\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">become\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">a mix\u00a0<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">become<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">local\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">logistics<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">semi-manufacturing<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">A<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">and<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0modern<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u00a0industrial estate with all sorts of things<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">\u2019<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW176591949 BCX0\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW176591949 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eaaad37 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"eaaad37\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-238c3e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"238c3e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Let\u2019s now look more specifically at the Ghent region. What is the situation there?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcba1f4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fcba1f4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf2433e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cf2433e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mathieu Opsomer:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u2018The Port of Ghent has also seen a massive boom in terms of logistics. Ten years ago, nobody wanted to set up there. The E17 was always the preferred route. Two years ago, the area was completely full. These days, however, you can see that there are quite a few vacant units here and there. Partly due to the closure of glass manufacturer AGP, there is now around 40 to 50,000 m\u00b2 of vacant space there. There are also still a few units available here and there, so there really is some availability in the Port of Ghent.34\u00a04<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There\u2019s no need to panic, but the reality is that even in Ghent, not everything is \u2018full, full, full\u2019. It is a market with potential, a market with opportunities, but it is a market that\u00a0\u00a0is currently fairly saturated. I understand that DSV has also temporarily shelved its plans to construct a new building there.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af316ad e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"af316ad\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4134a0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4134a0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What are the prospects for the coming years? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3a7107 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a3a7107\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efcfac1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"efcfac1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mathieu Opsomer:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0\u201cWe expect interest rates to stabilise or even fall slightly, and oil prices and inflation to develop favourably. This will have a positive impact on the logistics property market.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A distinction must, however, be made between prime locations (\u201cworld 1\u201d) with state-of-the-art buildings and limited supply, and secondary locations (\u201cworld 2\u201d) with greater supply and price pressure. For prime locations, we expect a slight rise in rents and a possible modest improvement in yields under ideal conditions; for secondary locations, we see pressure on rents and stable yields. Developers are not building at <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">their own<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> risk and are prioritising the letting of existing vacancies\u00a0and pre-letting\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The logistics property market has seen\u00a0this year\u00a0also in\u00a0Belgium and\u00a0 a very\u00a0poor start. But there is reason for cautious optimism. Chinese players are now also finding their way into Europe. Thanks to Covid, Belgium is more firmly on the radar of international players. It has also become slightly more competitive\u00a0 compared to\u00a0the Netherlands, amongst others\u00a0says Mathieu\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1475,"featured_media":134140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"\u2018Belgium has become slightly more competitive compared with the Netherlands\u2019, our neighbouring countries.\u00a0","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[312],"tags":[],"edition":[529],"class_list":["post-134674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights-en-2","edition-tl-gent-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1475"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134674"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134674\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":134675,"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134674\/revisions\/134675"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/134140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134674"},{"taxonomy":"edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transport-logistics.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/edition?post=134674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}