# Belgium (BE) **Capital:** Brussels **Currency:** Euro (EUR) (EUR) **Population:** 11'590'000 **Area:** 30'689 km² > Belgium is one of Europe's key logistics hubs. The merged Port of Antwerp-Bruges is among the continent's largest seaports (around 266.5 million tonnes of maritime throughput in 2025) and a leading chemical and container location. Liege Airport is Belgium's largest cargo airport and one of Europe's top freight hubs (over 1.16 million tonnes in 2024). Dense road, rail and inland-waterway networks link the country to the Ruhr region, France and the Netherlands. As an EU and eurozone member, goods move freely within the single market; third-country customs run via the EU systems IDMS (import) and AES (export). Belgium (BE) is one of Western Europe's key logistics hubs and a transit, port and pharmaceutical gateway between the North Sea and central Europe. As a member of the EU customs union and the eurozone, goods move freely within the single market; third-country customs run via the EU systems IDMS (import) and AES (export). The standard import VAT rate is 21 percent (reduced 6 and 12 percent), and the ET 14000 licence allows import VAT to be deferred to the tax return. Its key gateway is the merged Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of Europe's largest seaports (around 267 million tonnes and 13.6 million TEU in 2025) and a leading chemical and container location, complemented by North Sea Port Ghent and Zeebrugge. In air freight, Liege (LGG) is Belgium's largest cargo airport. Motorway corridors such as the E40 and E19, the Rhine-Alpine rail corridor from Antwerp and dense inland waterways connect the country to the Ruhr region, France and the Netherlands. Typical goods include chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, vehicles and steel; the main trading partners are Germany, the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom. **Top Import Partners:** NL, DE, FR, US, CN **Top Export Partners:** DE, FR, NL, GB, US **Top Import Goods:** Fahrzeuge, Maschinen, Chemikalien, Pharmazeutika, Erdöl **Top Export Goods:** Fahrzeuge, Chemikalien, Pharmazeutika, Diamanten, Maschinen **Key Airports:** - [Brussels Airport (BRU)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/brussels-airport-bru) - [Antwerp International Airport (Deurne) (ANR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/antwerp-international-airport-deurne-airport-anr) - [Beauvechain Air Base](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/beauvechain-air-base-airport-3008) - [Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/brussels-south-charleroi-airport-crl) - [Chièvres Air Base](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/chievres-air-base-airport-6679) - [Flanders International Airport Kortrijk-Wevelgem (KJK)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/flanders-international-airport-kortrijk-wevelgem-airport-kjk) - [Florennes Air Base](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/florennes-air-base-airport-10710) - [Kleine Brogel Air Base](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/kleine-brogel-air-base-airport-16902) - [Koksijde Air Base](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/koksijde-air-base-airport-17008) - [Liège Airport (LGG)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/liege-airport-lgg) **Key Seaports:** - [Antwerpen (BE ANR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/antwerpen-port-be-anr) - [Ghent (BE GNE)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/ghent-port-be-gne) - [Zeebrugge (BE ZEE)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/zeebrugge-port-be-zee) - [Bruxelles (BE BRU)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/bruxelles-port-be-bru) - [Oostende (BE OST)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/oostende-port-be-ost) - [Bruges (BE BGS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/bruges-port-be-bgs) - [Nieuwpoort (BE NIE)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/nieuwpoort-port-be-nie) ## Customs & Import **Import VAT:** Einfuhrumsatzsteuer Standardsatz 21 Prozent **Customs complexity:** mittel **Customs system:** EU-Unionszollkodex (UCC); nationale Einfuhranmeldung über IDMS, das PLDA ersetzt (Produktivbetrieb 2025). **Customs authority:** [Generalverwaltung Zoll und Akzisen (FÖD Finanzen)](https://finance.belgium.be/en/customs_excises) ## Logistics & Risk **Logistics role:** Transitland und Hafen-, Pharma- und Luftfracht-Hub Westeuropas **Economic area:** EU / Eurozone **Logistics risk:** niedrig **Dangerous goods relevance:** hoch **Pharma/cold chain:** hoch ## FAQ ### Welcher ist der wichtigste Seehafen Belgiens? Der fusionierte Hafen Antwerpen-Brügge ist mit Abstand der wichtigste; er zählt zu den grössten Häfen Europas und schlug 2025 rund 266,5 Mio. Tonnen um. Antwerpen ist zudem ein führender Chemie- und Containerstandort. ### Über welchen Flughafen läuft die Luftfracht? Wichtigster Frachtflughafen ist Lüttich (Liège, LGG) mit über 1,16 Mio. Tonnen im Jahr 2024, gefolgt von Brussels Airport (BRU). Liège gehört zu den grössten Cargo-Drehkreuzen Europas. ### Wie hoch ist die Einfuhrumsatzsteuer in Belgien? Der Standardsatz beträgt 21 Prozent, ermässigte Sätze liegen bei 6 und 12 Prozent. Mit einer ET-14000-Lizenz kann die Einfuhr-MwSt in die Steuererklärung verlagert werden. ### Welche Zollsysteme nutzt Belgien für Import und Export? Belgien wendet den EU-Unionszollkodex an. Einfuhranmeldungen laufen über IDMS (löst PLDA ab, Produktivbetrieb 2025), Ausfuhranmeldungen über AES (seit 18.11.2024 live). ### Braucht man für Sendungen innerhalb der EU eine Zollanmeldung? Nein. Belgien ist EU- und Eurozonen-Mitglied; im Binnenmarkt gilt freier Warenverkehr ohne Zollanmeldung. Zoll fällt nur im Handel mit Drittländern an. ### Gelten in Belgien EU-Sanktionen und Exportkontrollen? Ja. Das EU-Sanktionsregime gilt unmittelbar. Ausfuhrkontrollen für Dual-Use- und Rüstungsgüter werden über die Regionen Flandern, Wallonie und Brüssel sowie zuständige FÖD-Stellen lizenziert. ### Wie sind die Transitverbindungen nach Deutschland und Frankreich? Sehr gut: Autobahnkorridore wie E40 und E19, der Rhein-Alpen-Bahnkorridor ab Antwerpen sowie Binnenwasserstrassen verbinden Belgien dicht mit dem Ruhrgebiet, Frankreich und den Niederlanden. ## Sources & Last Verified - [https://finance.belgium.be/en/customs_excises](https://finance.belgium.be/en/customs_excises) - [https://finance.belgium.be/en/about_fps/structure_and_services/general_administrations/customs_and_excise](https://finance.belgium.be/en/about_fps/structure_and_services/general_administrations/customs_and_excise) - [https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/policy/policy-areas/peace-and-security/sanctions/belgian-authorities-in-charge-implementation-restrictive-measures-eu](https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/policy/policy-areas/peace-and-security/sanctions/belgian-authorities-in-charge-implementation-restrictive-measures-eu) - [https://newsroom.portofantwerpbruges.com/en/press-releases/port-of-antwerp-bruges-ends-2025-with-resilience-in-a-turbulent-trading-climate](https://newsroom.portofantwerpbruges.com/en/press-releases/port-of-antwerp-bruges-ends-2025-with-resilience-in-a-turbulent-trading-climate) - [https://www.aviation24.be/airports/liege/liege-airport-achieves-strong-cargo-growth-in-2024-and-strengthens-sustainability-goals/](https://www.aviation24.be/airports/liege/liege-airport-achieves-strong-cargo-growth-in-2024-and-strengthens-sustainability-goals/) - [https://www.ey.com/en_be/technical/tax/tax-alerts/2025/ey-belgiums-customs-and-excise-update-jan-2025](https://www.ey.com/en_be/technical/tax/tax-alerts/2025/ey-belgiums-customs-and-excise-update-jan-2025) *Last verified: 2026-07-18* --- *Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/be](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/be)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/be](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/be)*