The Belgian data center market is growing and attracting increasing interest from international players. According to the Belgian Digital Infrastructure Association (BDIA), the only brake on current growth is the unpredictability of grid connections.
The Belgian data center sector is on the cusp of a new growth phase. This is according to the report
Colocation and hyperscale
The market is developing around a mix of colocation operators and hyperscalers. By the end of 2026, the combined capacity of both segments will exceed the 260 MW IT power mark, a significant leap forward after two years of record announcements. Colocation is expanding in and around Brussels, while hyperscalers such as Google are expanding their national footprint with new campuses in Wallonia.
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This balance makes Belgium attractive to international players who want to operate near the major FLAP hubs (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris), but also need lower congestion, better predictability and strong interconnectivity.
Sustainability takes shape
Belgian data centers consider sustainability to be of paramount importance. “The Belgian data center industry is already highly electrified, is among the first to have introduced renewable energy sources and is part of the Climate Neutral Data Center Pact (CNDCP), a voluntary EU-wide initiative that requires operators to be climate neutral by 2030,” according to the report.
Belgian data centers report Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) values, an international standard for measuring the energy efficiency of data centers, between 1.2 and 1.4, while new sites are being designed even more efficiently. Heat recovery is growing into a fully-fledged standard: Google’s campus in Farciennes will soon feed a local heating network, while projects in Brussels are also becoming operational.
Cooling is becoming more innovative and water-efficient thanks to industrial water reuse programs and closed cooling loops. At the same time, flex connections and battery storage ensure better alignment with the grid operator, a necessary evolution now that electricity consumption is a crucial factor.
Pressure on infrastructure quality
AI is the major catalyst for new growth. Data centers are preparing for high power densities,
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The report explicitly confirms this: “AI demand is real, but the rollout pace is entirely determined by the availability of power, not by interest or technology.” Belgium’s role as a European AI Factory Antenna further reinforces this. The demand for high-quality, reliable and scalable infrastructure is increasing exponentially.
Grid connections are the biggest risk
The main brake on growth? The timing of grid connections. Although there is sufficient production capacity on paper, effective connection deadlines are the biggest uncertainty for new projects. The infrastructure that must get generated electricity to the end user cannot always handle the capacity. “Grid readiness is the strategic bottleneck of the Belgian data center industry.” It was announced today that more than 180 companies in Flanders are already waiting for a connection.
Without predictable grid access, construction decisions are postponed, financing becomes more complex and customer contracts are more difficult to secure. Elia’s flexible connection models and energy services offer prospects, but operators are calling for more transparency and faster turnaround times.
Belgium retains strong assets
Belgium is at a pivotal moment. The sector is growing strongly, attracting international investors and developing into a sustainable and AI-ready infrastructure base for the entire country. But one element will determine whether Belgium can fully exploit its potential: predictable, timely and flexible grid connections.
If it succeeds in solving this puzzle, Belgium has everything it needs to grow into one of the most efficient and strategic data center hubs in Europe, the report concludes.