In brief
- NACE-BEL 2008 is the Belgian version of the European classification NACE Rev. 2, with a fifth digit for Belgian subclasses.
- Besides NACE-BEL 2008, the CBE also records the newer NACE-BEL 2025; official figures up to 2024 are still classified by NACE Rev. 2.
- For a target group, the division (two digits) or the class (four digits) is usually enough.
How NACE-BEL is structured
NACE-BEL assigns every economic activity to exactly one position. The classification is maintained by Statbel and follows the European NACE Rev. 2 down to four digits. An example from construction:
You can scroll the table sideways.
| Level | Code | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Section | letter | F construction |
| Division | 2 digits | 43 specialised construction activities |
| Group | 3 digits | 43.2 electrical, plumbing and other construction installation activities |
| Class | 4 digits | 43.21 electrical installation |
| Subclass (Belgian) | 5 digits | 43.21x, a Belgian subdivision of the class |
Down to class level, NACE-BEL is identical to the European NACE. That is useful: an industry you define for Belgium can be compared with figures from the Netherlands, France or the whole EU.
NACE-BEL 2008 and NACE-BEL 2025
The European Union has revised the classification as NACE Rev. 2.1; the Belgian version is called NACE-BEL 2025. The CBE holds activities under NACE-BEL 2003, 2008 and 2025, and CBE Public Search shows all three versions. Statbel already publishes some of its tables under NACE-BEL 2025.
The official business counts on basedecontacts.be come from the Eurostat structural business statistics (SBS 2024) and are still classified by NACE Rev. 2, which corresponds to NACE-BEL 2008. That is why our 21 industries use the 2008 codes for now. If you compare a list with recent CBE data, keep in mind that some activities received a different code in 2025.
Main and secondary activities
In the CBE a business can have several activities, with a distinction between the main activity and secondary activities. Two consequences for a target group list:
- A plumber who also renovates bathrooms and installs solar panels falls under one class with his main activity. Filtering by main activity finds the businesses with that focus, not everyone who also offers the service.
- The code shows what a business has registered, not what it actually does today. A quick look at the website is still worthwhile.
How to define a target group
- Describe the activity in words. “Businesses that install heating systems” is clearer than a code taken from memory.
- Find the matching class. In our example 43.22 (plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation).
- Check neighbouring classes. What belongs, what does not? Plumbing wholesalers are in division 46, engineering consultancies in 71.
- Choose the region. In Belgium usually the province or municipality. Brussels is a region, not a province.
- Decide on required fields. For a postal mailing the address is enough; for CRM matching, address and website help.
Our 21 industries and their NACE-BEL codes
The basedecontacts.be industries combine one or more NACE-BEL positions. A minus sign before a code means the class is excluded. The official figure per industry, such as 139,472 businesses in section F construction, is also shown on each industry page. Our own records are not yet assigned to industries; see the database status.
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| Industry | NACE-BEL 2008 | Official figure | Unit and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business and consulting services | M 69, M 70, M 73 | 149,612 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Construction and installation | F 41, F 42, F 43 | 139,472 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Manufacturing and industry | C 13–33 | 30,601 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Real estate and property managers | L 68 | 55,586 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Energy, water and waste | D 35, E 36–39 | 2,437 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Hospitality and tourism | I 55, I 56, N 79 | 59,331 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Agriculture and food | A 01–03, C 10–11 | 48,182 (only A 01–03) | VAT-registered farming businesses (Statbel · December 2025) |
| Transport and logistics | H 49–53 | 24,450 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| IT and software | J 62, J 63 | 43,715 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Architects and engineering firms | M 71 | 33,059 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Healthcare, social care and wellness | Q 86–88, S 96.02, S 96.04 | 90,402 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Finance and insurance | K 64–66 | 16,290 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Municipalities and public sector | O 84 | 565 | municipalities in Belgium (Statbel · municipalities 2025) |
| Motor trade and garages | G 45 | 24,196 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Retail and online shops | G 47, −47.73, −47.74 | 67,671 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Wholesale and trade agents | G 46 | 43,658 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Pharmacies, opticians and hearing care | G 47.73, G 47.74, G 47.78 | 5,349 (only G 47.73, G 47.74) | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Education and training | P 85 | 10,689 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Associations, sport and culture | R 90–93, S 94 | 27,025 (only R 90–93) | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Cleaning and grounds maintenance | N 81 | 28,628 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
| Staffing and recruitment | N 78 | 2,943 | businesses in Belgium (Eurostat SBS 2024) |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between NACE-BEL 2008 and NACE Rev. 2?
Sections, divisions, groups and classes are the same as in the European NACE Rev. 2. Belgium adds a fifth digit for national subclasses. If you select by class (four digits), Belgian figures can be compared with European statistics.
Does the CBE still use NACE-BEL 2008?
The Crossroads Bank for Enterprises records activities in several versions: NACE-BEL 2003, 2008 and 2025. NACE-BEL 2025 follows the European revision NACE Rev. 2.1. The official business counts up to reference year 2024 that we show are still classified by NACE Rev. 2 (= NACE-BEL 2008), which is why our industries use those codes for now.
Does a business have only one NACE code?
No. In the CBE a business can have several activities, with a distinction between main and secondary activities. A selection by main activity gives you the businesses with that focus, not all businesses that also offer the service.
As of 4 November 2026. Official figures: Eurostat SBS 2024 (update of 30 September 2026) and Statbel, retrieved on 4 November 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice.
