The VLIZ Marine Data Center (VMDC) is a national and international point of contact for high-quality and reliable marine and estuarine data. The center provides services, technologies, tools, training and support to scientists, policy, blue economy and citizens. The six core activities of the VLIZ Marine Data Center are focused on “open science”: FAIR data management, the development of derived data products, promoting and using open science data and systems, actively participating in regional and international data networks, and providing training and support through data literacy. The VMDC is accredited as an IODE National Oceanographic Data Center. It manages important international e-infrastructures such as LifeWatch, EMODnet, WoRMS, EurOBIS, Marine Regions and Scheldemonitor.