The Flanders Environment Agency (VMM) was founded in 1991 after nearly all Belgian Federal competences concerning environmental policy were regionalised.
The three main mission objectives of the VMM are (1) to contribute to the realisation of the environmental policy objectives by reporting on the state of the environment, (2) preventing, limiting and reversing harmful impacts on water systems and contribute to the realisation of the integrated water policy objectives, and (3) to manage the air quality monitoring network, performing scientific research and reporting on air quality within the Flemish Region. There are about 900 staff members.