Which institution has been Belgium’s central bank since it was founded in 1850?

The National Bank of Belgium has been Belgium’s central bank since it was founded in 1850.

It was created by an act of 5 May 1850 during the reign of King Leopold I. The bank was established as a public limited company, giving Belgium a central institution for issuing banknotes and managing monetary and financial affairs.

The National Bank of Belgium is a member of the Eurosystem, so it participates in implementing the European Central Bank’s monetary policy. It also performs national responsibilities, including collecting economic statistics, supervising parts of the financial system, and distributing euro banknotes and coins.

A common mix-up is confusing the bank with the European Central Bank, which is headquartered in Frankfurt. The National Bank of Belgium is Belgium’s own national central bank, while the ECB sets monetary policy for the euro area. Its Brussels headquarters are located on Boulevard de Berlaimont.