City of Charleroi

What City of Charleroi does

The Ville de Charleroi (Administration communale de Charleroi) is the municipal government of Charleroi, Belgium's largest Walloon city, headquartered at Place Vauban 14-15 in the Hainaut province. Founded in 1666 as a Spanish fortress and historically anchored in coal and steel, the City today administers civic services across civil registry, urban planning, social welfare, education, sports, culture, environment, and economic development for its resident population and the broader Charleroi M\u00e9tropole catchment. Service delivery combines physical offices (H\u00f4tel de Ville, Maison communale de Gilly, Centre H\u00e9lios, Cit\u00e9 des M\u00e9tiers), cultural institutions (Mus\u00e9e des Beaux-Arts, Mus\u00e9e du Verre at the UNESCO-recognized Bois du Cazier), and wholly-owned entities including CPAS, Cellule Investisseurs, and Agence Arris.

The City's core technology stack centers on a digital e-guichet portal (e-guichet civil et population) enabling online administrative procedures with secure authentication via eID, Itsme, and security codes, augmented by an AI-powered virtual assistant chatbot that processes text-based citizen queries with explicitly AI-generated responses. Specialized digital modules extend to commerce declarations, road damage compensation, animal detention permits, and tiger mosquito surveillance. Operating economics are tax-funded rather than commercial: the City collects municipal taxes (property, commercial), earns small administrative service fees (permits, certificates, summer stages), and receives federal and regional grants for major initiatives including the EUR 600 million Quartier de la D\u00e9fense project. The City sells no product in a commercial market; pricing is regulated by the communal council and most resident-facing services are free.

Strategic priorities visible in recent activity include a 30-hectare brownfield redevelopment of former steelworks into a Belgian military-civilian complex by 2032, a STEM education partnership with 20+ international companies (notably UCB), a 1:1 cr\u00e8che-to-school transition program, sports subsidies (EUR 100 Ch\u00e8que Sports, Carte C Gratuit), and active regulatory expansion (March 2026 commerce declaration ordinance). The City is GDPR-compliant with a dedicated DPO and SSL/SHA-256 encryption. Headcount is in the 1,001-5,000 band and the executive is led by Bourgmestre Thomas Dermine.

Name

City of Charleroi

Legal name

Administration communale de Charleroi

Website

https://charleroi.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

City of Charleroi is the municipal government of Belgium's largest Walloon city, delivering civic services (civil registry, social welfare, education, urban planning, economic development) to residents and businesses via physical offices, an e-guichet digital platform with an AI chatbot, and wholly-owned entities such as CPAS and Cellule Investisseurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Executive Offices (921110), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

akta.pro primary industry

City Clerk/Records, Elections & Civic Engagement (BPAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

Keywords

• Municipal administration
• Civil registry services
• Urban development
• Social welfare programs
• Public sector services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleroi

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Municipal Tax Revenue: The city collects various municipal taxes from residents and businesses including property taxes, taxes on commercial establishments, and other local levies as defined in the municipal regulations
2. Administrative Service Fees: Revenue generated from administrative services including extracts, certifications, permits, and other civil registry documents
3. Government Subsidies and Grants: Federal and regional government funding for urban development projects, public services, and specific initiatives such as the Quartier de la Défense project

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The City of Charleroi is a municipal government authority providing mandated public administration services to residents, businesses, and visitors within its jurisdiction. Its core offerings include civil registry and population services (births, marriages, identity documents), local economic development and investor support (Charleroi Entreprendre, Cellule Investisseurs), social welfare assistance via the Public Center for Social Action (CPAS), sports infrastructure and subsidies (Chèque Sports, Carte C), cultural programming through municipal museums, and regulatory services such as commercial declarations, animal permits, and urban planning authorizations.

Product overview

City of Charleroi offers a unified citizen services platform centered on its public administration website (charleroi.be), combining an AI-powered virtual assistant chatbot for real-time citizen queries, an e-guichet for online civil/administrative procedures, and various specialized municipal services. The core offering includes digital administrative services (commerce declarations, road damage compensation requests, animal permits) alongside economic development tools (Charleroi Entreprendre accelerator, Cellule Investisseurs for real estate projects, Agence Arris). Social and community services include sports subsidies (Chèque Sports, Carte C Gratuit), educational initiatives (C'est Génial STEM program, Crèche-École partnerships), and health/safety programs (tiger mosquito surveillance). The architecture follows a portal model where charleroi.be serves as the central hub with specialized sub-portals for economic development, employment, and specific municipal services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E-guichet (online administrative portal) Online portal allowing Charleroi residents to submit and process civil-registry requests (baptêmes, mariages), permits, declarations and other administrative procedures, with an AI-powered virtual assistant that guides users through forms and FAQs.
• Charleroi Entreprendre Support service for entrepreneurs and SMEs looking to create, launch, or develop businesses in Charleroi, offering guidance, facilitation, and access to municipal resources.
• Cellule Investisseurs (Investor Cell) Dedicated unit within the City of Charleroi responsible for attracting and supporting investors, matchmaking them with regional partners such as SRIW, SOFICO, SambriInvest, and IMBC.
• Agence Arris (real estate development agency) Reception desk for entrepreneurs and developers, providing support for real estate and property development projects in Charleroi.
• Déclaration de commerce (Business declaration) Online form and regulatory process for businesses to declare commercial activity to the City of Charleroi as part of the statutory Wallonia Decree of 5 February 2015.
• Permis de détention d'un animal (Animal ownership permit) Administrative permit service allowing Charleroi residents to apply for and obtain official authorization to keep specified animals, processed through the e-guichet.
• Demande d'indemnisation voirie (Road damage compensation) Service enabling Charleroi residents to file claims for compensation linked to property damage caused by municipal roadways.
• Chèque Sports Municipal subsidy program reducing the cost of sports club membership fees for eligible children and youth in Charleroi.
• Surveillance du moustique tigre (Tiger mosquito surveillance) Public-health monitoring service tracking the presence of tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) in Charleroi and managing citizen reporting.
• Déclaration de tir de feu d'artifice / pyrotechnique (Pyrotechnic declaration) Regulatory declaration service for residents wishing to fire pyrotechnic articles, processed under e-guichet with statutory paperwork (SPF Intérieur).
• C'est Génial (STEM outreach program) Educational program under the City of Charleroi's education portfolio that teaches STEM subjects to school-aged children.
• Partenariat Crèches-Écoles (Crèches-Schools Partnership) Municipal partnership linking authorized crèches in Charleroi with primary schools to support early childhood education continuity.
• Aide CPAS (Social welfare assistance) Statutory social assistance delivered through Charleroi's Centre Public d'Action Sociale (CPAS), including employment support and integration programs for job seekers.
• BASHO summer event Summer community event organized by the City of Charleroi as part of its community programming.
• Marche de la Madeleine (community fair/market) Traditional community market and fair hosted annually by the City of Charleroi.
• Charleroi Centre-Ville (market animation) Municipal market animation program focused on Charleroi's city centre, supporting local retailers and the weekly market.
• Sports facilities (piscines, halls, infrastructures sportives) Municipal sports facilities and infrastructure, including swimming pools (piscines) and indoor sports halls, available to Charleroi residents.
• Don de sang (Blood donation drives) Municipal blood donation drives organized by the City of Charleroi in partnership with the Red Cross of Belgium.
• Bois du Cazier (industrial heritage museum) UNESCO-listed industrial and mining heritage museum located in Charleroi, operated under the municipal cultural portfolio.
• Musée du Verre (Glass Museum) Municipal museum dedicated to the glass-making heritage of the Charleroi region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000 blood bags targeted during Challenge Stayin' Alive summer campaign 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Don de Sang CharleroimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Blood donation organization running the 'Challenge Stayin' Alive' campaign targeting 3,000 blood bags during summer 2026 (July 1 - August 31). Partners include municipalities, hospitals, businesses, sports centers, and local event organizers.
• 50N5E (Event Operator)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 June 2026Event company 50N5E operates the BASHO summer event at Parc Reine Astrid (June 12 - August 8, 2026), transforming it into an open-air living space with terraces, bars, petanque, dining, and musical programming including 'House of Noize' by Kid Noize.
• Charleroi EntreprendrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharleroi Entreprendre serves as the 'accélérateur des projets entrepreneuriaux' for Charleroi Métropole, acting as a 'dispositif coupole' that gathers public and private forces to provide high-value-added services to entrepreneurs. It supports SME leaders in development strategy and helps business creators launch their projects with custom accompaniment, free tools, and recognized expertise.
• ASBL Charleroi CentreVillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated in 1998 as part of the center-city dynamization program, this non-profit manages, promotes, and animates Charleroi's city center. Based on active partnership between different stakeholders, its teams inform about city center activities and help businesses establish there.
• SORESIC (Igretec and Wallonie Entreprendre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative entity managing the Quartier de la Défense project alongside Belgian Defense, responsible for project development, land rehabilitation, and civilian integration aspects of the 30-hectare military and civil complex.
• Arris (Public Real Estate Development Agency)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARRIS is an innovative public initiative active in real estate development that creates conditions to make urban territory attractive. Services include site studies, rehabilitation projections, profitability optimization, and development of qualitative projects.
• Cellule InvestisseurscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-service investment cell uniting Urban Planning, Territorial Development, the Bouwmeester, the Mayor's Cabinet, and the Planning Alderman Cabinet. Serves as single entry point for developers, architects, investors, and project holders, accompanying large-scale real estate projects from conception through transverse urban, environmental, mobility, heritage, and commercial analysis.
• Cité des Métiers de CharleroicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkills center providing employment assistance, international mobility consultations, CV and motivation letter workshops, public writer services, and job search guidance. Located at Boulevard Gustave Roullier 2.
• UCB (partner in 'C'est Génial' STEM Program)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical company UCB is a key industry partner in the 'C'est Génial' STEM orientation program, providing professional volunteers who animate hands-on science and technology workshops in primary schools, helping children ages 10-14 discover STEM careers.
• 20+ International Companies (C'est Génial Partnership)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of over 20 international companies and local organizations supporting the 'C'est Génial' initiative to spark STEM vocations among students in 4th and 5th secondary, providing professional volunteers and resources for school-based workshops.
• Ceinture Alimentaire de Charleroi MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food belt organization co-organizing the 'Petit Marché du Jeudredi' monthly market with Charleroi Centre-Ville, promoting local consumption and sustainable food systems at Galerie Bernard.
• Kid Noize / House of NoizeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal artist Kid Noize created 'House of Noize' concept for BASHO summer event, providing immersive evenings around original musical and artistic universes.
• Maison Dupuis, Pep's Interim, Louyet (Local Business Partners)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal business partners contributing to the BASHO summer event project, reinforcing economic anchoring in the Charleroi business community.
• Province de HainautminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial authority collaborating on children's summer stages at the Musée du Verre, providing educational programming around glass art and contemporary glassmaking techniques.
• L'Escargot (Arts Workshops)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts workshop organization partnering with Musée du Verre and Province de Hainaut for children's summer stages combining drawing, painting, writing, and glass arts.
• 8 Communal Schools (Crèche-School Transition Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner8 communal schools partnered with 8 communal crèches for smooth early childhood to school transitions, with designated pairings: Crèche du Roton-École maternelle du Roton, Crèche Les Fiestaux-École maternelle du 28 Juin, Crèche du Dr. Dourlet-École Cobaux maternelle, Crèche Lambermont-École maternelle Les Petits Loups, Crèche Les Tchots-École Les Mimosas, Crèche Les Bout'Choux-École de la Belle-Vue, Crèche l'Espoir-École de la Cité Parc, Crèche Émile Idée-École de la Solidarité.
• Shop in Charleroi (Business Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness association objectifying to group physical or legal persons exercising commercial or artisanal activity to defend professional interests of small and medium commerce and craftsmanship in the city center.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Gemeente Leuven: Leuven is a Flemish municipal administration often cited as a benchmark for citizen-centric digital services and innovation-led economic development, relevant to Charleroi's service-modernization ambitions.
• Comune di Torino: Turin is a comparable mid-sized European municipal administration that transitioned from automotive/industrial heritage toward services, culture, and innovation districts—an instructive regional peer for Charleroi's Quartier de la Défense strategy.
• Ayuntamiento de Bilbao: Bilbao is the canonical European municipal example of post-industrial regeneration (steel-to-services), highly relevant as a comparably sized city that has executed a comparable brownfield-to-cultural-asset transformation and tourism pivot.
• Stadt Dortmund: Dortmund is a German mid-sized city administration that executed the Ruhr-area transition from coal/steel to services and education, making it a structural regional peer for Charleroi's industrial-heritage regeneration strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Stad Antwerpen: Antwerp is Belgium's second-largest municipal government, providing a peer for digital administrative services, port-driven economic development, and large-scale urban renewal programming.
• Stad Gent: Ghent operates a comparable Flemish municipal government with mature digital citizen services (its 'Gentenaar' platform), making it a relevant functional reference for Charleroi's e-guichet and chatbot deployment.
• Ville de Bruxelles / Stad Brussel: Brussels is Belgium's capital-region municipal administration, broader in scope and scale but the closest Belgian comparator for large-city public administration, digital citizen services, and bilingual e-guichet operations.

Direct peers

• Ville de Mons: Mons is another Walloon municipal government of broadly comparable size, with parallel university-city programs, cultural programming, and digital administrative services—directly comparable for citizen service benchmarking.
• Ville de Liège: Liège is the other principal Walloon municipal government entity, comparable in scale, post-industrial heritage, urban renewal mandate, and reliance on regional/federal funding. Like Charleroi, Liège faces similar coal/steel transition challenges and pursues comparable economic-revitalization programs.
• Ville de Namur: Namur is the Walloon capital's municipal administration, smaller than Charleroi but operating under the same Walloon public-law framework with similar e-guichet and administrative service models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSeYg-fszU7nRIxYOQq_zDw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Charleroi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ville-de-charleroi-officielle

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Charleroi