About NBN

Never heard of NBN? On this page you'll find out everything. Who we are, what we do and why.

Everything you need to know about NBN

We develop, publish and disseminate standards in Belgium.

What are standards? Standards are agreements. An agreed way of doing things as well as possible. Best practices for making a product or providing a service, for example. Always bundled in handy knowledge documents.

Our mission: to make knowledge accessible

To smoothly guide Belgian companies and other stakeholders to the latest knowledge. And this in all possible fields. That is what we do it for. Our motto is therefore 'Trusted Knowledge'.  

We focus on four pillars: create knowledge, use knowledge, learn knowledge and share knowledge.

Why standards are important

Everyone benefits from using standards: governments, businesses and organisations, as well as consumers. You and me, that is.

Icon of a light bulb used in the graph 'tursted knowledge' of NBN to portray creating knowledge.
Icon of connected dots used in the graph 'tursted knowledge' of NBN to portray sharing knowledge. Bringing professionals and specialists together to exchange knowledge and experience: it is a strength of NBN.
Icon of a graduation hat used in the graph 'tursted knowledge' of NBN to portray gaining knowledge. To familiarize yourself with the vast and exciting world of management systems, NBN offers training courses. The e-learning provides the basic information and the Master Track deepens your knowledge.
icon of a wrench used in the graph 'tursted knowledge' of NBN to portray the use of knowledge. The NBN online standards platform gives you access to NBN's huge catalogue of knowledge documents.
Icon of a light bulb used in the graph 'tursted knowledge' of NBN to portray creating knowledge.
Creating knowledge: NBN ensures the development of standards in Belgium. We bring together specialists from companies, organisations, governments and education to work on best practices in all sectors. Standards are also a useful tool for putting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs into practice.
icon of a wrench used in the graph 'tursted knowledge' of NBN to portray the use of knowledge. The NBN online standards platform gives you access to NBN's huge catalogue of knowledge documents.
Using knowledge: The online standards platform gives you access to NBN's huge catalogue of knowledge documents. You quickly and easily consult the latest standards, tailored to your organisation.
Icon of a graduation hat used in the graph 'tursted knowledge' of NBN to portray gaining knowledge. To familiarize yourself with the vast and exciting world of management systems, NBN offers training courses. The e-learning provides the basic information and the Master Track deepens your knowledge.
Gaining knowledge: To familiarize yourself with the vast and exciting world of management systems, NBN offers training courses. The e-learning provides the basic information and the Master Track deepens your knowledge. Those who like to help develop standards can take an expert training course.
Icon of connected dots used in the graph 'tursted knowledge' of NBN to portray sharing knowledge. Bringing professionals and specialists together to exchange knowledge and experience: it is a strength of NBN.
Sharing knowledge: Bringing professionals and specialists together to exchange knowledge and experience: it is a strength of NBN. Every year we organize inspiration and networking events, webinars and seminars to which everyone is welcome.

How we put our mission into practice for you? Find out in our annual report.

NBN also stands its ground internationally. For example, we cooperate with:

Logo ISOLogo IECLogo of ITULogo CENlogo of CENELECLogo ETSILogo CEB/BEC blue square with lightning bolt

Would you like to know more about these institutions? Read all about them on our partner page.


Theory becomes practice

NBN puts its money where its mouth is. We highly value quality and customer orientation: this is proven by our ISO 9001 quality management certificate. With the ISO 27001 certificate, we also pull the card of information security.

NBN in good hands

The Board of Directors consists of 30 representatives of companies, unions, federal and regional governments and consumer organisations. They are dutifully committed to the proper functioning of NBN.

As a public benefit institution, NBN falls under the tutelage of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Works, Economy and Consumers in charge of foreign trade.

Address: NBN, rue Joseph II, 40 bus 6, 1000 Brussels

Bank details: BNP Parisbas Fortis Schuman, Place Robert Schuman 10, 1040 Etterbeek

IBAN: BE41 0003 2556 2110

BIC code: GEBABEBB

VAT: BE 0880.857.592