More and more people are turning their passion into their profession by starting up an independent activity. In West Flanders, the number of starting self-employed people last year was 9.7 percent higher than in 2017, with 12,074 starters. It is the smallest increase of all Flemish provinces (average +14.4%).
The liberal professions – such as (dentist) doctors, accountants, professionals, etc. – form the largest group with 3,590 starters in West Flanders, an increase of more than 13 percent compared to five years earlier.