How to choose web hosting in Belgium: 7 criteria to check

First, which type of hosting?

• Shared: your website shares a server with others. It is the cheapest and simplest option, enough for a showcase site, a blog or a small online shop.
• VPS or dedicated server: you get reserved resources, but you manage the system, updates and security yourself. Keep this for projects that really need it, or if you have the skills.
• Managed: a middle ground, where the host takes care of the technical side and you take care of your content.

For the vast majority of freelancer and small business websites, good-quality shared or managed hosting is the right choice.

1. Where is your data?

Your website and your emails contain personal data: contact forms, customer accounts, orders. The GDPR makes you responsible for protecting it. A host whose servers are in the European Union makes things simpler, and it is also a selling point for your own customers.

2. Performance

A slow website drives visitors away and hurts your search ranking. Look at the type of storage (NVMe drives are much faster than old hard disks), the PHP versions on offer if you use WordPress, and the distance between the servers and your visitors: for a Belgian audience, a server in Europe is a good choice.

3. Security

The SSL certificate (the padlock in the browser) should be included and renewed automatically. Also check that the host applies server security updates, and that incoming mail goes through a spam and virus filter.

4. Backups

Ask how often the website is backed up, how long backups are kept and how a restore works. Even with a good host, keep your own copy from time to time: it is your safety net if something goes wrong.

5. Email addresses

An address such as contact@your-company.be inspires more trust than a Gmail address. Check how many addresses are included, the storage space of each mailbox and whether there is a spam filter. A .be domain name is registered through a registrar accredited by DNS Belgium, at your host or elsewhere.

6. Support

The day your website stops loading, the quality of support matters more than anything else. Which language does it answer in? Through which channel? How fast? With a small local host, you often talk directly to the person who runs the servers.

7. The real price

Beware of teaser prices. Before comparing, check:

• whether the price is shown excluding or including VAT (21% in Belgium);
• whether it is a promotional rate that only applies to the first year;
• the commitment period, and whether you have to pay several years in advance;
• what costs extra: SSL certificate, backups, additional email addresses.

Finally, make sure you can leave easily: SFTP access to your files and an export of your database let you change hosts without depending on anyone.