Belgian market pivots back into the plus

Although market data will not start trickling in across Europe for a couple of months, figures presented during Velofollies show that Belgium is starting the year on the back of a 7.7% increase in sales volume in 2025. Economists are suggesting that excess inventory from 2024-25 will likely haunt balance sheets until 2027, but Belgium is proving to be an exception. With sales back in the plus, there is renewed optimism in the local market.

Following a 5.8% drop in total market sales value in 2024, the e-bike was a key market driver in Belgium in 2025 where sales rose 7.7% to 250,000 units between January and November. In terms of value, this represents a 11.8% increase to Є773 million. Considered one of Europe’s mature e-bike markets, these account for nearly two-thirds of sales revenue, while e-bike prices have stabilised at an average price of €3,088, a 3.8% rise compared to the same period in 2025.

Professionalisation of the sector

A lot of this growth has been attributed to a further professionalisation in the sector, according to Traxio Chairman Thomas Vanderhoydonck, who presented the sales figures on the stage at Velofollies. Vanderhoydonck owns Fietsen De Geus, a stalwart bicycle shop in Antwerp, with three other shops in the Flanders region of the country. “[There’s been] a bike revolution in the sector in Belgium in recent years,” De Geus said.

As cycling reaches a wider demographic, retailers are responding by professionalising their store concepts, expanding workshops on electrification and enhancing their digital presence. “We also see that the market is changing and many small stand-alone players are joining together in one chain, including the public sector, media and the industry.”

Third-best year for speed pedelecs

Belgium is widely recognised as the biggest and most important speed pedelec market in Europe, leading in both sales and adoption. 2025 was a record year for second-hand speed pedelecs and the third-best year ever for new speed pedelecs. With 23,681 registrations (14,058 new and 9,623 second-hand) this comfortably surpassed the cumulative 23,277 units of 2022. “Last year we already predicted that there was room for further growth, and this was confirmed as the market rebounded with a 2.6% to 14,058 units,” confirmed Traxio spokesperson Filip Rylant.