Does the EAA Apply to Belgian Webshops?
Accessibility (EAA)In most cases, yes. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) — Directive (EU) 2019/882 — has applied since 28 June 2025 and treats consumer-facing e-commerce as a covered service. If your webshop sells to consumers in Belgium, it is expected to be accessible to people with disabilities, tested against EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 level AA.
How Belgium fits in
The EAA is an EU directive transposed into national law. Because of Belgium’s structure, transposition spans federal and regional legislation, and official information may be in Dutch, French or German depending on the region. The accessibility obligation itself, however, is the same as everywhere else in the EU.
When you might be exempt
The main carve-out is for microenterprises providing services. You are exempt only if you meet both of these:
- Fewer than 10 staff, and
- Annual turnover or balance-sheet total of no more than €2 million.
Cross either threshold and the exemption falls away. Even when it applies, an accessible shop is still worth building — it reaches more customers and future-proofs you if you grow. For more, see our European Accessibility Act law page and the complete accessibility guide.
This answer is educational and does not constitute legal advice.