Starting a Business in Antwerp: Steps and Where to Live

Updated: 28 October 2026

Starting a business in Antwerp takes four official steps: choose a legal form, register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO/CBE) to get your enterprise number, activate a VAT number if your activity is subject to VAT, and join a social insurance fund before you start working as self-employed. Registering a sole proprietorship through an accredited enterprise counter (ondernemingsloket) costs €111.50, and if you are not an EEA or Swiss national you also need a Flemish professional card, which takes at least two months. While the paperwork runs, a furnished apartment from Globexs in Antwerp starts at €1,300 per month, for 1 to 11 months, with no Belgian bank account needed.

The official steps at a glance

Rules depend on your activity and situation, so check the official pages or an enterprise counter before you start. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Why founders choose Antwerp

Antwerp combines one of Europe's largest ports, the diamond district and a dense network of international companies with a compact, liveable city centre. Brussels and the Dutch border are both within easy reach by train or car, which makes the city a practical base for businesses that serve Belgium, the Netherlands and the wider EU market.

The local business community is also very international. If you want to know who the big employers and potential clients are, see our overview of the biggest companies in Antwerp.

Where to live while you set up your business

The first months of a new business are rarely predictable. A standard Belgian lease usually runs for years, while a hotel quickly becomes expensive. A furnished apartment rented by the month fits the period in between: you move in with your suitcase, focus on the business, and decide later where you want to live long term.

Globexs has rented furnished apartments in Antwerp since 2009. For founders and freelancers this means:

• From €1,300 per month in Antwerp, on contracts from 1 to 11 months.
• Three documents are needed to rent: an ID, proof of income and a document showing the reason for your stay.
• No Belgian bank account needed, which helps when your account is still being opened. Read more in how to rent in Belgium without a Belgian bank account.
• Move in the same or the next day after signing and an instant transfer.
• Extend with one email if the set-up takes longer than planned.
• Family later? A partner or family can join mid-stay; just tell us in advance. See moving to Antwerp with your family.

Many procedures ask for an address in Belgium. Registration at the commune is possible in a Globexs apartment when the owner agrees: send a written request to your agent, we ask the owner and confirm the answer. Read registering with the commune in Belgium for how it works.

Not sure which part of the city suits you? Our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Antwerp by where you work compares the districts, and you can browse all furnished apartments in Antwerp. If you bring a team, see corporate housing in Belgium for groups of 1 to 50 people.

FAQ: starting a business in Antwerp

Where do I register a business in Antwerp?

You register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO/CBE), online or through an accredited enterprise counter (ondernemingsloket). You then receive your enterprise number; the fee via an enterprise counter is €111.50.

Do I need a professional card to start a business in Antwerp?

If you are not a Belgian, EEA or Swiss national, you usually need a Flemish professional card to work as self-employed in Antwerp. Some groups are exempt, and you can only start once the card is granted, which takes at least two months.

Do I need a minimum capital to start?

Not for a sole proprietorship: according to business.belgium.be, it needs no notary and no minimum start-up capital. A company is set up through a deed of incorporation, so ask a notary or accountant which form suits your plans.

Can I register my address at the commune with a furnished rental?

Yes, in a Globexs apartment when the owner agrees. Send a written request to your agent; we ask the owner and let you know the decision.

How long can I rent a furnished apartment in Antwerp?

Globexs rents from 1 to 11 months, starting at €1,300 per month in Antwerp. You can extend with one email if your plans change.

Rentals in Belgium

Globexs is a Belgian company founded in 2002, with furnished mid-term apartments in Antwerp since 2009 and today also in Brussels and Ghent. See available apartments in Antwerp or contact us with your dates and budget.