Moroccan Paradise: Belgian Retirees Flock to Essaouira for Sun-Soaked Golden Years

Essaouira is increasingly attracting Belgian retirees. "For years, we had felt the need for light, warmth and dry weather. When we came to Essaouira, almost by chance, it was love at first sight. My partner and I said we had finally found the perfect place to start taking it easy. We immediately started looking for a year-round rental," says Vincent, a public works contractor, to Moustique.be. This Belgian has rented a large furnished villa with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a pool in a 10-acre garden about ten kilometers in the countryside bordering the former Mogador.

The monthly rent for this large villa is comparable to that of a two-bedroom apartment in the Namur region: 1,000 euros. "We’re renting it while we look for land and build, we’re in no rush," he confides. He plans a budget of 300,000 euros to build a villa in Essaouira. His wish is to spend his golden years there. "In the meantime, we come here to catch our breath every six weeks. The internet allows us to work from here. And we can also gather information and take the necessary steps without stress," he adds. The Belgian entrepreneur says he still has at least six years of work ahead of him.

Today, there are 62% more Belgians who retire in a foreign country. According to the latest figures, nearly one in ten (9.4%), or 226,000, have chosen to leave the Kingdom to settle abroad. Two-thirds of them are "natives," as the Federal Public Service Pensions puts it. These are non-Belgian people who have had their professional careers in Belgium and then returned to their home country. The remaining third, or 75,000 (including 8,000 former civil servants), are Belgians. According to the statistics of the Federal Public Service Pensions, more than a third of retired Belgians, 27,000, live in France, their favorite foreign country. Then come Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Italy, followed by non-EU countries: Switzerland, Turkey, Canada, the United States, Thailand and Morocco.

While some countries maintain the same level of favor, other destinations are gaining more support than the average 62% increase in Belgian retiree residents. These destinations are: Portugal (+348%), Turkey (+185%), Thailand (+130%), Spain (+120%), Morocco (+100%). The common point of these destinations is the sun. "Yes, Morocco has been a country on the rise for a few years now," confirms Diego Angelini, "expatriation" advisor at the Union Francophone des Belges à l’Étranger (UFBE). The reasons for this attraction? "Expat Essaouira" offers villas with pools and adapted hotel services. This senior residence operator also provides assistance to complete all the necessary formalities.

Including a package ranging from 700 to 1,700 euros per person including: accommodation, full board, laundry, hairdresser, beautician and massages on demand, car available, gardening, pool maintenance... Other attractions: the kindness of the population, French as the common language, the beauty of the city, the countryside and the beaches, direct air links, proximity to southern Morocco and Marrakech, and a very favorable cost of living. The latter is 53% lower than in Belgium, according to the Numbeo website.