Investing in Belgian Stories: A Commitment to Culture and Choice

Twelve years ago, Netflix arrived in Belgium. From those early days, our goal was simple: to share great stories with Belgian audiences and bring Belgian creativity to members around the world. Since then, Netflix has become part of daily life for many here, and we’re proud to play an active role in Belgium’s vibrant creative community.

Over the past decade, we’ve worked hand in hand with independent producers, writers and directors to create truly local stories such as Undercover, Johnny par Johnny, Into the Night, Angèle, Rough Diamonds, La Femme la Plus Assassinée du Monde and many more. Born and brought up in Brussels and “belge de coeur”, I’m deeply proud of how these projects showcase our talent to the world. Through our partnerships with initiatives like youth platform WAJOW and the new Mediawijs programme for high schools, linked to our series Adolescence, we also support the next generation of storytellers.

Our commitment runs deeper than individual productions. Between 2020 and 2023 alone, Netflix invested more than €6.5 billion in European TV and films, supporting 60,000 jobs across the region. We’ve consistently and constructively worked with European regulators towards sensible national investment obligations under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.

Yet we are concerned that the new investment rules in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles are unworkable and risk undermining the very goals they aim to achieve. The required contribution level is more than double that of most European countries and almost four times higher than Wallonia’s previous standard. Plus, the proposal excludes many of the investments that most directly benefit creators such as licensing titles. 

Far from strengthening Belgium’s creative sector, these rules would limit opportunities for local storytellers and restrict the diversity of stories we can bring to viewers. That would run counter to the spirit of the EU directive itself, whose purpose is to help audiences discover and enjoy a greater variety of European stories.

Audiences have shown time and again that great local stories travel. Our most recent engagement report shows that non‑English language titles such as Troll 2 (Norway), Billionaire’s Bunker (Spain), French Lover (France) and Babo: The Haftbefehl Story (Germany) are being watched and loved well beyond their borders. Streaming enables that kind of connection, allowing talent from every corner of Europe to be seen and celebrated.

We remain fully committed to Belgium, to its creators and our members. All we ask for is a fair and workable framework that rewards investment, nurtures creativity and allows stories to keep travelling the world.