Brussels Governance MonitorCommerce: 13.5% vacancy rate, horeca 17% of bankruptcies
13.5% of commercial units are vacant (3,500 premises). Horeca accounts for 6% of SMEs but 17% of bankruptcies. The Pentagon has an 18.3% vacancy rate. The EUR 1.2 billion budget effort will also affect commerce support programmes.
Unblocked mechanisms — awaiting implementation
These mechanisms were frozen during the caretaker government period (June 2024 – February 2026). The government sworn in on 14 February 2026 can now reactivate them.
Commercial revitalisation subsidies
Regional programmes for revitalising commercial centres were frozen: no new calls for projects could be launched. The new government can now relaunch them, but the EUR 1.2 billion austerity effort may limit their scope.
Night economy strategy
The regional plan for the night economy was suspended during the caretaker period. It can now be relaunched by the new government.
Commercial regulation updates
The planned regulatory updates to modernise the framework for Brussels' retail sector could not be adopted. They can now be implemented.
Regional commerce action plan
The regional commerce action plan could not be renewed or adapted during the caretaker period. The new government can now relaunch or replace it.
What continues
Ongoing commercial activity
Commercial activity continues normally in Brussels. Shopkeepers carry on their activities within the existing regulatory framework.
Existing permits and authorisations
Commercial permits and authorisations issued before June 2024 remain valid. Renewal applications within the framework of day-to-day management continue to be processed.
Impact indicators
~60,000
Commercial establishments in the Brussels Region
hub.brussels / Atrium Brussels
13.5%
Retail vacancy rate in Brussels
hub.brussels
3,500
Vacant commercial units
BX1 / hub.brussels
~55,000
Jobs in Brussels retail
ONSS / Actiris
Government agreement: announced impacts
According to concordant press sources, the agreement of 12 February 2026 contains several measures that affect the commercial sector:
- New mobility plan succeeding Good Move: the revision of traffic layouts will affect commercial areas located in redesigned neighbourhood cells. The impact on shop accessibility will be a central issue
- LEZ maintained with an annual pass (EUR 350, social rate EUR 200): shopkeepers and their suppliers using non-compliant vehicles will benefit from a predictable cost instead of per-infraction fines
- Renolution grants reformed: the conditions for accessing energy renovation grants will be reviewed, which may affect businesses that benefited from them
- Personal income tax cut by 1% and increase in the registration fee abatement ceiling (EUR 600,000 to EUR 800,000): these fiscal measures aim to strengthen the residential attractiveness of Brussels, which indirectly supports local commerce
Point of attention: the end of the caretaker period allows the relaunch of commercial revitalisation programmes, the night economy strategy and the modernisation of the regulatory framework. The budgetary effort will determine the scale of resources allocated to these relaunches.
State of the commercial fabric (February 2026)
Commercial vacancy: 13.5%
According to hub.brussels, the average commercial vacancy rate stands at 13.5% in the Brussels Region, representing 3,500 vacant units. The geographical distribution shows a centre-periphery gradient:
| Zone | Vacancy rate |
|---|---|
| Pentagon (city centre) | 18.3% |
| First ring | 13.9% |
| Second ring | 10.7% |
Horeca: overrepresentation in bankruptcies
The horeca sector accounts for only 6% of SMEs in Brussels, but concentrates 17% of bankruptcies — nearly 3 times its share of the economy. The succession of crises (COVID, inflation, staff shortages, regulations) has deeply affected this sub-sector.
Impact of regional austerity
The EUR 1.2 billion budget effort announced by the new government will affect public bodies, including hub.brussels and Atrium Brussels which run the commerce support programmes. Commercial revitalisation funding could be reduced while needs are increasing.
Sources: BX1, "13% of commercial units are vacant"; Fédération Horeca Bruxelles, bankruptcy analysis.
Dutch-speaking commerce support (UNIZO Brussel)
The Dutch-speaking entrepreneurial network is structured around UNIZO Brussel and its local chapter Brussel19 (covering all 19 municipalities):
- Support: retail experts (window displays, layout), individual coaching (management, e-commerce), regulatory workshops
- Advocacy: KRACHTWERK memorandum (2024, 80 recommendations), joint positions with UCM on Pentagon commerce
- Data: 45% of Brussels entrepreneurs consider leaving the Region (UNIZO survey 2024); 1,900+ bankruptcies in 2024 (UNIZO/UCM/Graydon)
hub.brussels (formerly Atrium, merged in 2018) is trilingual (FR/NL/EN) and serves all entrepreneurs. The hub.info service (freephone 1819) is available in Dutch.
Commerce is a regional competence, not a community one — the VGC has no direct role, but UNIZO helps merchant associations access VGC socio-cultural subsidies.
Source: UNIZO, "Brussel aanbod", accessed 2 March 2026; BRUZZ, "UNIZO: behoud lokale handelszaken", Feb 2024.
Commercial revitalisation programmes, subsidies and the night economy strategy were frozen. 13.5% empty retail units, 60,000 commercial establishments without new support.
Read full contextBack to home — 2 March 2026
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