Business in Belgium

For a relatively small country, there's much to talk about.

I've just returned from a short business trip to Belgium. Somewhere I have been many times before but each time I find out something new. 

Politically there's been much turmoil recently and the cultural and linguistic divide remains ever visible amongst its people when discussing business.

Where does that leave stock photography in the Belgian market?

I think one thing that is of crucial importance in the Belgian market to the success of any stock and press agency is the client relationships that its staff builds with their agency, corporate and editorial clients. Possibly stronger here than in many other countries. This is presumably closely bound up with the cultural sensitivities of its people.

I don't think it has been easy for Belgian companies to develop beyond their border. Territorial rights from image suppliers for Belgium based companies that permit sales within Belgium but not the Netherlands or France has imposed a real limitation to business growth within the traditional market.  

This hasn't however prevented growth in the domestic use of digital content - both still and moving imagery. The size of the stock photo market in Belgium should not be underestimated. It seems very much a matter of developing the right client relationships with the buyers and being able to provide and deliver to them as much relevant content as possible.