Ixelles helps 140 Britons asking about Belgian nationality

Brussels' most popular commune for British expats, Ixelles, has helped 140 Brits make a start with their application for Belgian nationality since the UK voted to leave the European Union.

Ixelles has the highest number of British residents of all the Brussels districts with 1,535 in total - and almost one in 10 has already sought information on the procedure for becoming Belgian.

"The result of Brexit is an opportunity for local and regional authorities to play a crucial role in relaunching the European project among the citizens who face these challenges,” said Delphine Bourgeois, the Ixelles councillor in charge of European affairs.

Faced with the strong demand, Ixelles plans to hold a seminar at the start of the new academic year to provide information and assistance to Britons in the commune.