Bart De Wever
Prime Minister
Timeline
Born on 21 December in Mortsel.
Elected party leader of the N-VA.
Led N-VA to victory in federal elections, becoming the largest party in Flanders and Belgium.
Sworn in as Mayor of Antwerp on 1 January.
Reelected leader of the N-VA, becoming the longest-serving leader of a Belgian political party.
Announced as prime minister-designate on 31 January.
Took oath of office as Prime Minister of Belgium on 3 February.
Biography
Bart Albert Liliane De Wever, also known as BDW, is a Belgian politician born on 21 December 1970. He has served as the Prime Minister of Belgium since February 2025, becoming the first Flemish nationalist politician to hold the office. From 2004 to 2025, De Wever was the leader of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), a party advocating Flemish independence. He also served as the Mayor of Antwerp from January 2013 to February 2025. De Wever led the N-VA to become the largest party in Belgium in the 2010 federal elections and subsequent three elections, eventually being tasked with forming a new government by King Philippe following the 2024 elections.
Early Life & Background
Bart Albert Liliane De Wever was born on 21 December 1970 in Mortsel and grew up in Kontich. His parents, Irene and Henri, owned a small supermarket. His father had previously worked for a Belgian railway company and was active in the Vlaamse Militanten Orde before becoming a local administrator for the Volksunie. His older brother, Bruno De Wever, is a historian and professor. De Wever's grandfather was the secretary of the Flemish National Union, a Flemish far-right party from the interwar period, though Bart De Wever claimed his grandfather had not collaborated with the Nazis.
Education
De Wever initially began studying a law degree at the University of Antwerp but dropped out. He then switched to study history at Saint Ignatius University Centre, Antwerp, and subsequently at the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), where he graduated with a licentiate (equivalent of a master's degree). As a student, he was a member of the Liberaal Vlaams Studentenverbond (LVSV) and the Katholiek Vlaams Hoogstudentenverbond (KVHV) of Antwerp and Leuven, and served as editor-in-chief for KVHV newspapers Tegenstroom and Ons Leven. After graduating, he worked as a research assistant.
Political & Professional Career
Bart De Wever began his political career as a member of the Volksunie, serving as a municipal councilor in Berchem. He was part of the Oranjehofgroep, a right-wing, conservative-liberal, and Flemish nationalist clique within the Volksunie that later founded the N-VA. In 2004, he was elected party leader of the N-VA with 95% of the votes, transforming the party into a conservative identity. He led the N-VA to victory in the 2010 federal elections, making it the largest party in Flanders and Belgium. In 2012, he led the N-VA to victory in Antwerp's local elections, becoming Mayor of Antwerp on 1 January 2013. He secured a second term as mayor in 2018. In November 2020, he was reelected N-VA leader, becoming the longest-serving leader of a Belgian political party. Following the 2024 elections, he was tasked by King Philippe to form a new government and was announced as prime minister-designate on 31 January 2025, taking the oath of office as Prime Minister of Belgium on 3 February 2025.
Key Achievements & Legacy
Became the Prime Minister of Belgium in February 2025, the first Flemish nationalist politician to hold the office., Led the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) to become the largest party in both Flanders and Belgium in the 2010 federal elections, and again in the subsequent three elections., Served as Mayor of Antwerp from January 2013 to February 2025, securing a second term in 2018., Became the longest-serving leader of a Belgian political party after being reelected N-VA leader in November 2020.