Belgium’s experience with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) shows how open biodiversity data can deliver scientific, economic, and societal returns. By contributing over 55 million records, Belgian institutions have strengthened national research capacity, improved policy-making, and fostered international collaboration. GBIF participation reduces duplication, accelerates information flow, and saves millions annually, while underpinning strategies for conservation, invasive species management, agriculture, and climate resilience. It has also built expertise, supported citizen science, and enabled innovative tools such as biodiversity data cubes. Belgium demonstrates that GBIF is not merely an investment in science, but a strategic asset for sustainable development and effective biodiversity governance.