Flemish mobility organization VAB celebrates its 100th anniversary

The Flemish mobility organization VAB will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, at September 30. On the occasion of its centenary, the organization will also have a new slogan: “VAB, daar kom je verder mee” (VAB will take you further). Over the past century, the organization has grown into a company that offers driving lessons, insurance formulas, and car breakdown repair services in Belgium and abroad.

The ‘Vlaamsche Automobielbond’ (Flemish car association) was founded in 1924. In the roaring twenties, the Flemish-minded industrialist Lieven Gevaert wanted to establish a motorists’ union. He received support from engineer Aloïs van Loy, director of Antwerp’s first Flemish car school.

Car breakdown assistance

The association aims to promote the automotive industry, including improving roads, supporting research, publishing magazines on automotive technology, and organizing conferences and exhibitions.

In 1953, VAB started a volunteer program to help stranded motorists, but the growing number of cars on the road required proper breakdown assistance, a service that began in 1968.

Driving school

In the meantime, VAB had founded its own driving school, inspired by the introduction of the Belgian driving license in 1965. This year alone, they helped 42,000 drivers get their driver’s licenses.

From the 1960s onward, family car holidays were very popular. In 1974, VAB introduced ‘Europech’, an insurance policy that guaranteed assistance abroad. Europech later became ‘VAB Travel Assistance’ (VAB Reisbijstand).

Car fleet

VAB’s first cars were quite rudimentary. From 1972 onward, they switched to black and yellow Renault R4s, which were replaced in 1983 by the VW Golf. Today, the organization also uses electric cars.

VAB grew from around 1,000 members in 1930 to more than 3 million covered vehicles today. The organization currently has 375 roadside guards and 200 employees in the emergency center. The VAB driving school has 66 offices, 9 training areas, and 335 instructors.