ABSTRACT
This paper explores the development of the window glass industry in Belgium between the Belgian independence in 1830 and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. This industry experienced a steady growth during this period, making Belgium one of the most important window glass manufacturers in the world. However, the nature of this growth is still not fully understood. In the existing literature, it is described as being based on traditional craft and lacking important innovations. This paper analyzes the development of new technologies in the Belgian window glass industry to argue that the industry was characterized by a unique combination of innovation and tradition. While Belgian glass workers were indeed very skillful, the entrepreneurs and engineers developed important innovations during this period. These innovations even became an export product in its own right, making the glass-producing region of Belgium into a true innovation hub.
