Marcel(43)

I had a communications agency in Amsterdam for ten years. Good clients, but competition was fierce and costs — office, staff, taxes — rose every year. When a major Belgian client asked me to open an office in Brussels, I saw my chance. Brussels is the heart of the EU, full of international organizations and NGOs that need communication services.

Setting up a Belgian company was quite an experience. Since 2019 the BVBA is simply called BV (besloten vennootschap), but the process differs from the Netherlands. You mandatorily need a notary for the articles of incorporation, which quickly costs €1,500-2,000. Additionally, you need a financial plan to present to the notary — a document proving your starting capital is sufficient. The minimum capital requirement has been abolished, but the notary assesses whether your plan is realistic.

Belgian bureaucracy is legendary, and not without reason. You need to register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO), activate your VAT number through the VAT office, join a social insurance fund for self-employed workers, and find an accountant who handles your file management. I found a fiduciary in the Louise district specializing in Dutch entrepreneurs — that helps enormously.

Fiscally, Belgium is complex but not necessarily more expensive. Corporate tax is 25% (20% on the first €100,000 for small companies). What many Dutch people don't know: Belgium has the copyright income system, allowing creative entrepreneurs to have part of their income taxed at just 15%. My accountant set this up for me and it saves thousands of euros per year.

Networking in Brussels differs from Amsterdam. The city is multicultural and multilingual — French, Dutch, English all mixed together. I joined BECI (Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry) and the VOKA chamber. Business lunches are longer than in the Netherlands, but the relationships you build are stronger. In Brussels you do business based on trust, not just on a quote.

After two years my Brussels branch is performing better than expected. The proximity of EU institutions provides a constant stream of clients. My tip for Dutch entrepreneurs: invest in a good accountant and a notary who guides you. Belgian regulations are heavier than in the Netherlands, but once you're running, the opportunities are enormous — especially in Brussels.