The Belgian Coworking Market: From Hype to a Professional Office Model
Following the energy crisis and the pandemic, flexible offices have regained momentum since 2024, gradually taking market share from the traditional office segment. Coworking spaces and business centers are becoming larger and achieving higher occupancy rates, leading to rising profitability and revenues.
The renewed interest in flexible workplaces positions the coworking sector for strong growth: according to forecasts, Belgium’s coworking market could double in size by 2030. After years of volatility, the market is now growing by around 5–10% per year, driven by the rise of hybrid work models and a shift toward larger, better-equipped flexible office spaces. At present, the sector represents just under 4% of Belgium’s total traditional office stock. The country currently counts around 550 business and coworking centers.
CBRE emphasizes that flexible offices are no longer a niche, but an essential component of corporate real estate strategy. Modern coworking offices offer a broad range of flexible solutions, such as on-demand workspaces, short-term leases, and modular layouts. This allows companies to align their space requirements with changing business needs.
Data from CBRE shows that 92% of large companies worldwide now operate under a hybrid office model, and Belgium follows that trend. This is driving increasing demand for flexible lease structures. The evolution reflects a broader market shift: coworking and serviced offices are increasingly converging into integrated, full-service flexible concepts.
The Major Players
The Belgian market is dominated by IWG (Regus and Spaces), followed by Silversquare, Officenter, and emerging regional operators. These brands are expanding with multi-location office solutions, premium design, and integrated services such as event hosting, concierge support, and ESG-compliant facilities. CBRE notes that landlords are increasingly partnering with these operators to revitalize underperforming assets.
City Profiles: Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp
Brussels remains the epicenter of coworking activity in Belgium, accounting for about 25% of all business and coworking centers. For private offices in Brussels coworking spaces, monthly costs typically range between €350 and €500, depending on location, operator, and included services. Entry-level options from major providers like Regus start around €265/month, while premium spaces such as Silversquare or Spaces often charge €400–€500/month for a small private office. Boutique concepts with luxury amenities or prime locations can, of course, command higher prices.
Ghent has developed into a tech and creative hub, attracting startups and scale-ups. Coworking prices average €200–€300/month for a flexible desk, while private offices for small teams start around €300–€450/month per workstation. The focus here is on community, networking, and proximity to the city’s academic ecosystem.
Antwerp, with strong sectors in fashion, logistics, and media, attracts both corporates and freelancers seeking hybrid solutions. Prices are similar to Ghent: €220–€320/month for hot desks and €300–€450/month per workstation for private offices — sometimes slightly lower in creative hubs outside the city center. Antwerp’s coworking spaces often combine high-end design with event capabilities and cater to creative industries and international firms.
Which Companies Are Choosing Flex?
According to CBRE, large corporations are now among the primary users of flexible office space. They use these models to support hybrid work, reduce fixed costs, and access talent in secondary cities. Across all segments, the focus is on experience — workplaces that combine productivity with well-being, sustainability, and technology integration.
The appeal of flexible offices goes far beyond aesthetics. Companies choose coworking for flexibility: they avoid long-term commitments and can scale up or down quickly. They also value the speed of deployment — often moving into fully operational spaces within days rather than months. While the per-desk rate can seem higher, costs for fit-out, utilities, and maintenance disappear, making flexible solutions cost-efficient for hybrid teams and project-based work. Moreover, these spaces provide a richer employee experience, with vibrant communities, networking opportunities, and amenities that traditional offices rarely match.
A growing extension of this strategy is the hub-and-spoke model, in which companies provide access to satellite coworking hubs outside major cities. This approach addresses two major challenges: homeworking fatigue and traffic congestion. Employees benefit from professional infrastructure closer to home, improving work-life balance, while companies advance their sustainability goals by reducing emissions. Operators such as IWG and Officenter are expanding their networks across Belgium to meet this demand. For companies, it’s a way to retain talent and support hybrid work without increasing real estate costs.
Outlook
The Belgian coworking market is no longer experimental. It has become a strategic pillar of workplace planning. In the coming years, further consolidation among operators, the expansion of management contract models, and the growth of amenity-rich hubs — blurring the lines between office, hospitality, and lifestyle — are expected to define the market’s direction.
Click here for an overview of coworking locations for rent in Belgium.
