60 years of real estate excellence in Belgium

2025 marks the 60th anniversary of JLL in Belgium, which we celebrate with a forward-looking approach encapsulated in our theme "60 Years of Real Estate Excellence in Belgium. Together Shaping a Brighter Tomorrow."

Since JLL Belgium's establishment in 1965, we've built six decades of excellence as a constant and innovative force in real estate. Our journey has been made possible through the trust and enduring partnerships with our valued clients. Together, we've overcome challenges, seized opportunities, and created sustainable value across the Belgian market. We take pride in shaping the Belgian urban skyline alongside our clients and remain committed to building a brighter future through these vital relationships.

Our 60th anniversary campaign spotlights our unwavering commitment to three core principles that guide our approach and define how we deliver exceptional value across all JLL business lines:

Recognizing that buildings account for over 40% of carbon emissions, JLL Belgium leads by example, setting new ESG standards and creating sustainable value. Our recent Brussels office embodies this commitment—a carbon-neutral building designed for employee well-being, incorporating circular design with up to 80% reused materials, all while winning awards without compromising on budget.

Today's workplaces are more than just locations; they're strategic assets driving innovation, attracting talent, and enhancing company performance. JLL Belgium is the ideal partner for navigating this dynamic landscape, offering a unique value proposition to create environments that boost productivity, enhance well-being, embody organizational vision, and improve bottom-line results. We future-proof workplace attractivity, ensuring spaces that empower success.

From AI-powered building optimization to data-driven market analysis and creative design, JLL Belgium leads the proptech revolution, transforming all aspects of real estate. We are committed to shaping the sector's future by challenging ourselves, our clients, and the market—testing new approaches and embracing disruptive thinking across every dimension of our business.

With a global heritage dating back to 1783 in London and consolidated by the iconic merger of Jones Lang Wootton and LaSalle Partners in 1999, JLL established its presence in Belgium in 1965 with the opening of an office in Brussels, followed by an expansion to Antwerp in 1973, thus laying the groundwork for strategic development across the entire Belgian territory. The opening of a Luxembourg office in 1989 completed JLL's strategic footprint across the Belux region.

JLL further expanded its capabilities in 2011 through the strategic acquisition of King Sturge. At local level, the merger represented a particularly significant milestone for the Belgian operations, integrating complementary expertise and bringing together the best talents from both organisations to create an even stronger platform for client service.

Known for decades as Jones Lang LaSalle, the company adopted the name JLL in 2014, reflecting its commitment to modernisation and adaptation to new market dynamics in the office, industrial and logistics, as well as retail segments.

As a privileged witness and actor in this evolution, JLL has accompanied the profound transformations of the Belgian real estate landscape. Over these six decades, the market has undergone a spectacular metamorphosis, illustrated notably by the evolution of the Brussels office park from approximately 5 million square meters in the 1970s to nearly 13 million today. The strengthening of Brussels as a European capital in the 1980s catalysed the emergence of new iconic business districts, from the North Quarter to the European Quarter, massively attracting international investors. At the same time, Antwerp was progressively developing its own significant office market, particularly around the port.

The 1990s marked a notable professionalisation of the sector, with increasingly sophisticated real estate developments and strategic expansion towards the periphery. This evolution extended to other economic centers like Ghent and Liège, following distinct regional trajectories but sharing common trends: increased internationalisation, followed by rising environmental concerns in the 2010s with the widespread adoption of sustainable certifications.

The last decade has seen a profound transformation of uses with the rise of coworking and hybrid work. Today, we observe a polarisation between prime buildings with strict ESG standards and less adapted secondary buildings, now prioritising the quality and well-being of occupants.

As JLL celebrates its 60th anniversary in Belgium in 2025, this milestone represents six decades of trusted client partnerships, innovative solutions, and market leadership built on a foundation of excellence, integrity, and forward-thinking vision, both globally and across Belgium and Luxembourg.

"For 60 years, JLL Belgium has been passionate about shaping the future of Belgian real estate. As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we're not just reflecting on our legacy of success; we're launching forward, more committed than ever to creating sustainable value. By challenging the status quo with relentless curiosity and leading by example, we'll continue to navigate evolving work patterns, drive innovative practices, and build enduring partnerships that create lasting legacies—all to empower success in what's next."