n Belgium’s northern coast, the upscale seaside town of Knokke has been attracting an artistic, affluent city crowd since the early 19th century. Thatched roofed and white-painted brick homes dot the area. Sometimes called ‘Zoute villas’, they appeal to discerning homeowners, including Belgian fashion designer Edouard Vermeulen, who made one of them his weekend retreat. ‘Location, location, location,’ says Edouard, was the reason for buying land here. Other than being
