Rural Vitality
The East Flemish countryside offers an attractive living and working environment but also faces specific challenges such as rural accessibility, sustainable agriculture, community involvement, and biodiversity protection. The Province develops policies and initiatives to enhance rural livability and support citizens, associations and entrepreneurs, making the region a fertile ground for rural-focused EU projects. Within the European Leader programme, regular and small projects are supported in three focus areas.
Urban Innovation
Our three core cities—Ghent, Aalst, and Sint-Niklaas—are key hubs for economic and social development. These cities tackle challenges related to themes such as spatial planning, environment, urban greening, housing and social cohesion. We collaborate closely with urban centres to develop targeted solutions, using our expertise in (social) spatial planning and sustainable investments to drive impactful change.
Green-Blue Networks
Our work on green-blue networks enhances biodiversity, strengthens climate resilience, and improves the quality of life by preserving and restoring natural spaces. Through the creation of a 'blue' network of river valleys, we help protect East Flanders from flooding and drought, while our 'green' initiatives combat soil erosion and biodiversity loss.
Natura 2000: Preserving Natural Heritage
Key areas like the Flemish Ardennes and the Sea Scheldt are part of the Natura 2000 network. We are committed to safeguarding these sites through regional policies, stakeholder cooperation, and pilot projects aimed at improving biodiversity. Three landscape Parks and a brand new Unesco Geopark Schelde Delta are cherished gems in our landscape.
Innovative Nature-Based Solutions
From managing forests and roadsides to connecting natural habitats through waterways, we are pioneering climate-resilient landscapes. Our Center for Environmental Research, PCM, offers expertise in soil, water, air quality, and biodiversity research and monitoring making us a valuable partner for sustainability projects.
LEADER regions
East Flanders holds three LEADER regions. Each region has its own development strategy, built around the three main rural topics of agricultur, landscape and villages. Each region is open to finding partners for a transnational LEADER project.
Sustainable Living and Building
Our Center for Sustainable Living and Building provides tailored advice and expertise for energy-efficient construction and renovation projects, making East Flanders a leader in sustainable urban development.
Green Energy
We’re driving the transition to a circular energy economy with regionally generated green energy solutions. Our initiatives include climate-friendly housing projects and the promotion of best practices in energy efficiency.
Sustainable Mobility
With 11 bicycle highways serving over 18,000 daily cyclists, East Flanders is at the forefront of sustainable mobility. We aim to expand this network to 680 km, reducing carbon emissions and supporting a green transport revolution.
Water-Rail-Road Connectivity
Strategically positioned with access to three rivers and two canals, East Flanders offers direct connections to European inland waterways and the North Sea. Our three major highways (E40, E17, E34) and dense railway network support efficient multimodal transport solutions, aligned with EU goals for congestion reduction and lower CO₂ emissions. The Province focuses on intelligent logistics (intelligent timing, a better comination of goods flows, improved cooperation) and provides an infrastructural framework for small scale practical testing (Fabriek Logistiek).
Trans-European Transport Corridors
Our region is crossed by two key TEN-T corridors:
• North Sea – Baltic
• North Sea – Rhine – Mediterranean
These corridors, along with North Sea Port and Waasland Port, position East Flanders as a vital player in Europe’s logistics and trade infrastructure.
Innovation Playground – our focus on Innovation and Industry Clusters
East Flanders thrives on innovation, with key sectors like bio-economy, cleantech, agro&food and smart logistics driving economic growth. We are home to pioneering start-ups and global leaders in industries like materials science and digital technologies, creating a fertile environment for EU-funded innovation projects.
Circular Economy
A cornerstone of our regional strategy is transitioning towards a circular economy. We provide strong support to businesses aiming to reduce resource consumption and CO₂ emissions, aligning perfectly with EU sustainability goals.
A Region of Learning
Ghent University, with its 200+ programmes and cutting-edge research, alongside our high-quality polytechnics, provides a strong foundation for education and innovation. Our policies support students in making informed choices and transitioning into a competitive labour market.
Social Entrepreneurship
We champion social entrepreneurship, supporting enterprises that address societal challenges through innovative business models. Our efforts help to integrate sustainability into business practices, while fostering cooperation between social and traditional enterprises.
Tourism and Recreation
Our tourism agency focuses on sustainable tourism, developing quality recreational spaces and promoting the rich cultural and natural heritage of East Flanders. Our seven provincial recreation sites offer ideal locations for relaxation, sport and outdoor activities, creating opportunities for cooperation on tourism and recreation projects.
Heritage Conservation
We are deeply committed to preserving our archaeological, maritime and military heritage. Through a combination of sustainable infrastructure investments and innovative reuse of heritage sites, we balance tradition with modern development, making our region an inspiring model for heritage preservation.