Patrick Lamoral

Christmas in Spain: From El Gordo to New Year's Day Christmas in Spain is an enchanting time full of traditions, celebrations and culinary delights. In early December, Christmas cheer already spreads through the streets of cities and towns, where festive lights are hung. Shops are also festively decorated and illuminated. Village squares and city harbours host Christmas markets, where you can enjoy delicious local delicacies such as turrón (nougat), polvorones (crumbly biscuits) and hot chocolat

When thinking of iconic celebrations in Spain, the Day of the Three Kings, in Spanish ‘el Día de los Reyes’ or ‘los Reyes Magos’, emerges as one of the most meaningful parts of the Christmas festivities. The streets are lit up with twinkling lights, while the smell of roasted chestnuts hangs in the air and the merry laughter of children serves as background music during this festive period. For children, this feast is extra special; they know that if they have behaved well over the past year, th

A second home in Spain is a dream come true for many people, but receiving mail can be a challenge if you don't live in the country permanently. Beforehand, you often do not realise that the postman in Spain does not always deliver door-to-door as you are probably used to in your own country. This is especially true for urbanisations with detached villas or in the countryside. The distances are simply too great and thus too time-consuming. How do you solve this? Fortunately, there are several wa

As in the rest of the world, Spain is also affected by global climate change. Every country and area has its own characteristics, but for Spain it mainly concerns temperature increases, longer and more frequent droughts, increasing heat waves... Below is an overview of the effects that climate change could have on Spain's climate over the next few years.

The Costa Blanca North is known for its beautiful coastline, picturesque villages and Mediterranean climate, but certainly also for its rich culinary traditions. For gourmets and lovers of haute cuisine, this area is a real treasure trove, with several restaurants awarded prestigious Michelin stars. In this blog, we give you an overview of Michelin-starred restaurants on the Costa Blanca North, where even for the gourmets among us, every dish will be an unforgettable experience.

The time has come, the decision to buy a (second) home in Spain is a fact, or maybe you've already found 'the home'!

Many people prefer new over existing or second-hand, and this trend also applies to houses. Therefore, it is not so strange that there is always a high demand for new-build houses, while the supply is limited. Buying a house off-plan or from a blueprint is becoming increasingly popular. But what exactly does it entail? What are the advantages and disadvantages? And why should you consider buying a new build project? This article provides a comprehensive guide to purchasing a house off-plan or f

The Costa Blanca, with its sun-drenched beaches and Mediterranean charm, has always acted as a magnet for tourists and expats from around the world. The province of Alicante is on the upswing when it comes to the sale of luxury real estate. In particular, wealthy foreigners from Northern and Eastern Europe are rapidly increasing in popularity. But recently, this popular Spanish coastal strip has seen a new trend: an increasing number of wealthy residents who want to exchange the island of Ibiza

The real estate market in North Costa-Blanca offers a prime opportunity for foreign buyers in 2024. Due to a combination of favorable factors, this is the ideal moment to consider purchasing property. The willingness of banks to offer mortgage loans again at more favorable interest rates, and the high interest in the region have created a coveted environment for international buyers wanting to invest in this beautiful Mediterranean country.

Do you choose to buy with or without inventory? When buying a house in Spain, you are usually given the choice of whether you want to buy the property with or without the existing inventory and whether this is included in the sale price or whether you will pay for it separately. After all, most properties on the Spanish Coasts are second or holiday homes and when these are sold, in many cases the sellers have little to no interest in moving the furniture to their own country (where they usually

Rejection of the tourist tax in the Valencian Community. In February 2024, the Valencian government approved the abolition of the tourist tax in the Valencian Community even before it was introduced, a measure that was warmly welcomed by the tourism sector. At the end of September 2023, the regional Minister of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, Nuria Montes, already announced that the abolition of the tourist tax would be one of the first measures of her department.

Seven considerations when buying a holiday home with your company If you are considering buying a holiday home through a Belgian or Dutch company, there are several considerations you need to take into account. Although buying a second home with the help of a company can be attractive, there are national as well as foreign tax aspects that you should not overlook. Below we provide an overview of seven important points: