Limburg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Limburg sees fewer start-ups in 2026. Voka and Unizo urge support. Construction declines. Entrepreneurs Dan Lenaerts and Kobe Indemans successfully launched Recommand.
As VRT News reported, Limburg is seeing fewer start-ups this year. Business groups say this is not unexpected. Economic uncertainty remains high, costs are rising, and international tensions are weighing on investments. Many entrepreneurs are delaying or reconsidering their plans. Some sectors that require less money still attract new businesses, but overall, the number of start-ups is falling.
“The figures show that entrepreneurship is alive and well, but also that margins are shrinking,”
says Ellen Olislagers of Voka – KK Limburg.
“Anyone who wants startups to not only get started but also grow needs to create a solid foundation.” “More than 8,500 startups remain a strong signal,”
says Managing Director Bart Lodewyckx.
“But the decline shows how fragile that confidence is in the current economic climate.”
What is causing Limburg start-ups to decline despite Voka and Unizo support?
The construction sector shows the sharpest decline. This industry has been stable in recent years, but now fewer new companies are starting. Officials mentioned that rising prices for materials, worker shortages, and stricter rules are making it harder to launch projects.
“It’s a cost-intensive sector, with high barriers to entry. However, the sector is one of the growth engines of our economy, so it’s not a good trend if there are no new starters there,”
says Olislagers.
“These are important sectors, but for sustainable economic growth, we also need starters with scale and export potential,”
says Unizo Limburg.
Around 22% of new businesses in the region close within the first 5 years.
“Entrepreneurship remains vulnerable, especially in an unstable economic environment,”
says Olislagers.
“Targeted guidance really makes a difference here.”
Business organisations Voka and Unizo are calling for stronger support for entrepreneurs. They want more affordable labour, simpler procedures for bringing in talent from outside Europe, and better access to public procurement contracts.
Entrepreneurs say the challenges are real and high. In 2025, Dan Lenaerts and his cofounder Kobe Indemans launched Recommand, a tech start-up based in Hasselt. The company provides digital tools.
“It is a tangle
Comments
2 responses to “Limburg Start-Ups Fall to 8,500 Amid Growing Challenges”
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Looks like Limburg’s start-up scene is a bit like a Belgian waffle—nice and crispy on top, but a soggy bottom underneath. 🤷♂️ Time to whip up a stronger batter, eh?
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Looks like the entrepreneurial spirit in Limburg is having a bit of a snooze fest, eh? Maybe they should consider adding “high-risk, low-reward” to their business plan—seems like a winning strategy these days! 😂
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Looks like Limburg’s start-up scene is doing a fantastic job of shrinking faster than my patience at a bureaucratic meeting. Maybe we should just start a support group for all those poor entrepreneurs left in the lurch—at least it’ll give them something to bond over! 😂
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Limburg Start-Ups Fall to 8,500 Amid Growing Challenges
Limburg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Limburg sees fewer start-ups in 2026. Voka and Unizo urge support. Construction declines. Entrepreneurs Dan Lenaerts and Kobe Indemans successfully launched Recommand.
As VRT News reported, Limburg is seeing fewer start-ups this year. Business groups say this is not unexpected. Economic uncertainty remains high, costs are rising, and international tensions
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