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National Federation · Swimming · Belgium

RBSF — Royal Belgian Swimming Federation (KBZB, BELSWIM)

Belgium’s national aquatics federation, a non-profit association founded in 1902 and based in Brussels, whose regional members are the VZF and the FFBN; listed by European Aquatics.
✓ Last reviewed: October 2026
Founded1902, per European Aquatics and the federation[1][3]
HeadquartersEsplanade 1, box 78, 1020 Brussels, per European Aquatics[1]
International federationWorld Aquatics, of which the RBSF states it is a founding member[3]
Continental bodyEuropean Aquatics, listed in its directory of federations (October 2026)[2]
MembersTwo regional federations (VZF, FFBN); 237 affiliated clubs and 66,388 registered members, as stated by the RBSF (as shown in October 2026)[3]

What is the RBSF?

The Royal Belgian Swimming Federation (RBSF), which also uses the short names KBZB and BELSWIM, is the national aquatics federation of Belgium.[4] It states that it was founded in 1902 as “a non-profit association (private legal entity)” and describes itself as “the only national governing body in Belgium recognised by all international federations”, “in charge of the Belgian aquatic sports on a national and international level.”[3] Its site gives its company number as BE 0409.395.428.[3]

What does the RBSF govern or do?

The RBSF lists its responsibilities as organising the official Belgian championships in the five Olympic aquatic disciplines, selecting and staffing the national teams, “the uniform national rule-making for all aquatic sports disciplines” and promoting swimming.[3] Its disciplines are swimming, water polo, artistic swimming, open water, diving and masters, and its site links to its federal rules and minutes.[4]

When was the RBSF founded and where is it based?

European Aquatics’ profile of the federation gives 1902 as its founding year, and the RBSF states the same year.[1][3] European Aquatics gives its address as Esplanade 1, box 78, 1020 Brussels; the federation’s own site gives “Esplanade 1, bus 78, 1020 Brussels” for the Royal Belgian Swimming Federation non-profit.[1][4] The RBSF states that its two regional federations were created in 1977.[3]

How is the RBSF recognised?

European Aquatics. European Aquatics’ directory of federations lists Belgium’s member as the Royal Belgian Swimming Federation.[2] Its profile gives the website belswim.be, lists Kris Geeroms and Bernard Parez, each with the title President, and names Kim Van Malderen as general secretary (October 2026).[1]

World Aquatics. The RBSF states that it is “one of the founding members of World Aquatics” and also a founding member of European Aquatics.[3] Its home page carries the World Aquatics and European Aquatics logos among its partners.[4]

What does the RBSF organise?

The federation states that it organises the official Belgian championships in the five Olympic aquatic disciplines.[3] Its home page says that its work covers “national championships and international top meetings” in diving, open water, swimming, water polo, artistic swimming and high diving.[4] It also selects and staffs the Belgian national teams for international competition.[3]

Who are its members?

The RBSF states that the Vlaamse Zwemfederatie (VZF) and the Fédération Francophone Belge de Natation (FFBN) were created in 1977 “to become the regional members of the Royal Belgian Swimming Federation.”[3] It gives its membership as “237 affiliated clubs: 156 Flemish at the VZF and 81 French speaking at the FFBN”, and “66.388 registered members (recreational and competitive as well)”, 75 % of them youth members under 18 (as shown in October 2026).[3]

References

  1. European Aquatics — Federation profile: Royal Belgian Swimming Federation. Accessed 2026-10-13.
  2. European Aquatics — Federations (member directory). Accessed 2026-10-13.
  3. Royal Belgian Swimming Federation — About. Accessed 2026-10-13.
  4. Royal Belgian Swimming Federation — official website (home page). Accessed 2026-10-13.