Would appreciate advice on finding a houseboat for permanent residence in Belgium or surrounding countries where it could be brought to Belgium. Plenty of websites in the UK for buying boats but coming up negative on the European side. Don't necessarily want something in pristine condition, have plenty of time to renovate. A recent trip to Bruges trawling estate agents, I had been told that boats sometimes come onto their books came up with one but it was an enormous hotel boat. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

you could try the Vaartkom (jachthaven) Leuven, there are often boats for sale there, could be expensive 'tho.