Creative Industries Belgium

Global Development Belgium at Red Yellow Blue (RYB)

Belgium’s creative industries are a dynamic blend of tradition and innovation, shaped by the country’s rich cultural heritage and modern outlook. The sector spans diverse fields such as fashion, design, music, film, and digital media, contributing significantly to Belgium’s economy and international cultural identity.

Flag of Belgium

Economic and Cultural Significance

The creative industries in Belgium contribute over 3% to the country’s GDP and employ tens of thousands of people. With its strategic location in the heart of Europe, Belgium serves as a hub for cultural exchange and creative collaboration. Cities like Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent are renowned for their vibrant creative scenes, hosting numerous festivals, exhibitions, and events that attract global audiences.

Creative Industries Belgium

Key Sectors

  • Fashion
    Belgium is internationally recognized for its avant-garde fashion designers, often referred to as the “Antwerp Six,” including Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester. Antwerp remains a global fashion hub, with its Royal Academy of Fine Arts producing top talent and events like Antwerp Fashion Week showcasing innovation.
  • Design and Architecture
    Belgian design is celebrated for its minimalism, functionality, and craftsmanship. The Brussels Design September festival highlights emerging trends, while architectural firms like Vincent Van Duysen Architects gain international acclaim for their modern designs.
  • Film and Media
    Belgium’s film industry has produced award-winning directors such as the Dardenne brothers. The country is known for its unique storytelling, with films like Rosetta and The Broken Circle Breakdown gaining international recognition. Events like the Brussels International Film Festival and Flanders Image promote Belgian cinema globally.
  • Music and Performing Arts
    Belgium has a rich musical heritage, from classical composers like César Franck to contemporary electronic music pioneers like Stromae and Charlotte de Witte. Festivals such as Tomorrowland and Rock Werchter attract global audiences, reinforcing Belgium’s position as a music powerhouse.
  • Visual Arts
    Belgium has a strong tradition in visual arts, with historical figures like René Magritte shaping surrealism and contemporary artists like Luc Tuymans influencing modern art. Museums such as the Magritte Museum and contemporary galleries in Ghent and Brussels showcase this legacy.
  • Digital Media and Gaming
    The digital creative sector is growing rapidly, with Belgium fostering innovative startups in gaming, virtual reality, and digital storytelling. Initiatives like Flanders DC support digital creatives in expanding their reach.

Trends and Challenges

  • Sustainability: Belgian creatives are embracing sustainable practices in fashion, design, and architecture, aligning with global demands for eco-consciousness.
  • Digital Innovation: The integration of digital technologies in traditional creative fields is reshaping the industry, particularly in film and design.
  • Cultural Diversity: Belgium’s multilingual and multicultural environment fosters a unique creative perspective, though it also requires navigating complex regional differences.

Government and Institutional Support

Belgium provides robust support for its creative industries through regional organizations such as Flanders DC, Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode, and Creative Brussels. These bodies offer funding, networking opportunities, and promotional platforms to help creatives thrive locally and internationally.

Future Outlook

Belgium’s creative industries are poised for continued growth, leveraging the country’s rich artistic heritage and embracing innovation. With sustained government support and a focus on sustainability and digital transformation, Belgium will remain a significant player in the global creative economy.

By combining tradition with forward-thinking innovation, Belgium’s creative industries reflect the country’s dynamic cultural identity and its role as a leader in the global creative landscape.

Creative industries in Flanders

Flanders District of Creativity is the single point of contact for entrepreneurs in the creative industries in Flanders. Flanders DC is a non-profit organization, supported by the Flemish Government. We actively inform, coach, promote and inspire creative entrepreneurs who want to build or grow their business. Return on creativity is what we’re after.
> flandersdc.be
> Creative industries in Flanders (PDF)

De creatieve sector: tewerkstelling, omzet en toegevoegde waarde

Vlaanderen heeft een bloeiende creatieve sector zowel op creatief als op economisch vlak. Op basis van de meest recent beschikbare cijfers brengt het Departement Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie van de Vlaamse overheid de economisch impact ervan in kaart. Op dit platform vind je cijfers terug over het aantal werkzame voltijdse equivalenten, zelfstandigen, omzet en de toegevoegde waarde van de creatieve sector in het Vlaams gewest. Evoluties doorheen de tijd of op regionaal of sectoraal vlak kan je zelf ontdekken door je eigen grafiek samen te stellen.
> creatievesector.be

Economy

high income economy with strong but moderate growth; high public debt; aging labor force; low labor force participation of low-skilled, migrant, and older workers; strong welfare system; high congestion; complex business permitting and judicial systems

Belgium’s central geographic location and highly developed transport network have helped develop a well-diversified economy, with a broad mix of transport, services, manufacturing, and high tech. Service and high-tech industries are concentrated in the northern Flanders region while the southern region of Wallonia is home to industries like coal and steel manufacturing. Belgium is completely reliant on foreign sources of fossil fuels, and the planned closure of its seven nuclear plants by 2025 should increase its dependence on foreign energy. Its role as a regional logistical hub makes its economy vulnerable to shifts in foreign demand, particularly with EU trading partners. Roughly three-quarters of Belgium’s trade is with other EU countries, and the port of Zeebrugge conducts almost half its trade with the United Kingdom alone, leaving Belgium’s economy vulnerable to the outcome of negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU.

Belgium’s GDP grew by 1.7% in 2017 and the budget deficit was 1.5% of GDP. Unemployment stood at 7.3%, however the unemployment rate is lower in Flanders than Wallonia, 4.4% compared to 9.4%, because of industrial differences between the regions. The economy largely recovered from the March 2016 terrorist attacks that mainly impacted the Brussels region tourist and hospitality industry. Prime Minister Charles MICHEL’s center-right government has pledged to further reduce the deficit in response to EU pressure to decrease Belgium’s high public debt of about 104% of GDP, but such efforts would also dampen economic growth. In addition to restrained public spending, low wage growth and higher inflation promise to curtail a more robust recovery in private consumption.

The government has pledged to pursue a reform program to improve Belgium’s competitiveness, including changes to labor market rules and welfare benefits. These changes have generally made Belgian wages more competitive regionally, but have raised tensions with trade unions, which have called for extended strikes. In 2017, Belgium approved a tax reform plan to ease corporate rates from 33% to 29% by 2018 and down to 25% by 2020. The tax plan also included benefits for innovation and SMEs, intended to spur competitiveness and private investment.