Top 10 Essential Facts About Belgian E‑Commerce (2025 Edition)

Belgium isn’t just the headquarters of Landmark Global Eurasia. It is a key destination for e-tailers worldwide and a logistics gateway to Europe. 

At Landmark Global, part of bpostgroup, we don’t just ship to Belgium, we operate inside it, every day. From high-volume parcel injections to local last-mile hand-offs, we support retailers with solutions engineered for Belgian expectations and EU compliance.

With three official languages, one of the world’s highest population densities and strategic positioning at the crossroads of EU trade, Belgium presents both complexity and opportunity for global e‑commerce brands.

Here are the ten most essential facts about Belgian e‑commerce in 2025, grounded in the latest data as well as our deep operational insight into how cross-border success actually happens here.

1. Belgian E-Commerce Market to Exceed €24 Billion in 2025

Belgium’s digital commerce sector is projected to surpass €24 billion in 2025, representing a steady growth from an estimated €22–23 billion in 2024. This growth is underpinned by an annualized compound growth rate of around 5.6% expected through 2028, reflecting strong consumer confidence and a maturing online retail ecosystem.

The average Belgian online shopper’s spending is forecast to reach $2,850 (≈ €2,600) per year in 2025, one of the highest figures in Europe. This signals not only increased frequency but also higher basket values, which makes optimizing conversion and fulfillment critical. Mobile commerce drives much of this growth: over 58% of all online purchases in Belgium are made via smartphones, a number climbing steadily as mobile UX improves. The mature broadband infrastructure, with 96% household access to high-speed internet, supports seamless digital experiences, encouraging higher spend.

2. Belgium’s E-Commerce Growth Is Fueled by a Tech-Savvy Population and High Internet Penetration

Belgium’s remarkable e-commerce growth in 2025 is powered by a highly connected, tech-savvy population, with 94% internet penetration and 96% broadband access, among the highest in Europe. This widespread connectivity enables seamless digital shopping experiences across urban and rural areas alike.

The Belgian market is also distinguished by its high digital literacy: over 88% of the population regularly uses the internet for purchasing goods and services, compared to the EU average of 75%. This means that nearly 9 out of 10 Belgians are comfortable navigating online platforms, mobile apps, and e-payment systems — a critical driver behind Belgium’s e-commerce boom.

Additionally, Belgium boasts one of the fastest mobile internet speeds in Europe, with average 5G download speeds reaching 280 Mbps in urban areas in 2024, ensuring smooth mobile shopping experiences even during peak traffic. This speed and accessibility have directly contributed to the fact that 58% of online purchases are made on mobile devices, emphasizing the market’s mobile-first nature.

3. Cross-Border E-Shopping: Over Half of Belgian Consumers Buy Internationally

One of Belgium’s defining e-commerce characteristics is its cross-border appetite. In 2024, over 55% of online shoppers in Belgium purchased from foreign webshops (Statista, 2024). This puts Belgium among the top EU countries for international e-commerce activity.

Why? The country’s linguistic diversity (Dutch, French, and German), proximity to multiple European markets, and consumer price sensitivity make foreign platforms like Amazon.de, Zalando.nl, and Decathlon.fr especially popular. Popular cross-border categories include fashion, electronics, and beauty products.

This cross-border behavior is a double-edged sword: while it opens Belgian consumers to competitive pricing and wider product ranges, it also challenges domestic merchants to compete on fulfillment speed, return convenience, and total landed cost. As a logistics provider deeply embedded in this market, Landmark Global supports both international retailers selling into Belgium and Belgian merchants exporting abroad, ensuring competitive delivery speeds and easy return options in both directions.

4. Cross-Border Shopping Remains Significant at €5–6 Billion in 2024 (≈ 25% of Total)

Cross-border e-commerce continues to be a critical feature of the Belgian market. In 2024, Belgian consumers spent between €5 and €6 billion purchasing from foreign online stores, representing roughly 25% of total e-commerce turnover.

Popular foreign platforms include Amazon, bol.com, and Zalando, but this share is gradually declining as domestic retailers improve delivery speed, localization, and payment methods. Belgian consumers are highly price-sensitive but also value convenience and trust, making reliable last-mile delivery and local customer service key differentiators.

5. Bancontact Dominates Payments

The Bancontact payment system continues to dominate with roughly 78% market share in Belgium’s e-commerce payments landscape. In 2024, the introduction of the Wero mobile wallet has added an additional local payment alternative tailored to younger, mobile-first consumers.

Merchants who fail to offer Bancontact and local wallets risk losing up to 45% of customers at checkout due to payment friction. International payment methods like PayPal and credit cards remain popular but are secondary to localized payment preferences in Belgium’s nuanced market.

6. Flanders Leads with 70%+ of E-Tail Operations, but Wallonia and Brussels Gain Ground

The Flemish region accounts for approximately 70–75% of Belgian online retailers and digital transactions in 2024, maintaining its status as the country’s e-commerce heartland. However, Wallonia and Brussels have seen accelerating growth in sectors like fashion, local services, and food delivery.

Brussels, with its international population and political institutions, demands more tailored services with multilingual customer support and high delivery reliability. E-commerce players need trilingual capacity and flexible fulfillment options to thrive across all regions.

7. Locker Usage Surged 44% in 2024, Cementing Out-Of-Home Deliveries as Standard

bpost reported a 44% increase in locker and parcel point usage during 2024, driven by rising consumer preference for contactless, flexible parcel collection. Lockers now represent a growing percentage of last-mile deliveries, favored for their convenience and eco-friendliness.

Retailers who integrate locker options into their checkout flows report higher conversion rates and repeat purchase intent, as shoppers seek seamless delivery choices.

8. Peak Parcel Capacity Hit 800,000 Parcels/Day in Late 2024

To meet surging demand, bpost scaled its parcel handling capacity to 800,000 parcels per day at peak in late 2024—up from 500,000 only two years prior. This expansion involved increasing operational hours to 24/7, hiring over 400 new staff, and deploying automation to handle growth.

This capacity build ensures that e-tailers can rely on stable delivery performance throughout seasonal peaks and promotional events.

9. Green Delivery Law in Effect Since September 2024, Accelerating Sustainable Last-Mile Options

As of 21 September 2024, Belgian e-commerce regulation requires retailers to offer a green delivery option alongside standard home delivery. This has accelerated the adoption of parcel lockers, PUDO points, and emission-free home deliveries in EcoZones.

Today, 22% of last-mile deliveries are emission-free, utilizing electric vans, cargo bikes, and other low-impact vehicles. Retailers failing to comply risk fines and lose eco-conscious consumers increasingly focused on sustainability.

10. Social Commerce Generated 10–12% of Belgian E-Commerce Sales in 2024

Social commerce has rapidly matured in Belgium, accounting for an estimated 10–12% of total e-commerce sales in 2024, fueled by Instagram and TikTok shopping integrations.

Belgian shoppers increasingly expect rich, app-native buying experiences, and retailers are leveraging AR, influencer marketing, and instant checkout flows to capture this channel’s high-ARPU customers. The average spend of €2,675 EUR per user underlines the importance of social commerce as a growth vector in 2025 and beyond.

The Takeaway

Belgium is a sophisticated, fast-growing €24 billion+ e-commerce market defined by mobile-first buyers, green delivery mandates, and multilingual complexity. Success demands mastery of payment localization, expansive locker networks, sustainable last-mile solutions, and a deep understanding of regional nuances.

At Landmark Global, backed by the bpostgroup, we combine global logistics scale with local operational precision, making us the e-logistics partner that truly understands Belgium from inside out.

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Sources:

https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/ecommerce/belgium

https://press.bpost.be/bpost-installs-record-number-of-parcel-lockers-in-2024-and-plans-doubling-in-2025

https://www.ipc.be/services/markets-and-regulations/e-commerce-market-insights/e-commerce-articles/ooh-2024

https://ecommercenews.eu