Public administration and defence; compulsory social security: the largest employers in Flanders
As of 12 Nov 2026, 39 companies in Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (NACE 84) in Flanders report employees in recent accounts (financial years 2023 to 2025). The 10 largest employers account for 3,629.2 FTE, out of 3,934.7 for all of them; median headcount is 9 FTE. GasthuisZusters Antwerpen leads with 2,583.1 FTE (financial year 2023).
Top 39 · Public administration and defence; compulsory social security · Flanders
Ranked by average headcount (FTE) reported in the latest filed accounts (accounts less than 3 years old).
Ranking based on each company's own annual accounts (statutory, not consolidated): a subsidiary and its parent appear separately, and the ranking differs from lists based on consolidated group accounts. Headcount reported by the company for all its sites: the jobs may be located elsewhere.
“—”: not published. Small companies (micro and abridged accounts) do not have to publish their revenue.
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security across Belgium → All sectors · Flanders →
Other sectors · Flanders
- 01 Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities1,948
- 02 Forestry and logging64
- 03 Fishing and aquaculture60
- 08 Other mining and quarrying41
- 10 Manufacture of food products2,131
- 11 Manufacture of beverages152
- 12 Manufacture of tobacco products15
- 13 Manufacture of textiles422
- 14 Manufacture of wearing apparel128
- 15 Manufacture of leather and related products of other materials22
- 16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials497
- 17 Manufacture of paper and paper products149
- 18 Printing and reproduction of recorded media466
- 19 Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products11
- 20 Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products365
- 21 Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations72
- 22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products373
- 23 Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products564
- 24 Manufacture of basic metals153
- 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment2,057
- 26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products239
- 27 Manufacture of electrical equipment229
- 28 Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.652
- 29 Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers183
- 30 Manufacture of other transport equipment60
- 31 Manufacture of furniture513
- 32 Other manufacturing416
- 33 Repair, maintenance and installation of machinery and equipment708
- 35 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply108
- 36 Water collection, treatment and supply15
- 37 Sewerage72
- 38 Waste collection, recovery and disposal activities378
- 39 Remediation activities and other waste management service activities40
- 41 Construction of residential and non-residential buildings3,492
- 42 Civil engineering943
- 43 Specialised construction activities10,806
- 46 Wholesale trade10,014
- 47 Retail trade11,712
- 49 Land transport and transport via pipelines3,116
- 50 Water transport118
- 51 Air transport33
- 52 Warehousing, storage and support activities for transportation1,021
- 53 Postal and courier activities175
- 55 Accommodation897
- 56 Food and beverage service activities8,666
- 58 Publishing activities231
- 59 Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities289
- 60 Programming, broadcasting, news agency and other content distribution activities25
- 61 Telecommunication84
- 62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities3,117
- 63 Computing infrastructure, data processing, hosting and other information service activities218
- 64 Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding2,369
- 65 Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security31
- 66 Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities1,957
- 68 Real estate activities2,916
- 69 Legal and accounting activities3,059
- 70 Activities of head offices and management consultancy2,566
- 71 Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis1,839
- 72 Scientific research and development176
- 73 Activities of advertising, market research and public relations813
- 74 Other professional, scientific and technical activities313
- 75 Veterinary activities326
- 77 Rental and leasing activities509
- 78 Employment activities422
- 79 Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities270
- 80 Investigation and security activities78
- 81 Services to buildings and landscape activities1,730
- 82 Office administrative, office support and other business support activities776
- 85 Education549
- 86 Human health activities3,162
- 87 Residential care activities515
- 88 Social work activities without accommodation762
- 90 Arts creation and performing arts activities306
- 91 Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities57
- 92 Gambling and betting activities56
- 93 Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities854
- 94 Activities of membership organisations282
- 95 Repair and maintenance of computers, personal and household goods, and motor vehicles and motorcycles984
- 96 Personal service activities1,624
Municipalities with the most companies in the sector · Flanders
- 2000 Antwerp5
- 9000 Ghent4
- 2018 Antwerp3
- 8400 Ostend (Stene, Zandvoorde)3
- 9200 Dendermonde (Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, …)3
- 9300 Aalst3
- 1800 Vilvoorde (Peutie)2
- 2300 Turnhout2
- 2800 Mechelen (Walem)2
- 3080 Tervuren (Duisburg, Vossem)2
- 3220 Holsbeek (Kortrijk-Dutsel, Sint-Pieters-Rode)2
- 3500 Hasselt (Sint-Lambrechts-Herk)2
Frequently asked questions
Which is the largest employer in Public administration and defence; compulsory social security in Flanders?
Among companies, GasthuisZusters Antwerpen, with 2,583.1 full-time equivalents reported (financial year 2023).
Are all the jobs located in the area?
Not necessarily: headcount is reported by the company for all its sites, and the company is ranked by the address of its registered office. 39 out of 102 companies in the sector report employees there.
Why does this ranking differ from other lists?
It uses each company's annual accounts as filed with the National Bank, not consolidated group accounts. A holding, a subsidiary or a purchasing entity can therefore appear separately. Only companies whose latest accounts are less than 3 years old are ranked.
Analyse companies · Flanders
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Open the full file →Active companies (legal entities) that have filed at least one set of annual accounts, based on the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises and the National Bank of Belgium. The sector is the main activity in the register; the municipality is that of the registered office. Data updated on 12 Nov 2026.