BE Prefix and Three-Character Location Code
A Belgium UN/LOCODE begins with BE. For example, BEANR identifies Antwerp in the Ecer Freight sample, while BEZEE identifies Port Of Zeebrugge.
Seaports in Belgium: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Belgium has 18 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting major North Sea container, breakbulk, Ro-Ro, industrial and inland-waterway flows.
Explore Belgium port codes, cargo gateways and regional freight connections for international shipping.
Belgium Port Overview
Belgium is a North Sea logistics hub with deep-sea access, dense inland-waterway connections and strong industrial cargo activity. Antwerp and Zeebrugge are the principal maritime gateways, while Ghent, Ostend, Brussels and Liège support regional, industrial and inland distribution.
18
Belgium ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
266.5m
Port of Antwerp-Bruges cargo throughput, 2025; YoY −4.1%
Port of Antwerp-Bruges 2025
13.5m
Port of Antwerp-Bruges container throughput, 2025; YoY approximately −3.0%
Port of Antwerp-Bruges 2025
12,000+
Ocean-going vessel calls at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, 2025; YoY subject to final port reporting
Port of Antwerp-Bruges 2025
How many seaports does Belgium have?
Belgium has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its country port database as of Nov 2026. This indexed coverage includes maritime, inland and terminal records and is not a national legal count of every facility.
What is the largest and busiest port in Belgium?
Antwerp is Belgium’s principal container and general-cargo gateway. The database records Antwerp as BEANR and Port Of Antwerp as BEANT; both should be checked against the carrier’s booking and terminal instructions because database records can represent related port or terminal references.
Which areas handle most Belgian freight?
The Antwerp–Zeebrugge North Sea cluster handles the largest share of Belgium’s deep-sea flows, with Port Of Zeebrugge recorded as BEZEE. The Ghent, Brussels and Liège corridors add industrial, inland-waterway and regional distribution capacity.
Top Ports and Terminals in Belgium
The table combines Belgium records held in the Ecer Freight database with publicly available port reporting. The world ranking and throughput figures are shown only where a comparable public container statistic is available; related port records are not treated as separate national gateways.
Selected active Belgium port records and indicative 2025 container data
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Antwerp | BEANR | 13.5 | −3.0% | Antwerp–North Sea |
| — | Port Of Antwerp | BEANT | — | — | Antwerp–North Sea |
| — | Port Of Zeebrugge | BEZEE | — | — | West Flanders coast |
| — | Gent | BEGNE | — | — | Ghent–Terneuzen canal |
| — | Ghent | BEGHE | — | — | Ghent–Terneuzen canal |
| — | Liege | BELGE | — | — | Meuse inland corridor |
| — | Liege | BELGG | — | — | Meuse inland corridor |
| — | Brussel | BEBRU | — | — | Brussels–Scheldt corridor |
Belgium Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Belgium’s port system combines North Sea gateways with canal, river and inland logistics nodes. The records below use only port codes present in the Ecer Freight Belgium sample.
Antwerp–North Sea Cluster
The Antwerp cluster is Belgium’s leading deep-sea and industrial logistics area, linked to the Scheldt and inland European corridors.
Ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antwerp | BEANR | Antwerp | Containers, chemicals, breakbulk and Ro-Ro |
| Port Of Antwerp | BEANT | Antwerp | Deep-sea gateway and industrial cargo |
| Albertkanaal Ports | BEABK | Albertkanaal Ports | Inland waterway and distribution cargo |
| Hemiksem | BEHEM | Hemiksem | Industrial and inland terminal activity |
West Flanders Coast
The Zeebrugge and Bruges area supports short-sea, vehicle, Ro-Ro, container and ferry-linked logistics on the Belgian coast.
Ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Of Zeebrugge | BEZEE | Brugge | Ro-Ro, vehicles, containers and short-sea cargo |
| Bruges | BEBRS | Bruges | Regional port and logistics activity |
| Ostend | BEOST | Oostende | Project cargo, offshore support and short-sea traffic |
| Nieuwpoort | BENIE | Nieuwpoort | Small-scale coastal and inland-linked cargo |
Ghent and Scheldt Industrial Corridor
Ghent is an industrial port area connected to the North Sea through the Ghent–Terneuzen canal, with bulk and manufacturing-related cargo flows.
Ports and terminals
Brussels and Meuse Inland Corridors
Brussels and Liège connect Belgian distribution and industrial markets with the Scheldt, Meuse and wider European inland-waterway network.
Ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussel | BEBRU | Brussel | Urban distribution and inland container flows |
| Liege | BELGE | Liege | Inland containers, steel and industrial cargo |
| Liege | BELGG | Liege | Regional inland-waterway logistics |
| Belgrade | BEBGA | Namur | Inland and regional cargo reference |
| Ris Inland Waterways | BEXXX | Ris Inland Waterways | Inland-waterway network reference |
Belgium UN/LOCODE Port Codes
Belgium port codes use the country prefix BE followed by a three-character location identifier. The exact code should be checked against the booking, terminal, customs and transport documents.
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
One commercial gateway can appear under more than one operational or database reference. Antwerp is listed as BEANR and Port Of Antwerp as BEANT, so the carrier or terminal instruction should determine the correct record.
How to Verify a Belgium Port Code
Compare the code with the official UNECE UN/LOCODE framework and then cross-check the available records in the Ecer Freight port directory before preparing shipping documents.
Shipping from Belgium: Main Trade Lanes
Indicative transit times depend on sailing schedules, transshipment, equipment availability, customs procedures and the final inland destination. Carrier confirmation is required before booking.
Belgium to East Asia
Deep-sea container services connect Antwerp and Zeebrugge with major Asian production and consumer markets.
Belgium to North America
Regular services support containerized machinery, chemicals, consumer goods and industrial cargo between Belgium and North America.
Belgium to the United Kingdom and Ireland
Short-sea and feeder networks serve retail, manufacturing, project and temperature-controlled cargo flows.
Belgium to the Mediterranean
Mediterranean services provide access to Southern Europe, North Africa and transshipment hubs.
Data Methodology and Sources
The page separates Ecer Freight indexed coverage from national, port-authority and industry throughput statistics. Public figures are used only when the reporting scope and year are reasonably comparable.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 18 Belgium port and terminal records, database snapshot Nov 2026.
- Port of Antwerp-Bruges — official port throughput, container and vessel-activity reporting, including 2025 figures where published.
- Statbel — Belgium’s official statistics institution and national transport and freight-statistics reference.
- UNECE — international UN/LOCODE framework used for location-code verification.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — maritime geographic and port-reference material used as a secondary cross-check.
Belgium Port FAQ
How many seaports does Belgium have?
Belgium has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of Nov 2026. The figure is an indexed database count rather than a legal count of every Belgian maritime or inland facility.
What is the main port code for Antwerp?
The Ecer Freight sample lists Antwerp as BEANR and Port Of Antwerp as BEANT. The correct reference depends on the carrier, terminal and shipping-document instruction.
Which is the busiest port area in Belgium?
The Antwerp–North Sea gateway is generally Belgium’s busiest port area by container and total cargo activity. Port Of Zeebrugge, recorded as BEZEE, is especially important for Ro-Ro, vehicle and short-sea traffic.
Which Belgian port regions serve inland logistics?
Brussels, Liège and the Albertkanaal Ports support inland-waterway and regional distribution connections. Their cargo role differs from the deep-sea container function of Antwerp and Zeebrugge.
How current are the Belgium port statistics?
The database snapshot is Nov 2026. The latest complete statistical year used for comparable port reporting is generally 2025, although individual authorities may publish revisions on different schedules.
Can freight rates be checked for shipping from Belgium?
Yes. FCL and LCL rate requests can be submitted through the relevant Ecer Freight quote pages. Final pricing is subject to origin, destination, equipment, sailing schedule, cargo details and local charges.
Editorial note: Belgium port-code coverage is maintained from the Ecer Freight port database and reviewed against official port, national-statistics and international location-code sources. Throughput and trade-lane information is updated as authoritative annual data becomes available, with routine page review during the year.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Belgium: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact