Living near Montgomery in Etterbeek: Neighborhood Guide (2026)

Montgomery is the square and metro hub on Avenue de Tervueren where residential Brussels begins to breathe. The neighborhood around it is quiet, green and lined with townhouses, a deliberate contrast to the office towers of Schuman two stops away. This 2026 guide covers what living near Montgomery in Etterbeek involves: the commute, the pull of Parc du Cinquantenaire, the shops and cafés, the rent and the coliving on offer. Throughout, it holds Montgomery up against the busier European Quarter nearby — because the whole point of this address is that you can reach the EU institutions in minutes without living inside their bustle.

What Is the Montgomery Area in Brussels?

The Montgomery area is Square Montgomery, the roundabout on Avenue de Tervueren, and the streets around it on the border of the communes of Etterbeek and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. It is a metro and tram hub set in a residential district of maison de maître townhouses. The square takes its name from the British field marshal Montgomery. The atmosphere is calm and green, with tree-lined avenues rather than institutional blocks, which is what sets it apart from the EU core.

Where Is Montgomery and Which Communes Does It Border?

Montgomery sits in eastern Brussels, where Avenue de Tervueren carries the axis from Parc du Cinquantenaire out toward the Tervuren forest. The area borders the following communes and landmarks:

• Etterbeek — to the west and south, the residential commune Montgomery mostly belongs to.
• Woluwe-Saint-Pierre — to the east, along Avenue de Tervueren.
• Woluwe-Saint-Lambert — to the north.
• Parc du Cinquantenaire and Merode — to the west, on the way toward the centre.

Avenue de Tervueren is the thread that ties Montgomery to the Cinquantenaire on one side and the green edge of the city on the other.

What Makes Etterbeek a Residential Neighborhood?

Etterbeek is one of the calmer, greener communes of Brussels, defined by residential streets rather than office blocks. Its character rests on four things:

• Architecture — maisons de maître and art nouveau facades, including the Maison Cauchie beside the Cinquantenaire.
• Calm and greenery — far fewer offices than the Schuman side, with quiet streets after dark.
• A mixed community — families, young professionals and EU staff who commute two stops to work.
• Local anchors — Place Jourdan, La Chasse and Place Saint-Pierre for everyday life.

This is the quiet the rest of the guide keeps returning to: Etterbeek trades the energy of the office district for streets you can actually rest on.

How Do You Commute from Montgomery?

Montgomery is an interchange hub for eastern Brussels, combining metro and several tram lines. Metro line 1 stops at Montgomery, with Merode — where lines 1 and 5 meet — the next station toward the centre. Trams 81 and 7 run the boulevard axis through Etterbeek toward Flagey and Midi, while trams 39 and 44 head out along Avenue de Tervueren toward Woluwe and Tervuren. STIB buses fill in the gaps. The lines that matter are:

• Metro line 1 — Montgomery station, direct to Schuman and the centre.
• Metro lines 1 and 5 — at neighbouring Merode.
• Trams 81 and 7 — toward Flagey, Ixelles and Gare du Midi.
• Trams 39 and 44 — along Avenue de Tervueren toward Woluwe and Tervuren.

How Long Does the Commute Take from Montgomery?

Commute times from Montgomery stay short toward the institutions and reasonable toward the centre. The main journeys are shown below.

Two metro stops from Schuman is the number that defines this address: the same institutions as the EU Quarter, none of the office density.

What Can You Do at Parc du Cinquantenaire?

Parc du Cinquantenaire is Montgomery's main recreational asset, about ten minutes away on foot. Laid out in 1880 for the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence — the source of its name — it spreads across roughly 30 hectares behind its triumphal Arcade. Four things draw residents there.

• The Arcade lawns — jogging loops and picnics under the triumphal arch.
• Art & History Museum — one of Belgium's largest collections, in the south wing.
• Autoworld — a vintage motoring museum under the north hall.
• Royal Military Museum — arms, aircraft and armour, free to enter.

What Shops and Cafés Are near Montgomery?

Rue des Tongres, running toward Merode, is the main shopping street near Montgomery, lined with delis, bakeries and cafés. Avenue de Tervueren adds everyday services, while Place Jourdan — about fifteen minutes on foot or by tram — brings the friterie and brasserie scene within reach. Supermarkets cover the essentials. The main spots are:

• Rue des Tongres — delis, bakeries and cafés, coffee €3–4.
• Avenue de Tervueren — banks, pharmacies and everyday services.
• Place Jourdan — Maison Antoine friterie and brasseries, lunch €12–15.
• Supermarkets — Delhaize and Carrefour outlets around Merode and Tervueren.

All of this sits within a calm ten-to-fifteen-minute radius, which shapes what it costs to live here.

How Much Does Rent Cost near Montgomery and in Etterbeek?

Renting near Montgomery costs slightly less than the Schuman core while sitting in one of the fastest-rising communes for demand. A one-bedroom rents for €900–1,200 a month in 2026, while an all-inclusive coliving room starts around €860. The four main housing types compare as follows.

Etterbeek is among the communes where rents have climbed fastest on EU demand, yet it stays cheaper than Ixelles or Châtelain — a gap that widens once you see the full range of coliving prices in Brussels.

What Are the Coliving Options near Montgomery?

Comoon runs one coliving house at this hub, Montgomery 40, set on the quiet Etterbeek streets right by the Montgomery interchange and the Parc du Cinquantenaire, two metro stops from Schuman. It offers furnished private rooms, some with a private bathroom, from around €860 a month all-inclusive. What that payment covers is listed below.

• Furnished private rooms — several with a private bathroom for full privacy.
• All-inclusive billing — energy, water, internet and cleaning of common areas in one payment.
• On-site facilities — gym, coworking space, cinema room and laundry.
• Community events — regular dinners and social nights on the calendar.
• Flexible leases — terms that match EU contracts and traineeships.

Who Should Live near Montgomery?

Montgomery suits people who want the EU commute without the office bustle. The four groups it fits best are:

• Young professionals and EU staff — quiet streets plus a 4-minute metro ride to Schuman.
• Couples and remote workers — coworking on site and a park at the door.
• Longer-staying expats — a residential character that feels like a home, not a posting.
• Sports lovers — the jogging loops and museums of the Cinquantenaire nearby.

If you value calm evenings over walking distance to the office, you should put Montgomery at the top of your list.

How Does Montgomery Compare to Other Brussels Neighborhoods?

Montgomery stands out for residential calm while keeping the commute to the EU institutions under five minutes. Livelier communes such as Ixelles and Saint-Gilles win on nightlife but lose on both the commute and the quiet. That trade-off — calm and connected versus social and central — is the choice most young professionals end up making. To see where Montgomery lands against the full field, the ranking of the best neighborhoods in Brussels for young professionals scores every district on rent, commute, nightlife and safety.

Montgomery vs Schuman: Which Area Suits You Better?

Montgomery and Schuman offer the same institutions on very different terms. They compare as follows.

Montgomery suits you better if you prefer quiet evenings; Schuman suits you better if you want to walk to work. For the office-side view, living near Schuman lays out the roundabout's cafés, commute and coliving in full.

#### Is Etterbeek a Safe Neighborhood?

Yes — Etterbeek is considered one of the calmer and safer communes of Brussels. Its residential streets see low crime relative to the central communes, though the usual urban attention applies at busy transport interchanges like Montgomery and Merode during rush hour.

#### Is Montgomery Far from the City Center?

No — Montgomery is about 12 minutes from central Brussels by metro line 1. The line runs direct from Montgomery to De Brouckère with no changes, so the city centre stays within easy reach for evenings out.