Belfius buys the most expensive penthouse in our country from Paul Gheysens (Knokke-Heist)

Last month it became known that the penthouse located in Finis Terrae, the apartment building on the Het Zwin nature reserve, may have changed hands for a record amount. Sales prices circulated ranging from 20 to 32 million euros. The name of the buyer was not revealed. The editorial staff of The Richest Belgians reported days later that it was government bank Belfius and received that news The Time now confirmed. Belfius and Ethias are the main creditors of project developer and builder Ghelamco.

The chairman of Royal Antwerp FC bought his first apartment in Finis Terrae upon completion in 2005. A few years later he bought a second flat and converted both buildings into one penthouse of almost 500 square meters with a terrace of 300 square meters. The penthouse has a unique view of both Het Zwin and the North Sea. Gheysens saw his penthouse mainly as an investment. He never lived there himself, although his daughter Marie-Julie occasionally stayed there when she was in Belgium.

It is not clear exactly how much Belfius paid for the building, but the government bank is said to have paid more than 20 million euros. A considerable amount, but not the 40 million euros that Gheysens initially requested. In the summer he is said to have refused an offer of 35 million euros.

The Time learned from a well-placed source in the banking industry that the sale took place in the context of credit negotiations. Ghelamco has been selling real estate en masse in Belgium and Poland for some time to reduce its debts.