Webservices

With Webservices, professional users can access data from filed annual accounts. They can choose from five different types of Webservices. When signing up, users must specify the type(s) of Webservices they would like to access.

Five types of Webservices

The five types of Webservices are:

  1. Authentic Data Query

This service allows the retrieval of current and historical data based on the CBE number of a specific legal entity (company) or the filing reference number.

  1. Authentic Data Extracts

This service allows the retrieval of all reference data and documents for annual accounts accepted and published by the National Bank on a specific day, in the form of datasets (zip files).

  1. Improved Data

This service allows the retrieval, on a daily basis for a limited period, of all corrected information in the form of datasets (zip files). It is also possible to request a list of “improved” filings per CBE number and to obtain the related JSON documents.

  1. Authentic Archive Data

This service facilitates the retrieval, for a specified date, of all references and documents for filings accepted and published by the National Bank in the last three years.

  1. Improved Archive Data

This service facilitates the retrieval of all references and documents for filings to which the National Bank has made improvements in the last three years.

Content limitations

Webservices are subject to a number of limitations:

  • Users can only access references and documents from filings that are eligible for publication. Filings of separate social balance sheets (for companies that are not required to file annual accounts) are therefore not available via Webservices.
  • XBRL documents were introduced after PDF and are therefore not available for older filings.
  • JSON documents based on XBRL filings were introduced on 4 April 2022 and are therefore not available for older filings.
  • The archive with JSON files for “authentic data” and “improved data” are being built as from 4 April 2022 and will contain data for the last three years.

More information

More information on Webservices can be found in:

Access procedure

To access Webservices, please follow these steps:

  1. Complete the subscription form or web form.
  2. Subscribers will receive a CLIENT_ID which they must pass on to the technical user.
  3. The user should create a profile at https://developer.cbso.nbb.be.
  4. After verification, the National Bank of Belgium’s technical support team will approve the request to access the service(s) and identify the products based on the administrative registration and the CLIENT_ID. The technical user can retrieve the CLIENT_ID in the subscription information. For products that are not made available free of charge (improved data and Improved Data Archive), this will be done only after receipt of payment.

Technical and practical documentation

Technical documentation

Please find below links to useful documents to help users access Webservices and configure a client application.

  • Technical Guide: a description of the procedure to access Webservices and the parameters to be used to interact with Webservices
  • Developer portal: a portal for web service users to obtain technical keys for access and a description of web service operations (API) in different formats (openAPI, Swagger, etc.).
    Test environment portal: https://developer.uat2.cbso.nbb.be/
  • Technical description of data views from operations/accounting data
  • Code lists

Webservices infographic - situation on 1 April 2023

Webservices