Locate in Limburg
Key Competitive Attractions
Gateway to Europe
Invest in the Heart of Europe!
Limburg is the easternmost province of Flanders and is located in the northeast of Belgium, with borders to the Netherlands in the north and the east. Limburg has a total population of more than 800,000 people. The provincial capital is Hasselt.
The province benefits from a highly central location at the heart of Western Europe, in near proximity to major urban centres such as Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and London. In fact, around 60% of the total purchasing power in Europe is found within a 500 km radius of Limburg. The province has excellent infrastructure and multi-modal transport access, and Limburg is the number one region in Europe for pan-European logistics operations (Cushman & Wakefield). Belgium has triple the European average density of motorways and Limburg is served by two key motorways, as well as the Albert Canal, which provides direct access to the port of Antwerp. As the hinterland of Antwerp, Limburg truly is a gateway to Europe.
The province offers direct links to a network of research centres and universities. Hasselt University is part of an extensive knowledge triangle stretching from Eindhoven to Louvain and Aachen. Limburg has a unique range of sustainable industrial estates and venture capital opportunities, as well as a creative, educated, productive and multilingual workforce. Graduates are often proficient in English, French, German and Dutch. Limburg is a pleasant environment to live in, with a large range of leisure facilities and an accessible healthcare system.
Assistance and Support For New Business Investors
Locate in Limburg is a one-stop shop platform for foreign investors interested in business opportunities in Limburg. Services include information on fiscal issues, commercial property and investment. The agency provides tailored solutions and business support to all clients.
Locate in Limburg is a joint initiative between the Limburg Regional Development Company (LRM), Flanders Enterprise, Flanders Investment & Trade, and a total of 16 different partners.
Flanders Enterprise also provides information for businesses and puts them in touch with important contacts. In addition, Flanders Investment & Trade offers a variety of support services to investors in Limburg.
Tax advantages available to businesses in Limburg include notional interest deduction, dividend tax exemption, and double taxation treaties. Financial support is available in designated areas for strategic investments exceeding €8 million in start-up costs. Grants cover between 5 to 10% of the investment, and Limburg has one of the largest numbers of strategic investment zones in Belgium. Financial support is also potentially available for companies seeking to invest in environmentally friendly technology, and for R&D ventures.
Existing Business Base
The key sectors of Limburg include automotives, logistics, life sciences, ICT and media. Limburg boasts a healthy investment climate, with companies from over 25 countries currently settled there. The central location makes it an ideal base for European operations and a springboard for further expansions.
Significant enterprises in Limburg include the media group Concentra, Cegeka (end-to-end ICT solutions), Apitope (biotech), Helvoet Pharma (packaging of pharmaceuticals), Amakem (drug development), Pharmaneuroboost (drug development), Medinvents (biopsy needles), Punch Powertrain (CVT, hybrid drive), Group Machiels (waste-to-material), Hansen Transmissions (gearboxes for wind turbines), Ford Motor Company (automotives), Nitto Denko (automotives) and Tenneco (automotives).
Limburg has a large number of Greenfield opportunities, business parks, and sector-specific science parks and incubator buildings. Examples include:
ICT & Media: Science Park (WPL) Diepenbeek, Research Campus Hasselt (RCH) and Gaming hub C-Mine Genk
Life Sciences: BioVille at the Hasselt University
Cleantech & Energy: EnergyVille Genk and GreenVille in Houthalen Helchteren
Logistics: Mobility Centre Genk Zuid (South) (MCGZ)
Automotive: Flanders’ Drive, Lommel Proving Ground test track
