Population

11,492,641 (2020)

Official language

Dutch 60%, French 40%, German (less than 1%). Wallonia is the French-speaking region of southern Belgium. Flanders is the Dutch-speaking northern region of Belgium.

Currency

Euro (€)

Capital

Brussels

Time Zone

UTC+1 (CET); Summer UTC+2 (CEST)

Dialling Code

+32

Area (sq. miles)

11,849

GDP

$575,808 billion

Important Ministries

VAT on Books

6% for books and 21% on eBooks 

Fixed Book Price Systems

Yes

Trade Associations

  • Association of Belgian Publishers (Association des Éditeurs Belges or ADEB) 
  • Boek.be promotes the Flemish book trade. 
  • Espace livres et creation (EL&C) 
  • Educational and Scientific Publishers Group (GEWU)
  • General Publishers Group (GAU)
  • Syndicate of French Booksellers of Belgium (SLFB) 
  • Flemish Publishers Association (Vereniging Vlaamse Boekverkopers 
  • United Importers Books (VBI) 
  • Flemish Booksellers Association 

Statistics

  • Summary of figures for the year 2017 (ADEB, 2018, in French) 
  • Figures on the Flemish book market (GFK, 2015)  
  • Book Market Statistics August (PA, 2017) [link to download/view] 
  • Belgium FR’s report to the Federation of European Publishers Assembly November (2017) [link to download/view] 
  • Belgium FL’s report to the Federation of European Publishers Assembly (June 2017) [link to download/view] 
  • Belgium FR’s report to the Federation of European Publishers Assembly (June 2017) [link to download/view] 

Annual Book Fairs

Brussels Book Fair is held over 4 days in February.

Passa Porta Festival is a literary festival held over 4 days in March in Brussels.

Antwerp Book Fair is held over 6 days in October/November.

Translations Programmes

  • Department for Literary Promotion (Promotion des Lettressupports the translation of literary works written by French speaking Belgian authors from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.  
  • Flanders Literature supports foreign publishers with translation grants in order to publish titles written by Flemish authors or illustrated by Flemish artists. 
  • Flemish Literature Fund (FLF) runs several literary grants. 

Useful Contacts

British Council

Email: exams@britishcouncil.be

Department for International Trade

Email: ditbelgium@mobile.trade.gov.uk 

Gert WautersSenior Trade Adviser, Belgium
Email: gert.wauters@fco.gov.uk
Tel: +32 (0)2 287 62 24 

Mathieu Vanoverberghe, Senior Trade Adviser, Belgium
Email: Mathieu.Vanoverberghe@fco.gov.uk
Tel: +32 (0)2 287 6268 

Booksellers

Directory of Belgian Booksellers (Department for Literary Promotion)
Directory of French Booksellers (SLFB) 

Publishers

Directory of Belgian Publishers (EL&C)