Family house with large garden just south of Brussels

Rixensart is a small village 20 km south of Brussels, with good train connections to Brussels (2 an hour, taking between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on your destination). Rixensart as well as the villages of Genval, La Hulpe and Lasne (all between 1 and 5 km away) offer a good selection of restaurants, and Genval has the added attraction of a picturesque lake, where you can hire pedalos or sailing boats and watch the terrapins and herons. La Hulpe has a well-known chateau with large grounds and surrounded by forest, providing a wonderful area for walks, cycle rides or picnics. Brussels offers all the cultural attractions of a large city (museums, monuments, concerts, theatre, night clubs...) without the queues. Its main square (Grand Place) is stunning. Around 25% of Brussels' 1 million inhabitants are non-Belgian, which is reflected in the eclectic mix of the town's eateries and bars. Brussels also has its share of designer shops. If you prefer the countryside, you can reach the Ardennes travelling an hour south of Rixensart to explore some of the beautiful villages there, take long walks in the forest, kayak on the rivers, or explore castles.