Belgium puts embassy in the US up for sale

Belgium puts embassy in the US up for sale
Belgium's embassy in the US is "too big" and is up for sale. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The building housing the Belgian Embassy in the United States has been put on the market, after the outgoing head of foreign affairs said the property was too large and was not being fully used.

The decision to move diplomatic operations from the property was taken in 2016 by Didier Reynders, who is set to step down from his current position as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

At the time, Reynders explained his decision by the fact that the current building, located near other international embassies like that of Finland and China, was too big and not being fully used, , according to HLN.

The transaction would see Belgium's diplomatic delegation in the U.S. move to two apartment blocks in as-of-yet undisclosed locations in Washington D.C..

According to the outlet, the asking price is for the building is currently of 25 million dollars, or around 22.3 million euros.

The decision reportedly ruffled some feathers at the foreign ministry, with some raising concerns that selling off the building would harm Belgium's image abroad, and others saying that maintenance costs for the apartments were actually higher.

Gabriela Galindo

The Brussels Times


Copyright © 2024 The Brussels Times. All Rights Reserved.