The coastal province at the heart of Europe
Investing in West Flanders puts your business right at the beating heart of Europe. As Belgium’s most western province, West Flanders is situated along the North Sea coast and offers a prime location with plenty of business opportunities and excellent supporting infrastructure.
International business in West Flanders goes back many centuries. The province’s capital Bruges has been a centre of trade since the early Middle Ages. Today, thanks to a combination of a rich trade heritage, its premium location and constant business innovation, West Flanders continues to offer a sea of business opportunities.
West Flanders is located at the centre of some of Europe’s largest consumer and production markets, such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Brussels, Europe’s political, administrative and decision-making capital, is only an hour’s drive away. In addition, all the leading European financial and trade centres, such as London, Paris and Frankfurt, can be reached easily and quickly.
European Decision Centre
West Flanders is just a one-hour drive away from Brussels, the capital of Belgium and Europe. Since Brussels is home to all the main EU institutions and many other international organisations, the city plays a key decision-making role. Lobbyists and businessmen from all across Europe and the world meet each other in Brussels on a daily basis. According to the "City Monitor Annual Survey" (Cushman and Wakefield, 2004), Brussels is ranked 4th in the list of European business cities.
Multinational companies are aware of the importance of a base near to Brussels in order to be close to the economical and political decision-making centre of the EU. West Flanders is ideally located in this sense. Prices of labour and plots are a lot cheaper, yet, Brussels is always within easy reach.
