Trade has been driving us forward for centuries… and that will never change.
This year, we proudly celebrate a remarkable milestone: the Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce marks its 150th anniversary. A moment to reflect on a century and a half in which generations of entrepreneurs connected, collaborated, and helped each other move forward — then and now.
For centuries, entrepreneurs have joined forces to be stronger together. Sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and creating opportunities – that was the foundation of the very first Chambers of Commerce. In 1665, the first Belgian Chamber opened its doors in Bruges, followed by Brussels in 1703, Ghent in 1729 and Antwerp in 1802.
Through wars and revolutions, commerce faced many challenges, but the spirit of entrepreneurship never wavered.
When the government abolished public Chambers of Commerce in 1875, merchants quickly responded: local business associations were created across the country, proudly keeping the name Chamber of Commerce. On 1 August 1875, they united to form the National Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Belgium – the forerunner of today’s Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce.
Over the years, our network kept expanding, with new Chambers being created both in Belgium and abroad. An accreditation programme ensured quality and trust, mergers reinforced local anchoring, and more and more Belgian Chambers abroad joined the network.
The last decades brought new forms of collaboration. In 2003, Voka was founded as an alliance between the Flemish Chambers of Commerce and the Flemish business network. Brussels followed in 2006 with Beci, a merger of the Brussels Chamber and the Brussels Enterprises Federation. In Wallonia, the Chambers joined forces with the Union Wallonne des Entreprises in 2024, creating the new alliance AKT. And in 2025, companies in the German-speaking Community strengthened their impact by merging the Arbeitgeberverband der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft (AVED) and the Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK) Ostbelgien into AVED-IHK Ostbelgien.
With initiatives such as our accreditation programme, digital solutions and strong partnerships, we continue to build a powerful, forward-looking network ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
We are not only celebrating 150 years of history, but above all the trust, collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit that have connected us throughout. Together with our members, we continue to build on that legacy – every single day.
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