The Netherlands and Belgium maintain close relations in many areas. For entrepreneurs, the trade of goods and services between the two countries is particularly interesting. Of all foreign products sold in Belgium, most come from the Netherlands. With an aging population and stable disposable income, our southern neighbors have weathered the economic crisis remarkably well.

Wellness, gadgets, the food sector, and knowledge-intensive services are in high demand in Belgium. Significant growth is also expected in internet retailing. With just over 11 million inhabitants, this neighboring country offers plenty of opportunities for savvy entrepreneurs. In this article, we provide tips to help you expand your horizons to the south.

How to Conquer Belgium

For the reasons mentioned above, it’s no wonder that companies active in the Dutch market eventually look across the border. Given the many similarities and opportunities Belgium offers, expanding to Belgium is a logical step. To maximize your chances of success, it’s important to observe some unwritten rules. Belgians are different from the Dutch, and cultural differences can be a dealbreaker in business transactions. The following tips will help you succeed:

  • Build Trust Before doing business with a Belgian, you must first earn their trust. Especially Flemish people tend to be cautious and investigative at first. Take the time to get to know each other in a good restaurant, where you can linger longer than you might be used to in the Netherlands.
  • Be Patient Along the same lines as trust, it’s not a given that Belgians will make a decision at the end of a business meeting. They often need some time to think before deciding. Resist the urge to push for a decision and wait for the signal that your Belgian business partner is ready to discuss numbers.
  • Be Modest Belgians often find the Dutch too direct. If you promote your product or service too enthusiastically, it may come across as arrogance. Adopt a reserved and modest attitude and practice the Belgian qualities of self-deprecation and humor. This will get you much further than conforming to the stereotype of the loud, direct, and self-important Dutch person.
  • Speak the Language Be mindful of language differences. On the map, it may seem like Brussels is in Flanders, but French is spoken there. And Flemish is more than Dutch with an accent; it has many unique terms and expressions.

Create a Belgian Presence

You may originally be a Dutch company, and there’s nothing wrong with being proud of that. However, to seriously conquer the Belgian market, it’s important to have a local point of contact. This could be a physical store or office, but also a virtual presence. It may even offer tax advantages to establish your activities in a Belgian company.

A Belgian address should include a Belgian phone number so that customers and business contacts don’t have to pay for an international call. At Belfabriek, you can easily register a Belgian service number, which is comparable to a Dutch service number: it’s region-independent and appeals to both Flemish and Walloon audiences. Additionally, such a service number creates a professional impression, helping to build the trust of your Belgian market.

Offer the Best Customer Service

Entrepreneurs expanding their activities abroad often choose a service number from Belfabriek. Our Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system allows you to provide the best possible customer experience, even remotely. Let’s take a look at the extra features you get with your Belgian service number:

  • Announcement Texts This feature helps you make a good first impression with your Belgian callers. Greet your callers during office hours with a Welcome Message and after hours with a Closed Message.
  • Call Queue Is it busy, and are all your phone operators occupied? This feature places callers in a queue, connecting them to available operators in order of waiting time. With relaxing music and periodic updates on their position in the queue, this feature keeps your callers happy.
  • Digital Answering Machine Is the queue too long, or is someone calling after hours? This feature allows people to leave a message. The audio recording is sent to your desired email address, enabling you to take immediate action if needed.
  • Menu Options You’ll want to offer your Belgian callers the choice between Dutch and French service. With a menu, callers can select the person or department they wish to speak with. This saves you one or more receptionists.
  • Call Recording With this feature, you can record every call with your Belgian callers. This is ideal for monitoring call quality and setting training goals.

Additionally, you’ll have access to detailed statistics about your callers’ behavior. In your online dashboard, Mijn Belfabriek, you can see which regions people are calling from, how long calls last, and how long callers wait in the queue. Since this data is updated in real-time, you can immediately respond to peaks and take appropriate action.

Secure Your Belgian Service Number Now

We can imagine you’re interested in a Belgian service number, especially with all the extra features that help you gain the trust of your Belgian customers and serve them as best as possible. Belfabriek also provides full support in configuring your service number and desired features. Do you have questions or want to register immediately? Check out which available numbers we have in Belgium or call our customer service at 0800-BELFABRIEK (0800-235 3227).