vlaamse havenvereniging (flemish ports association)

The Vlaamse Havenvereniging (VHV) is the umbrella organisation representing the private port communities of the four Flemish seaports Oostende, Zeebrugge, Ghent and Antwerp. Founding members are:

Oostendse Havengemeenschap (OHG)

Vereniging van Gentse Havengebonden Ondernemingen (VeGHO)

Association Port of Zeebrugge Interests (Apzi)

Alfaport Antwerpen

Together they represent over 700 companies active in trade, cargo handling, logistics and industry and an annual added value of 6.4 billion euro.

Economic importance of Belgian ports
Figures of the National Bank of Belgium show that 2007 was a particular good year for the Belgian ports. The ports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Ghent, Ostend, Liège and Brussels accounted for 5.1% of the direct added value of Belgium. When we count in the indirect effects, this figure even increases to 9.9%. The Flemish ports account for 8% of domestic employment. With these figures the ports confirm again that they are the engine of the Belgian economy.