This chapter focuses on Flemish youth work and the most important development and trends. 

‘Youth work’ in Flanders is defined by the Youth Decree of 23 November 2023 as (cf. Article 3, 15°): socio-cultural activities based on non-commercial objectives, for or by children and young people aged three to thirty, carried out in their leisure time, under educational guidance and aimed at promoting the overall and holistic development of the young people involved, who participate on a voluntary basis.

This definition applies to formal and non-formal youth work as both types of youth work are run by organisations with non-commercial purposes. There are two sectors in Flemish youth work: universal youth work provision and targeted youth work provision.