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How to verify Enterprise Number in Belgium?

Enterprise Number search option is available for free on the Belgium Crossroads Bank of Enterprises (CBE) public search tool offered by the economie website. You can access the Enterprise Number search here. You can search for a company by its Enterprise number or establishment unit number. The Enterprise Number is also known as Ondernemings nummer or Numéro d'entreprise in French.

Enterprise Number Verification in Belgium
Enterprise Number Verification

Example: 0878.065.378, 0787.277.635, 0437.910.359

A successful verification of the Enterprise Number on the CBE Public Search on the economie website will return the following details

  • Enterprise number
  • Status
  • Legal situation
  • Start date
  • Name
  • Name in Dutch
  • Registered seat's address
  • Additional address information
  • Phone number
  • Fax
  • Email address
  • Web Address
  • Entity type
  • Legal form
  • Number of establishment units (EU)
  • Financial details and VAT information
Successful Enterprise Number Verification in Belgium
Successful Enterprise Number Verification
Active Enterprise Number Verification in Belgium
Enterprise Number Verification details in Dutch

For more details on Belgian tax identifiers, see our Belgium Tax ID Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Is the Belgian Enterprise Number the same as the VAT number?​

They are based on the same 10-digit identifier, but they are not automatically identical in scope. The Enterprise Number is assigned to every registered business entity, regardless of VAT registration status. The Belgian VAT number is formed by prepending "BE" to the 10-digit Enterprise Number (e.g. BE0878.065.378). However, not all enterprises are VAT-registered — businesses below the Belgian VAT threshold (€25,000 annual turnover as of 2024, with a small enterprise exemption) may be registered in the CBE but not for VAT. Always verify VAT registration status separately on the CBE portal or on EU VIES before accepting a Belgian VAT invoice. [1] [2]

When should I use EU VIES versus the CBE Public Search to verify a Belgian business?​

Use EU VIES (ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/) when you need to confirm Belgian VAT registration for EU intra-community supplies — VIES provides a dated confirmation number you can retain as evidence for zero-rating the supply. Use the CBE Public Search for full company details that VIES does not provide: legal situation (active, dissolved, bankrupt), registered address, establishment units, and financial filing links. For complete supplier due diligence, check both. Note that VIES may return "not found" for Belgian entities using the small enterprise VAT exemption even if they have an Enterprise Number. [1] [2]

The CBE shows a Belgian company's Legal Situation as "in vereffening" (in liquidation) — can I still pay their invoices?​

"In vereffening" (Dutch) / "en liquidation" (French) means the company has been dissolved by its shareholders and a liquidator has been appointed to wind down its affairs. The company remains a legal entity during liquidation and can collect receivables and honor existing obligations, but cannot enter into new commercial contracts. Any invoice should be verified against the liquidation start date. Before paying, consult the Belgian Official Gazette (Belgisch Staatsblad / Moniteur belge) for the liquidator's details, as payment may need to go to the liquidator rather than the company's regular accounts. [1]

A Belgian supplier's CBE page shows "Establishment Units" — which number do I use on an invoice?​

The Enterprise Number of the legal entity (always starting with 0) is what belongs on a Belgian VAT invoice — not an Establishment Unit number. An establishment unit is a specific physical location of a business, and each has its own 10-digit EU number in the CBE (starting with a digit other than 0). When a supplier provides an establishment unit number instead of the enterprise number, the invoice may be technically non-compliant. Use the parent Enterprise Number for all invoicing purposes. [1]

I am a non-EU business selling digital services to Belgian consumers — do I need a Belgian Enterprise Number?​

You do not need a Belgian Enterprise Number per se, but you may need VAT registration. Non-EU businesses selling digital services B2C to Belgian consumers must either register for the EU One-Stop-Shop (OSS) scheme (in any EU member state, using that country's VAT number for all EU B2C sales) or register directly for Belgian VAT. Under direct Belgian VAT registration, you are assigned a Belgian Enterprise Number starting with 0. Under OSS, you use your OSS country's VAT number and do not get a Belgian Enterprise Number. [1] [2]

Does the CBE provide an API for automated enterprise number verification?​

Yes. The Belgian CBE offers KBO Open Data with bulk access to the enterprise register in CSV format, updated daily. For real-time lookups, the CBE has a REST API accessible via the My Enterprise portal for registered users. For simple VAT-specific verification, the VIES API (available through the European Commission) is the most straightforward option. Full CBE API documentation is available at economie.fgov.be. [1]

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