The Federatie Vrije Beroepen (FVB) serves as the principal advocate and support center for liberal professionals in Belgium, offering tailored information, networking events, and valuable resources. As the umbrella organization for liberal professions, FVB collaborates with numerous representative professional organizations and their thousands of members. In partnership with UNIZO, FVB represents the interests of liberal professionals and their organizations at the Flemish, Brussels, and federal levels. The federation provides a relevant range of services for its affiliated organizations and individual liberal professionals. Established in 1982, FVB has over sixty years of experience in supporting liberal professionals. The organization is structured as a non-profit association, governed by a management committee, a board of directors, and a general assembly. The management committee and the board of directors meet at least four times annually, while the general assembly convenes at least once per year. FVB is a structural partner of UNIZO, which is represented in both the board of directors and the general assembly. The current chairman is Tom Bovyn, with Anton Smagghe serving as secretary-general. Since the fall of 2025, Bart Buysse, also the head of UNIZO, has been the managing director. (federatievrijeberoepen.be ) FVB clusters professional groups with related content to encourage cross-pollination and better advocate for their interests. These clusters include 'construction' and 'legal-economic professions.' Notably, the 'Network of Independent Healthcare Providers' (NZZ) aims to structurally unite healthcare professionals. The NZZ is chaired by Hilde Deneyer, with vice-chairpersons Stefaan Hanson and Dirk Verleyen. (federatievrijeberoepen.be ) In addition to its cluster operations, FVB has maintained a steering group of liberal professionals in East Flanders who are UNIZO members. The federation aspires to establish similar groups in other provinces to foster connections among liberal professionals through the UNIZO network. The input from these steering groups is invaluable, providing insights into the realities faced by liberal professionals and facilitating cross-professional intervision. (federatievrijeberoepen.be ) FVB ensures that liberal professions receive the attention they deserve by engaging thoughtfully with the press. Press contacts can be reached via 0494 494 766 (Anton Smagghe) and/or [email protected] . Photographic materials are available upon request through these channels. (federatievrijeberoepen.be ) The federation's headquarters are located at Willebroekkaai 37, 1000 Brussels. They can be contacted by phone at 02 212 25 04 or via email at [email protected] . The company registration number is 0412.875.649. (federatievrijeberoepen.be ) FVB continues to strengthen its role as the network organization for liberal professionals. In February 2026, the federation organized a breakfast session to reinforce collaboration among various professional organizations. This initiative aims to enhance cooperation across sectors, including legal and economic professions, construction professions, and healthcare professions. Each sector is chaired by a professional active in the respective field, ensuring that the unique needs and challenges of each profession are addressed effectively. (federatievrijeberoepen.be ) In December 2025, FVB announced its 2026 annual theme, "Versterking gezocht" ("Strengthening Sought"), focusing on addressing the structural understaffing and overburdening in many liberal professions. The federation emphasizes the need for action to ensure that the engine of society—liberal professionals—does not come to a halt due to a lack of personnel. (federatievrijeberoepen.be ) Through these initiatives and its ongoing commitment, the Federatie Vrije Beroepen continues to defend, strengthen, and connect liberal professionals across Belgium.
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