Setting up an NGO in Belgium

Local Knowledge has over ten years experience in the area of NGO establishment and management in Belgium. During the registration phase our staff will guide you through the drafting and registration process including advising on appropriate structures and roles within your organisation's structure.

The most common not-for-profit structure in Belgium is the ASBL/VZW. Belgian law provides extensively for its governance and for this reason, the Articles of Association (AoA) can be drawn up by the members of the organisation itself without professional legal advice.

The AISBL/Internationale vereniging (international structure) is the structure of choice for networks comprised of many members across the EU (e.g. networks of NGOs or trade associations). The distinction between an ASBL and an AISBL is that the aims of an AISBL are international in nature although the law allows for an ASBL with international aims. The procedure for establishing an AISBL is longer and more costly than for any other legal entity. In theory, an AISBL carries more prestige as a result. An AISBL's statutes must be drawn up by a notary and the Association only comes into legal being when the Ministry of Justice has published a royal decree. It is therefore a rather lengthy process. The law provides for more flexibility (compared to an ASBL) regarding the roles and responsibilities of the General Assembly, the Board and the Management Committee.

An operations centre is a simplified procedure for to enable branches of NGOs established elsewhere to register in Belgium. To qualify, the organisation must be a registered NGO in its country of origin.