Brussels rewards travellers who stay long enough to look — the gilded theatre of the Grand Place, Horta’s art nouveau townhouses in Ixelles and Saint-Gilles, the Sablon’s chocolatiers, and the Marolles flea market spilling across Place du Jeu de Balle every morning. Hotels run €130-180 a night, and short-let flats in the communes list at €100-150.
If you’ve been looking at Kindred as a way to travel more affordably from Brussels, you’ve probably noticed some friction — the waitlist to get in, and then $250-300 in cleaning and service fees on every single stay — costs that add up quickly for anything longer than a weekend. For Brussels-based members specifically, the platforms treat Brussels as a business stopover rather than a home-swap destination, leaving its residents with weaker matching than the city’s Eurostar-hub convenience deserves.
SwapSpace takes a different approach — it treats every home equally, so an art nouveau flat in Saint-Gilles earns the same credits as an apartment beside the Grand Place. For Brussels members who know their neighbourhood is worth as much as any other, that fairness is the point.
What Is Kindred?
Kindred is a members-only home swapping network founded in 2021 by former Opendoor employees. It has grown rapidly to almost 300,000 members across 150+ cities, backed by $148 million in venture funding from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and Index Ventures. Kindred operates on a give-to-get credit system where one night hosted equals one credit to travel. There is no annual membership fee, but guests pay a service fee of up to $35 per night plus cleaning fees per trip. Kindred provides professional cleaning before and after each stay, a concierge service for logistics, and $100,000 in host protection coverage. The platform is app-first and requires all members to list their own home before they can browse others.
Why Brussels Travellers Are Looking for Kindred Alternatives
Kindred works well for some travellers, but it’s not the right fit for everyone — particularly for people based in Brussels or hoping to visit it.
The fees erode the whole point of swapping. Kindred is free to join, but each stay carries cleaning and service fees that typically run $250-300. For a short break, that can approach the cost of simply booking somewhere. For a Brussels couple, $250-300 in fees per stay undoes the value of a platform that was meant to make travel cheaper.
Brussels inventory is limited. Kindred’s network is concentrated in large US metros with a growing but modest London presence. Kindred’s European presence is minimal, and Brussels is effectively outside its network. Members outside the core cities often wait a long time for stays that fit their dates.
The managed, concierge model isn’t for everyone. Kindred inserts itself into every exchange — professional cleaning, linen service, standardised handovers. Some people value that, but many swappers in Brussels prefer the direct, personal arrangement that home exchange was built on: a conversation between two households that trust each other.
Kindred vs SwapSpace: How They Compare
| Feature | Kindred | SwapSpace |
|---|---|---|
| Membership cost | No annual fee — service fee up to $35/night + cleaning fees per trip | Free during founding phase |
| Credit system | Credits — 1 night hosted = 1 credit, all homes equal | SwapCredits – 1 credit = 1 night, all homes equal |
| Welcome credits | 5 credits at signup | 7 SwapCredits for every new member |
| Verification | Application-based, members vetted | Invite-only, every application reviewed |
| Renters welcome | Yes | Yes – renters are first-class members |
| Damage protection | $100,000 host protection | Coming soon |
| Brussels listings | Available | Growing – founding community |
Why SwapSpace Works for Brussels Members
SwapSpace is an invite-only home exchange community where verified members swap homes and travel affordably using SwapCredits. Unlike Kindred, every member is vetted before joining, creating a high-trust community from day one.
The SwapCredits system is deliberately simple. One credit equals one night at any SwapSpace home, regardless of size or location. This means Brussels renters with modest flats can access the same destinations as homeowners with large properties – something that not every platform offers.
New members receive 7 SwapCredits immediately after listing their home. That is enough for a full week of accommodation before you have hosted anyone. This solves one of the biggest frustrations with traditional home exchange – needing to earn points or arrange a simultaneous swap before you can travel.
SwapSpace is currently building its founding community across London, New York, and cities across Europe. Brussels is a priority location, which means members who join now get early access to the community and the most attentive support as it grows.
Home Swapping Tips for Brussels
Brussels is a sleeper hit for home swapping — central, superbly connected, and full of homes with real character.
Sell the communes, not just the centre. Ixelles’ ponds and cafés, Saint-Gilles’ art nouveau streets and the Parvis market, Uccle’s green calm — visitors who know Brussels choose neighbourhoods. Describe yours like a local: the bakery queue, the tram line, the Sunday rhythm.
The Eurostar is your headline. London in under two hours, Paris in ninety minutes, Amsterdam in two — Brussels is the best-connected swap base in northern Europe. Put the journey times in your opening lines; European swappers plan around them.
Weekends are your sweet spot. Business travel empties the city on Fridays, which means weekend visitors get Brussels at its calmest and best. Flag weekend availability prominently — it matches exactly when leisure swappers want to come.
Give a beer-and-frites itinerary. Visitors want your favourite estaminet, the right friterie, and where to buy chocolate that isn’t airport-brand. Three specific recommendations in your listing signal a host worth swapping with.
What Brussels SwapSpace Members Are Looking For
Brussels members skew international by design — EU and NATO professionals, translators, academics, and Belgian families who’ve watched their city become a crossroads. Outbound, they swap toward London, Paris, the Ardennes and the coast, and southern Europe when the grey sets in.
Inbound visitors are weekend city-breakers, art nouveau pilgrims, and families using Brussels as a rail hub for a multi-city trip.
What both sides share is fluency in travel — and a preference for vetted exchanges over anonymous bookings.
How SwapSpace Works
1. Apply and get verified. Submit your home details and photos. We review every application within 48 hours to ensure quality and trust across the community.
2. Earn and use SwapCredits. Receive 7 credits when you join – enough for a week of free accommodation. Earn more by hosting other members. Each credit equals one night at any SwapSpace home worldwide.
3. Swap and travel. Browse available homes, connect with verified hosts, and start exploring. Whether it is a mutual swap or a one-way stay using credits, every exchange is between trusted, vetted members.
Ready to Start Swapping in Brussels?
SwapSpace is currently accepting applications from homeowners and renters in Brussels. As a founding member, you will get early access to the community, 7 SwapCredits to start travelling immediately, and a say in how the platform grows.
Looking for alternatives to other platforms in Brussels? Check out our guides to the best HomeExchange alternative in Brussels, best Airbnb alternative in Brussels, best VRBO alternative in Brussels.
