Belgium

2024 Belgium Global Money Week

GMW NATIONAL COORDINATOR:

  • Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Teachers from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Teachers from the Flemish Community, The European Banking Federation (EBF)

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 2

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 125 000

NUMBER OF ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 250 000

During Global Money Week 2024, over 125000 pupils took part in various initiatives organised by the FSMA and its partners. The FSMA organised a Wikifin Roadshow called “Save smart with Wikifin!”. To raise awareness of Wikifin, the FSMA launched a roadshow that criss-crossed Belgium in an eye-catching vehicle in the shape of a piggy bank. Passers-by could take part in a quiz on savings. They were able to test their knowledge of the subject and discover the new Savings Account Comparison Tool. After the GMW, the roadshow will be making stops at various locations, including (annual) markets, activity centres and local events.

Furthermore, during GMW, a new version of the Savings Account Comparison Tool was launched. This new version allows consumers to compare interest rates on regulated savings accounts more easily. Savings accounts are the most popular savings products in Belgium. After entering the initial amount they wish to invest, the additional amount they plan to deposit each month and the term for which they wish to invest their money, users are presented with a list of savings accounts ranked according to the interest earned. They can then filter the list and view more details for each account. The tool includes regulated savings accounts available in Belgium from banks that have signed up to the Savings Account Comparison Tool protocol.

During this year's Money Week, Her Majesty The Queen once again stressed the importance of financial education from an early age. The Queen visited two schools on Friday 22 March to learn about the new Wikifin game "The ABCs of Budgeting" with the children. She met primary school pupils at the Basisschool De Stadsmus in Auderghem and at the École Paroissiale Notre Dame des Grâces in Woluwé-Saint-Pierre.

Some 2,100 primary classes played one of the three Wikifin games. The "ABC's of Budgeting" allows pupils in primary years 1 to 2 to learn how to manage a budget while playing a game. They buy their own school supplies and try to stay within their budget. The games ‘Gère tes pépètes’ and ‘Just’in Budget’ allow pupils in primary years 3 to 6 learn how to manage a budget and realise that a euro can only be spent once. More than 125,000 pupils took part this year in GMW2024, 25,000 more than in 2023. Many FSMA staff members visited primary school classes during Money Week to run one or other of the games. 1,100 secondary school classes took part in the Wikifin Quiz to sharpen their financial knowledge. Pupils tackled topics such as budget management, savings, means of payment and fraud by answering questions at a level adapted to each grade. 25,000 primary 5 and 6 pupils received the second edition of a Wikifin magazine that children can use at home with their parents or in the classroom. Last but not least, a competition took place where classes could win a VIP visit to the Wikifin Lab. To do so, they had to send a short video with their question about money. The winners of the French Wikifin Challenge asked the FSMA about the European Central Bank’s project around the digital euro and the difference with cryptocurrencies. The winners of the Dutch Wikifin Challenge asked the FSMA “Why don’t all countries have the same currency?”

2023 Belgium Global Money Week

GMW NATIONAL COORDINATOR:

  • Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Political representatives from the federal government; Teachers from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and the Flemish Community's Ministry of Education; The Federation of the Belgian Financial Sector (FEBELFIN); The European Banking Federation (EBF); The Federation of the Belgian Insurance Sector (ASSURALIA); BIZ/CAW and Reference Centers for debt mediation; Belgian Federal Public Service Economy; Belgian Federal Public Service Finance; KU Leuven (University); Credit and Debt Observatory; BELvue Museum; Belgian National Bank (BNB); The Royal Federation of Belgian Notaries (FEDNOT); Belgian Federal Pension Service; The King Baudouin Foundation; Expertise Center for Budget and Financial Well-being (CEBUD) - Thomas More College; Belgian Asset Managers Association (BEAMA); Ombudsman (Insurance)
    Steunpunt Mens & Samenleving (SAM); Union professionnelle de courtiers d'assurance (UPCA-BVVM); Federation of insurance brokers and financial intermediaries (FEPRABEL - FVF); Belgian Association for Pension Institutions (PensioPlus); Federal Public Service Chancellery of the Prime Minister
    Support Centre for Debt Mediation Services (CAMD)

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 34

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 100 000

NUMBER OF ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 42 850

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 4 000 000

Throughout the Belgian Money Week 2023, the FSMA reached 100,000 children and youth through a wide range of activities. Primary school pupils played one of the FSMA's board games on money matters: more than 50,000 played ‘Gère tes pépètes’ or ‘Just’in Budget’. With these, Wikifin supports teachers who want to approach financial education in a playful and enriching way. Wikifin added a new game this year, and 25,000 pupils in years 1 and 2 played ‘EuroKID’, which teaches how to handle money in everyday situations. 25,000 pupils in years 5 and 6 received a ‘Petit journal’, which contains activities and games to do in class/at home. 25,000 secondary students took part in the online Wikifin Quiz and practised with the sample questions from previous editions.


This year, the FSMA celebrated the 10th anniversary of its financial education programme, Wikifin. On 20 March, FSMA launched the Money Week together with its 33 main stakeholders in financial education, where they reviewed the achievements of the last decade and presented the respective future projects. Wikifin has unveiled 4 new educational videos, produced in a format that appeals to teenagers. They cover investing, crypto, taxes and credit. They were launched by federal government officials at a Wikifin Lab event attended by teachers and students, who had a chance to dialogue with them. The videos were supplemented by an information sheet for teachers and a quiz for students. Between the 13th of March and the 9th of April, the FSMA launched an awareness campaign to promote Wikifin on social networks and on the radio targeted towards the wider general public.

2022 Belgium Global Money Week

GMW NATIONAL COORDINATOR:

  • Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • The Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Flemish Education Minister, Wikifin Lab, Radio 2, debt mediation centers, schools

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 13

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 70,750

NUMBER OF ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 2,830

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 6,800,000

During Global Money Week 2022, the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) along with partners reached 75,000 children and youth through the following activities:

  • Presentation of the results of the FSMA survey of retail investors in Belgium during digital GMW Launch event;
  • Two educational board games “Gère tes pépètes” and “Just'in Budget” played in primary schools;
  • Online Wikifin Quiz for secondary schools to test their financial knowledge;
  • Interactive class on “Saving & Investing” led by the Wikifin Lab;
  • Participation of influencers (through video spots) during the interactive class;
  • Partnership with Radio 2 where a Wikifin Quiz was used to test their audiences’ knowledge on saving and investing. The answers were made available on the Radio 2 webpage;
  • Interview with a Wikifin Lab guide and student who played the stock-exchange game in the Lab;
  • A discovery visit of the Wikifin Lab with the main stakeholders of the Wallonia-Brussels Educational system including the Minister-President of the Fédération Wallonia-Brussels and the Minister of Education.

2021 Belgium Global Money Week

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • FSMA (Financial Services and Markets Authority) / Wikifin, the Belgian Monarchy with Her Majesty the Queen Mathilde, The Belgian Federal Government with Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy and Employment, Minister of Finance, Fight against Fraud, Minister of Small Businesses, the Self-Employed, SMEs and Agriculture, Institutional Reform and Democratic Renewal, Minister of Pensions and Social Integration, Combating Poverty, State Secretary for the Budget and Consumer Protection, Federation of the Belgian financial sector: Febelfin, School's Federation Wallonia-Brussels, Flemish Community of Education, European Banking Federation (EBF), and others

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • 3,010

NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 10,300

NUMBER OF ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 710,000

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • Not reported

Throughout Global Money Week 2021, the FSMA/Wikifin along with partners such as the Belgian Monarchy, the Belgian Federal Government, the schools of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and of the Flemish Community, Febelfin, BIZ/CAW and reference centres to fight over-indebtedness reached 13,000 children and youth through several digital activities.

10,000 secondary school students had a very unique opportunity to take digital classes led by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the cabinet ministers of the Federal Government and by the Chairman of the FSMA. Topics discussed included “From barter to bitcoin: the evolution of payment methods in an increasingly digital economy”, “The labour market and the professions of the future”, “Why do we pay personal income tax? What are the obligations of Belgians in this respect?”, “What is the difference between self-employed status as an individual and as a company?”, “The functioning of social security”, “The state budget and tips for managing your budget”, “Sources of financing for businesses: from bank credit to crowdfunding”, and many more. For teachers and students who did not get a chance to attend, they could view the sessions on the Wikifin website.

More than 2,000 students from the first and second year of secondary school had a chance to test their financial knowledge and responsible consumption during the Wikifin Quiz held on March, 24th. This activity was a collaboration with the Federation of the Belgian Financial Sector (Febelfin). For everyone who did not have a chance to participate in the Wikifin Quiz, the questions were made available online, or they could play directly via the website and the Kahoot! app. Also, free teaching materials were made available on the Wikifin School website to help teachers prepare their classes for the Wikifin Quiz.

One 5th-year and one 6th-year class of primary school had a chance to take part in a remote conversation with Her Majesty Queen Mathilde on March, 18th, an event that kicked-started the Belgian Money Week. The students had an opportunity to learn about budgeting through the educational game “Just'in Budget.” Through the game, the youth gained better understanding of the difference between cash and bank payments, why it is important to put money aside for the unexpected, what credit is and its impact on budget management, why paying in instalments is more expensive than paying in one go, and more. They then spoke with Her Majesty about what they had learnt from the experience in terms of budget management.

Moreover, BIZ/CAW, in charge of debt prevention in Flanders and Brussels focused on the WAKOSTA app where students could enter all their income and expenditure while the app calculates what is left over each week or month. Groupe Action Surendettement (GAS), a co-creator of the Just’in Budget game engaged youth with their initiative.

2019 Belgium Global Money Week

LEADING ORGANISATIONS:

  • FSMA - Financial Services and Markets Authority- Belgium, Wikifin
  • Insurance Europe

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  •  Not Reported

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 40 000

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 600

FSMA - Financial Services and Markets Authority- Belgium
Once again, the FSMA organised the national edition of Global Money Week in Belgium, with 75 school classes participating in the money quiz, organised by Wikifin, the financial education programme of FSMA, and Febelfin. During the quiz, the students were presented 30 financially oriented questions, which concerned matters regarding daily life. The class that gave the most correct answers in the shortest amount of time was allowed to participate in the European finals. Additionally, Wikifin organised activities for students of different ages. For the younger students, this entailed the games “budg€tPRET” and “Just’in Budget”, where children learnt how to establish a budget and discover that you can only spend a euro once. For the older students, the Money Quiz and the Wikifin School Challenge were organised. During the Challenge, students learnt how to manage a budget with the game “Budget Aan-Zet”. Through the game, the students learnt about daily monetary related issues.

Insurance Europe
For GMW2019, Insurance Europe published a paper titled, “5 Tips To Insure Your Home Wisely”, which is available for downloading here.

2018 Belgium Global Money Week

LEADING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA)

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • Assuralia, Bel RTL, Brocom, BudgetInzicht, CAW, Cebud, Créno, De Tijd, European Consumer Centre Belgium, Febelfin, FOD Economy, FPS Finance, GAS Lux, Gezinsbond, GILS, L'Echo, Markant, Médénam, National Social Security Office, Netwerk Basiseducatie, OCMW Laarne, Radio 2, SAM, Credit and Indebtedness Observatory, National Bank of Belgium, Support Centre for Debt Mediation Services for the Brussels Capital Region, VOKA

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 77 500

NUMBER OF PEOPLE REACHED INDIRECTLY:

  • 1 300 000

Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA)
FSMA and Wikifin.be organised multiple events for Global Money Week in Belgium. The goal was the open up conversation on money matters and draw special attention to the importance of financial education. 70,000 children between the ages of 7 and 12 learnt how to manage a budget by participating in two games - “budg€tPRET/Gère tes pépètes” and “Just’in Budget”. For secondary schools, Wikifin.be organised two games (a challenge and a quiz) to learn and talk about money. Wikifin.be organised info markets in 4 areas of Belgium, where children could get their questions on money answered, as to create real-life examples to raise awareness on money matters. More than 2.500 students visited the Info markets to follow an “educational trail” guided by an online application. Wikifin.be conducted a survey, “Your credit, worth considering”, the results of which made money matters the subject of an even wider national conversation. Her Majesty the Queen was invited by Wikifin.be to debate with several organisations. Together with Radio 2 and Bel RTL, Wikifin.be organised two radio shows, so that discussions on money matters would reach a large audience during the week. By releasing such materials, Wikifin.be ensured that financial education in Belgium would have a long-term impact!

2017 Belgium Global Money Week

LEADING ORGANISATIONS:

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED DIRECTLY:

  • 100 00

By organising the Global Money Week, Wikifin.be sought to make money matters the subject of a broad conversation and drew special attention to financial education. There were various activities that took place throughout the week, available to the general public and to the educational sector. The 'Ring Around the World' event held at the Belgian Stock exchange officially opened the Week and was subsequently followed by a conference on financial education. Some activities throughout GMW took place at schools, for instance budg€tPRET/Gère tes pépètes - a game in which more than 50,000 children between the ages of 7 and 12 learnt in a playful manner how to manage a budget.

Wikifin.be organised both online and real-life resources to spread awareness about money matters by setting up, firstly, Info markets in 3 areas of Belgium where questions about money posed by passers-by could be answered; conducting a survey dubbed ‘To save or not to save?’, the results of which Wikifin.be, in collaboration with media corporations, made money matters the subject of an even wider national conversation; sending a federal truck to different schools with education materials; and, developing MoneyTest, an online tool allowing participants to discover their financial profile. By releasing such materials that outlasted the official GMW2017, Wikifin.be ensured that financial education in Belgium would have a long-term impact!

More information: www.deweekvanhetgeld.be / www.lasemainedelargent.be

2016 Belgium Global Money Week

LEADING ORGANISATIONS:

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS:

  • De Tijd/L'Echo, Radio 1, RTBF, Federal Pensioendienst (Pensions Board), FOD Economie (FPS Economy), FOD Financiën (FPS Finance), Onbudsman van de verzekeringen (the Insurance Ombudsman), Ombudsfin (Ombudsman in financial conflicts), De Kanselarij van de Eerste Minister (the Chancery of the Prime Minister), De Nationale Bank van België (The National Bank of Belgium), Febelfin, Assuralia, L'Observatoire du Crédit et de l'Endettement (The Credit and Indebtedness Observatory), Centre d’Appui aux Services de Médiation de Dettes de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (The Support centre for Debt mediation services for the Brussels Capital Region), Vlaams Centrum Schuldenlast (The Flemmish centre for Debt mediation), The city of Brussels, The city of Antwerp, The city of Liège, Centrum voor budgetadvies en -ondezoek - Centre for budget advice and research, Wijzermetgeld.be, European Parliament, ENSIE, Finance Watch, European Investment Bank, GECES, Social Economy Europe, FEBEA, SEFEA, Credal, Bank of Karditsa, CERTH, University of Glasgow, Democritus University of Thrace, Ebanka, KEPA, FEBEA (European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks), Euronext

DATE OF THE EVENT:

  • 14th – 20th of March

TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH ENGAGED:

  • 130 000

TOTAL INDIRECT REACHED:

  • 2 100 000

This year, the Week was officially launched in Belgium on Monday 14 March at 9:00 a.m. with the “Ringing of the Bell” ceremony at the Brussels Stock Exchange of Euronext. The Belgian Ministers of Budget, of Finance and of Economy were present (Ms. Sophie Wilmès, Mr. Johan Vanovrtveldt and Mr. Kris Peeters). The pupils who attended the event were able to engage in discussion with Mr. Kris Peeters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment, the Economy and Consumer Affairs and with the Governor of the National Bank. All participating partners and media attended the event, where the results of a survey about how families handle money matters were presented in order to spark further conversation about money matters via the media. The following topics were addressed: money, pocket money, bank cards, smartphones, savings, insurance and real estate. Several other activities took place in Belgium throughout the Week:

More than 1,500 classes of years four, five and six throughout the country played the budget game “budg€tPRET/Gère tes pépètes”, an educational and fun game about budgeting. During the Week, Her Majesty the Queen visited two primary schools in Belgium, accompanied by the Ministers of Education. Her Majesty played ‘budg€tPRET/Gère tes pépètes’ in the class together with the children, which taught the pupils, who discussed solutions in groups, how to handle money, manage a budget, and make choices together. With this game, Wikifin.be supported teachers in bringing financial education to the classroom.

Wikifin.be/FSMA, De Tijd/L'Echo, Pensions Board, the National Social Security Office, FOD Economy, FPS Finance, the Insurance Ombudsman, Ombudsfin, the Chancery of the Prime Minister, the National Bank of Belgium, Febelfin, Assuralia, the Credit and Indebtedness Observatory, No Credit Day and the Support Centre for Debt Mediation Services for the Brussels Capital Region (a non-profit organisation) gathered at the Brussels Central Station to provide information about money matters. After the event at the Stock Exchange, students then visited the info market. The experts at the market were ready to answer all of their money-related questions, whether they be about pensions, loans, internet fraud, debt mediation or insurance.

An online money quiz “Are your finances on the rails?” (http://www.wikifin.be/nl/geldtest) was also circulated, which was able to tell youth whether they had firm control of their finances. Also, a federal truck drove through the entire country during the Week, stopping at various schools. During the visit, pupils played the budget game budg€tPRET/Gère tes pépètes in the Federal Truck and they could also leave a message in the chatterbox.

Furthermore, the FSMA and Wikifin.be, along with the FPS Economy, SMEs and Energy, the FPS Finance and the National Social Security Office, were present at the ‘Ondernemen/Entreprendre 2016’ Fair in order to provide information to entrepreneurs and interested people about various financial topics. This year, the topics of 'boiler rooms' and 'recovery rooms' were featured. Wikifin.be also introduced new online content for self-employed people, and prizes won through the Wikifin@School Challenge were distributed to the winning classes.

2015 Belgium Global Money Week

PARTICIPANTS:

  • The FSMA - Financial Services and Markets Authority in Belgium, Euronext Brussels, Vlerick Business School

DATE OF THE EVENT:

  • 11th and 16th of March

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED:

  • 50

The FSMA (the Financial Services and Markets Authority in Belgium) organised a second national conference on the subject of financial literacy for GMW, held in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Mathilde, on 11 March 2015 in the Egmont Palace in Brussels, Belgium.

Various leading figures from the political, academic and institutional spheres as well as the principal stakeholders involved in financial education in Belgium attended the conference. Recent research findings regarding the financial literacy in Belgium were presented. In light of these findings, Professor of Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics, gave a talk about how to understand and change individual financial behaviour. In the afternoon, workshops that brought together the stakeholders involved in financial education to share ideas and to provide a setting to work on future financial education collaborations.

The same day (March 11) Euronext Brussels invited Child & Youth Finance International to an opening bell ceremony as part of the Global Money Week celebrations. The ceremony, hosted by the CEO of Euronext Brussels, was followed by a presentation of the stock exchange. Vlerick Business School joined the ceremony together with other Child & Youth Finance International partners including MasterCard Corporation, Ashoka, and ESN.

On March 16 the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee invited young entrepreneurs and potential investors to the European launch and pitching event of Ye! It is the latest initiative of Child & Youth Finance International aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs. Representatives of the European Parliament, European Commission, European Investment Bank presented the initiatives that the European institutions are leading to support young entrepreneurs and also directly interacted and gave their feedback to 10 young inspiring entrepreneurs from all around Europe.If you would like to find out more about the 10 inspiring young entrepreneurs who pitched in Brussels, follow this link to the Ye! Community home page.

European Money Week is a joint initiative by European banking associations that aims to raise public awareness on financial literacy and improving financial education for students from elementary and secondary schools. The European Money Week is held under the umbrella of Global Money Week.

2014 Belgium Global Money Week

PARTICIPANTS:

DATE OF THE EVENT:

  • 10th - 17th of March

NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED:

  • 625

In Belgium, Euronext Brussels celebrated Global Money Week by inviting representatives of the European Banking Federation, MasterCard, the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute, the FSMA and Child & Youth Finance International to ring the Stock Exchange Bell. The bell ceremony was followed by a presentation on the ‘Role of the Stock Exchange in the Financing of the Companies’ done by the chairman and CEO of Euronext Brussels for university students from Karel de Grote Hogeschool and Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool as well as to school students from Khlim in Antwerp.

CYFI’s partners from the research group Education & Ict [ED+ict] at Limburg Catholic University College (KHlim) organised a youth talk with 20 teachers about SKILLVILLE in their university college. SKILLVILLE is an online media tool built to enhance youth’s key competencies. In the presentation, a teacher represented a school where all the 600 students played SKILLVILLE. KHlim’s education department students developed case studies to enhance financial literacy for their peer student-teachers.

Learn more:
www.skillville.be

2013 Belgium Global Money Week

NAME OF THE ORGANISING ENTITIES:

  • World Savings Banks Institute (WSBI)
  • European Savings Banks Group (ESBG)

PARTNERS:

  • Health and Consumer Policy

DATE OF THE EVENT:

  • 19th of March

Global Money Week in Belgium was marked with a workshop held on the 19th of March, which focused on the importance of financial education for children and youth. The event opened with a keynote speech by Mr. Tonio Borg, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy.

The workshop put emphasis on the importance of starting education at an early age, its crucial link with guided-savings behaviour, and the role that stakeholders across disciplines can (and should) play to improve policy, programs and approaches.

Attending the workshop were representatives from Vienna University, Personal Finance Education Group, Deutsher Sparkassenuerlag, Federation Nationale des Caisses d‘Epargne, University of Salford, Rheinische Friedrich, Wilhems University, Comision Nacional Mercado de Valores, Unit B4 from European Commission and the European Banking Authority and representatives from Child & Youth Finance International.

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