Belgians keep shopping, but watch their budgets closely
More than eight in ten consumers plan a shopping trip during Weekend van de Klant.
This weekend, Belgium hosts the tenth Weekend van de Klant, with thousands of participating retailers. At the same time, a survey by the organisers shows that consumers are scrutinising their spending more closely because of the higher cost of living.
Weekend van de Klant is being organised on Saturday and Sunday by business organisations UCM, UNIZO and Comeos. The event puts local shops, hospitality businesses and other retailers in the spotlight. According to the organisers, thousands of retailers across Belgium are taking part, with customers receiving special offers or small gifts.
The interest does not mean that consumers are letting go of their budgets. According to UNIZO, UCM and Comeos, a survey of more than 1,400 consumers shows that four in five participants are trying to save on shopping expenses. Of that group, 65 per cent say they buy less, 53 per cent choose cheaper alternatives more often and almost a third buy second-hand more often.
At the same time, physical shops remain attractive to many Belgians. More than eight in ten respondents say they plan a shopping trip during the event. According to the survey, six in ten are prepared to pay slightly more for products of Belgian origin. The organisers see this as support for shops in their own city or municipality.
The figures should nevertheless be read as a snapshot from a study conducted by the organisations behind the event. They describe intended behaviour, not the eventual turnover of Belgian shops. It is also not known how the respondents were selected or how the answers compare with official statistics on consumer spending.
For Belgian entrepreneurs, the weekend is primarily a campaign to draw customers to shopping streets at a time when price awareness remains high. For Dutch readers, it is relevant because Belgium is an important destination for cross-border shopping. The event also shows how physical shops are trying to distinguish themselves from online retailers through a local presence, advice and a social shopping experience.
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The key facts can be found on the official event website and in the organisers’ published survey. The text makes clear that this is an organisational study of intended behaviour.
- confirmed Weekend van de Klant takes place on 3 and 4 October 2026 and is organised by UCM, UNIZO and Comeos. — Mentioned on the official event website. source
- confirmed More than eight in ten Belgians surveyed plan a shopping trip. — Mentioned in UNIZO’s press release about the survey of more than 1,400 consumers. source
- confirmed Four in five consumers are trying to save on shopping expenses. — Part of the same survey results. source
Editor's note
The date, organisers and survey results can be verified. The survey comes from the organisers themselves; independent turnover figures for the weekend are unavailable.Sources
- Weekend van de Klant 2026 — Weekend van de Klant
- Acht op de tien Belgen plannen shoppinguitstap tijdens Weekend van de Klant — UNIZO
- Fysieke winkel blijft favoriet — Bloovi
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „belgië winkelen”
- de Volkskrant — „belgië winkelen”
- NU.nl — „belgië winkelen”