Brussels at a glance

Brussels is a city unique in the world. Capital of Belgium, seat of the European Union, and a Region in its own right, it is governed by an institutional architecture of exceptional complexity. Here is the essential.

A unique double status

Brussels is the only entity in Belgium to be both a Region (like Flanders or Wallonia) and the country's capital. This dual role means Brussels manages its own regional competences (housing, employment, mobility) while hosting federal and European institutions on its territory.

Why 6 governments?

On Brussels territory, six levels of power exercise competences: the federal level, the Region, the COCOM (bi-community), the COCOF (French-speaking), the VGC (Dutch-speaking), and the 19 municipalities. This architecture is the result of historical compromises between linguistic communities. In normal times, it works. When one level is blocked — as the Region and the COCOM have been since June 2024 — the consequences cascade.

Capital of Europe

Brussels hosts the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of the EU, the NATO headquarters, and more than 4,000 international organisations. Around 120,000 international officials work there. This status generates considerable economic activity but also creates a fiscal paradox: many of these workers benefit from tax exemptions and do not fully contribute to regional revenues.

The commuter paradox

Every day, approximately 360,000 commuters enter Brussels to work. They contribute to 19% of national GDP but pay their taxes in their municipality of residence, in Flanders or Wallonia. Brussels produces the wealth but captures only a fraction of it. This gap between high GDP and low income is at the heart of the 'Brussels paradox'.

Sources: IBSA (regional statistics), Brussels Parliament (composition), Eurostat (EU data), Statbel (population).