A growing majority of Belgians are pessimistic about the future of their country, according to the latest edition of De Stemming, the annual public opinion survey conducted by
researchers from the University of Antwerp and the Université libre de Bruxelles for VRT NWS, De Standaard and RTBF.
The survey, carried out in March among more than 5,000 respondents nationwide, found that nearly two-thirds of Flemings view Belgium’s future negatively. Some 65 percent of respondents in Flanders described themselves as pessimistic or very pessimistic, while the share rises to roughly three-quarters in both Brussels and Wallonia.
The strongest pessimism was recorded among supporters of the radical parties Vlaams Belang and PVDA-PTB. Almost nine in ten voters from both parties believe Belgium is moving in the wrong direction. Researchers noted that optimism is particularly scarce among these electorates.
Economic circumstances appear to play a significant role in shaping attitudes. Respondents with lower incomes were markedly more pessimistic than those in higher-income groups, highlighting a clear connection between financial insecurity and perceptions of the future.
Dissatisfaction fuels nostalgic sentiment
The findings suggest that pessimism is closely linked to broader dissatisfaction with society, politics and economic conditions.
Participants were asked to respond to statements designed to measure political, economic, social and cultural nostalgia. These included whether people like them were taken more seriously by politicians in the past, enjoyed better economic opportunities, belonged to stronger communities or saw their values and lifestyles receive greater respect.
Across the country, a majority agreed that people were economically better off in earlier decades. In both Flanders and Wallonia, many respondents also expressed a longing for stronger social bonds and community ties.
Supporters of Vlaams Belang and PVDA-PTB were the most likely to share these views. According to Professor Stefaan Walgrave, who co-led the study, dissatisfaction serves as the common denominator between the two groups despite their ideological differences.
“Vlaams Belang voters are particularly concerned with socio-cultural issues, such as migration, while PTB-PVDA supporters are primarily dissatisfied with socio-economic conditions,” Walgrave said. “They stand on different sides of the political spectrum, but dissatisfaction is what unites them.”
Confidence in democracy holds steady
Despite widespread concerns about the country’s future, confidence in Belgium’s democratic system has remained relatively stable.
Researchers found that last year’s increase in satisfaction with the way democracy functions in Belgium has largely been sustained in 2026, with only a slight decline recorded. However, supporters of radical parties continue to express significantly lower levels of trust in democratic institutions than other voters.
According to the researchers, this aligns with broader political science findings showing that voters of anti-establishment parties tend to hold more critical views of traditional institutions.
Stable political landscape in Flanders
The survey also reveals a striking contrast between public pessimism and political stability in Flanders.
Nearly two years after the last elections, voting intentions remain largely unchanged. N-VA continues to dominate the Flemish political landscape with more than 25 percent support, maintaining a lead of over five percentage points ahead of Vlaams Belang.
The party appears to be benefiting from the enduring popularity of Prime Minister Bart De Wever and is the only governing party to have improved its standing since the elections. Researchers noted that N-VA supporters were among the most satisfied respondents in the survey, standing apart from the broader mood of pessimism evident across much of the Flemish population.
Vooruit, CD&V and PVDA trail considerably behind the two largest parties, while Groen and Anders remain among the weakest performers in the latest polling.