Antique dealers in Brussels: where to look, what to find

Brussels remains, with Paris and London, one of Europe's three centres for the antiques trade. Its particularity is density: three adjoining districts cover every price level, from car-boot to collector's furniture.

The Sablon holds the high-end galleries: French and Flemish furniture from the 17th to the 19th century, old master paintings, tribal art, silver. You come here for quality and documentation; pieces are researched, described and guaranteed.

The Marolles, just below, form a more mixed fabric of shops: brocante, 20th-century furniture, lighting, curiosities. This is where most of the daily trade happens, and where prices are still negotiated.

The Place du Jeu de Balle hosts the Vieux Marché every morning, 365 days a year. The best deals are made early, and your eye must make up for the complete absence of descriptions.

What Brussels offers in particular is Flemish and Brabant furniture: four-door armoires, ribbanken, oak drop-leaf tables. Long undervalued against French pieces, it is coming back strongly — its mass and pale oak suit today's interiors.

Maison Boitel brings together Belgian and European independent dealers online, with the same standard of description as the Sablon: every piece is sold directly by its dealer, with 0% commission, and each listing names the workshop it comes from.