E‑Commerce in Belgien

At an average of EUR 23,580 per capita, purchasing power in Belgium in 2024 was well above the European average of EUR 18,768 per capita.

This makes Belgium a stable, growing market with attractive conditions for international brands.

Bancontact is the most used and trusted payment method in Belgian e‑commerce. E-wallets and mobile payments are becoming increasingly important, especially among younger shoppers. Purchasing on account, on the other hand, hardly plays a role in Belgium.

The Belgian e‑commerce landscape is strongly characterised by international providers, with local and regional platforms also playing an important role. The most frequently used marketplaces in Belgium can be clearly identified:

Around 20-25% of Belgian online shoppers have returned an order in the last three months – particularly frequently in the fashion sector. Preference is given to returns by post, via parcel stores or by home collection; simple and ideally inexpensive returns are a key criterion for Belgian shoppers’ purchasing decisions.

A third of Belgian customers start their product search directly on marketplaces, meaning that retailers with a marketplace presence generate an average of 23% more sales.

Sustainable packaging, mobile-friendly displays and localised offers in Dutch, French and German are mandatory. Those who take local preferences such as payment methods, language diversity and sustainability requirements into account will gain a clear advantage in the highly competitive Belgian market.