Belgians Sink Into Deep Pessimism, 2026 National Survey Finds
A majority of Belgians believe “everything was better in the past” and view the future with profound gloom, according to the 2026 edition of the National Survey (“De Stemming” / “L’Enquête Nationale”), a major annual poll conducted by the University of Antwerp and the Université Libre de Bruxelles on behalf of VRT NWS, De Standaard, and RTBF. The findings paint a stark picture of a nation grappling with economic anxiety, social fragmentation, and declining trust in democratic institutions.
A Nation Looking Backward
The survey, which polled 5,354 voting-age residents across all three Belgian regions between 9 March and 5 April 2026, measured nostalgia across four dimensions: political, economic, social, and cultural. In every region, a majority of respondents agreed that the economic situation for “people like them” was better in the past — 52% in Flanders, 57% in Brussels, and 61% in Wallonia, according to RTBF.
Social nostalgia is equally pronounced: 54% of Flemings, 55% of Brussels residents, and 63% of Walloons feel that “people like them” were once more part of a close-knit community. The sense of decline is most acute among lower-income Belgians, who across all regions and all dimensions express significantly more nostalgia than higher earners.
Gloomy Outlook for the Future
When asked about the future, pessimism is even more widespread. Two out of three Flemings (65%) say they are pessimistic about the country’s future. In Brussels and Wallonia, the figure rises to approximately three out of four — 74% and 78% respectively, as reported by VRT NWS.
“What strikes us in this survey this year is this impression people have — that ‘things were much better before,’ but also that there are no prospects that things will improve in the short term,” said Professor Jean-Benoît Pilet of ULB, lead researcher for the French-speaking side, in an interview with RTBF’s Matin Première. “And we find that the more pessimistic people are, the more likely they are to say they will vote for parties that radically criticize the system.”
Political Polarization Deepens
The link between pessimism and radical politics is one of the survey’s most striking findings. Nearly 9 out of 10 voters for the far-left PTB-PVDA and the far-right Vlaams Belang believe things will continue to deteriorate. Researchers noted that “optimists are hard to find with a magnifying glass among those parties.”
Professor Stefaan Walgrave of the University of Antwerp, lead researcher for the Flemish side, explained the dynamic on VRT’s De Afspraak Op Vrijdag: “That discontent is captured in Flanders mainly by PVDA on one side and Vlaams Belang on the other. In Wallonia there is at least as much discontent, but because there is no far-right party there, there is only one party that really captures that discontent.”
Despite their ideological differences, Walgrave noted that “they sit on opposite sides on different fault lines, but dissatisfaction is what connects them.”
Democratic Satisfaction Eroding
Satisfaction with democracy remained relatively stable compared to 2025, but voters of radical parties show significantly lower satisfaction with democratic institutions. This confirms broader scientific research indicating that supporters of these parties hold a considerably more critical attitude toward political institutions.
An interesting nuance emerged regarding government participation: voters of opposition parties (Groen, Anders) are less pessimistic than voters of governing coalition parties (N-VA, CD&V, Vooruit). In Wallonia, PS voters strongly agree with nostalgia statements, unlike Vooruit voters in Flanders — a difference researchers attribute to PS being in opposition while Vooruit is part of the federal government.
Economic Context and Outlook
The survey was conducted during a period dominated by news of the Strait of Hormuz closure and its economic consequences. Belgium’s GDP growth was forecast to decelerate to 0.9% in 2026, while inflation rose to 4.1%, driven by higher energy prices. Household purchasing power has come under significant pressure, with one in four Belgians reporting they cannot afford a car or an annual holiday.
What’s Next
The findings raise pressing questions about Belgium’s political trajectory. As economic anxiety persists and nostalgia deepens, the appeal of radical parties on both ends of the spectrum is likely to grow. The survey suggests that the federal government, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA), faces a significant challenge in restoring public confidence — particularly among lower-income households and voters who feel left behind by economic change.
With the next federal elections on the horizon, the question is whether economic recovery can reverse the nostalgia trend, or whether a more permanent cultural and political shift is underway in Belgian society.