Launching an online store in Belgium involves structural choices: technology, payment, logistics, taxation. Here is a practical guide to start on the right foot.
The Belgian market in numbers
Belgian e-commerce has crossed 14 billion euros annually. More than 80% of Belgians buy online at least once a month. But competition is fierce, especially against Dutch and French giants.
Choose the right platform
Shopify
Ideal for a quick start, with a clean theme and an intuitive back-office. Monthly cost but zero technical maintenance.
WooCommerce
Flexible and economical, but requires more technical skills. A good choice if you already have a WordPress site.
Custom solution (Angular, Next.js…)
For ambitious projects requiring very specific features or maximum performance.
Payments adapted to the Belgian market
Beyond Visa/Mastercard, do not overlook:
- Bancontact — unavoidable in Belgium, more than 60% of online payments.
- Payconiq — fast-growing mobile payment.
- iDEAL — if you also target the Netherlands.
Mollie and Stripe cover the essentials and integrate easily.
Logistics and returns
Belgians expect fast delivery (24-48h) and free returns. Bpost, DPD and UPS are the main players. For subscriptions or monthly boxes, consider pickup points which reduce costs.
Legal aspects
Do not forget: terms and conditions of sale, privacy policy (GDPR), 14-day right of withdrawal, legal notice with BCE number. A non-compliant e-commerce site faces sanctions and a loss of trust.
Final advice
Start small, measure everything, and invest in retention as much as in acquisition. A returning customer costs 7 times less than a new one.
