Alright folks, sorry for the shorter reply but honestly, I’m running all over the place today with viewings and calls, but I’ll do my best to paint a good picture for you because I know, especially for buyers overseas, how important it is to get a really clear sense of what you’re looking at—both in and out of the house. If you’re considering the region around Lanaken, honestly, it’s got a lot going for it for both families and people just wanting that balance between town life and accessibility to other big centres like Maastricht or even further into Belgium – you can really see why people from abroad keep coming here.
Let’s start with the house itself at Stationstraat 137. You’ve got a house that doesn’t just feel like every other house on the market – it was built in the late 30’s, so you get those solid lines and a bit of personality, and then over the years there’s been some work put in to make it a comfortable house that actually feels good to live in (not always the case with houses of this age). Now, it’s not a perfect “brand new” house, but it’s in good condition, so you won’t need to rip everything out and start again. The last few owners have already done the big stuff and there’s a nice mix between those tougher older materials and some of the newer fitting (a bit industrial, a bit homey). You get four bedrooms here, so if you’ve got kids, or need a home office plus a guest room, it gives you a decent spread.
Living here gives you a pretty decent amount of day-to-day space. The hallway when you walk in opens right up, so you don’t feel cramped. The lounge/dining has those big sliding doors onto the garden, which is great in the summer – and you actually get sun thanks to the south-east facing garden. The pellet stove keeps it cozy when it’s cold (yes, Belgian winters are gray and chilly, but not extreme cold usually), but you get enough light here that on crisp days the sun makes a big difference. The kitchen is where most families end up spending their time and this one’s actually big enough for everyone to hang around—plus you see right out into the garden, so if you’ve got young kids you can keep an eye on them while you’re making dinner.
Some useful bullet points for you:
- Four good-sized bedrooms, plenty of flexibility
- Two full bathrooms (one with a bath, other with walk in shower)
- Pellets stove
- Decent-sized basement for storage, includes laundry room
- Spacious kitchen with direct garden access
- Roof terrace with green views
- South-east facing garden, good sunlight most of the day
- Separate guest WC downstairs
- Central heating throughout
- Attic room could be bedroom, office, or hobby room
- Walking distance to shops, schools, bus routes
- Close to Maastricht, Genk, Hasselt—very accessible for expats
- South-east garden: more sun for much of the day
- Good condition, so no major renovation headaches
- Solid construction from 1937 but updated since
So, what’s Lanaken like? If you come from outside Belgium, it’s just over the Dutch border and known for being a bit quieter and greener than the city, but you’ve got everything you need right in the neighbourhood. You can walk to shops, schools, little cafes, and you’re only about 10 minutes from the centre of Maastricht, where there’s everything from museums to shopping, great restaurants (lots of expats hang around that area too), theatres, etc. That’s real convenience because lots of people living here actually work in Maastricht or Genk but come home to Lanaken because it’s that bit less busy.
As for climate, we get the usual Belgian weather—expect mild summers, sometimes rainy, never super hot, but if you like being outside, the area is packed with parks and biking trails. In winter, it’s not freezing but you’ll be happy you’ve got that pellet burner in the lounge. One thing about living in houses like this is you get your garden and outdoor space, so whether you want to grow some veggies, have a barbecue or let the kids run around, it provides a real benefit over apartment life, and you’ll use it more than you think.
The area itself is peaceful without being boring—lots of green walks, and there’s some lovely cycling along the Albert Canal and out into the countryside. Families tend to stay because the schools are good (there’s international schools nearby if you’re relocating with kids from abroad), supermarkets are easy, and local services are reliable. Public transport is decent, but honestly a lot of people here drive or bike everywhere. Access to the main roads is fast, so if you do need to commute further, it’s straight forward.
The house isn’t one of these “showhomes” but it feels solid, practical and honestly just easy to live in, especially if you want somewhere you can just move into and start living, not spend six months under dust and scaffolding. If you are after absolutely no work at all, you’ll probably want to do some minor updating on finishes here and there as you settle in (maybe some paint or floor touch ups, but not massive stuff). But that means you can tailor it a bit to your own taste too, which a lot of buyers actually want.
In summary, it’s a good opportunity if you’re moving abroad, want space, value a proper garden & need connection to bigger centres—or if you’re already in Europe and looking to move towards Belgium or the Dutch border, Lanaken gives you that chilled town lifestyle with urban access just minutes away. If you want to see it in person or on video, let me know, I am running all over but I’ll do my best to arrange a slot as soon as possible!
