NEW YORK IS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT 

All consular and administrative services in the jurisdiction are processed at the Consulate General office in New York.  PLEASE SEE THE HOMEPAGE FOR COMMONLY USED LINKS.

Honorary consuls provide assistance to Belgian resident and visitors in the jurisdiction in case of emergency.   They also assist the Flanders, Brussels-Capital and Wallonia regions and introduce those representatives to local businesses. 

• Flanders Investment and Trade - USA →

• Brussels Invest & Export →

• Invest in Wallonia →

Since opening of the first railroad bridge from Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport Iowa across the Mississippi River on April 22, 1856, the Quad Cities has been a major transportation and commerce hub. Some of the early Belgian immigrants in the late 1800’s took advantage of the opportunity moving across the river and settling in Scott County, IA and farther West in the Victor, IA farming community.  

The Quad Cities has continued to grow as a major manufacturing and distribution hub.  At the crossroads of the Mississippi river and I-74 and I-80. The new I-74 interstate bridge between Moline, IL and Bettendorf, IA was completed in late 2021.

A brief overview of the history and remaining Belgian Heritage is documented in the One Hundred Year Anniversary Program celebrated in October 2019. His Excellency Ambassador Dirk Wouters joined business and community leaders to celebrate the unique history of Belgian immigration in the Quad Cities region. 

The Belgian Heritage in the Quad Cities remains very much alive through:

• Center for Belgian Culture – local museum staffed by volunteers:  belgianmuseumquadcities.org →

  • Gift shop – open Wednesday and Saturday afternoon 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • Monthly lace maker demonstration

• Monthly waffle breakfast

• Extensive assistance in genealogy research

• Annual Belgian Fall Fest: Fall Belgian Fest Facebook page →

• Numerous “Rolle Bolle” clubs with tournaments throughout the summer months

• A pigeon racing club