Suspended sediment processes in the Belgian coastal zone are discussed by presenting the first results given by a 3D coupled hydrodynamic-sediment transport model covering the Southern Bight in North Sea. The hydrodynamic sub-model is three-dimensional, baroclinic and includes a refined turbulence closure. In the sediment transport sub-model, the dynamic of sediments is described by an evolution equation of the sediment concentration in the water column and an equation for the sediment load on the seabed. Sedimentation is modeled through the addition of a sedimentation velocity in the vertical advection term. For the evaluation of deposition and erosion terms, formu- lae based on the calculation of the bottom stress under the combined effect of prevailing currents and waves are used. For more realism, sediment loads has also been split into different sediment classes with different sedimentation, deposition and erosion characteristics. The equations are solved by a finite volume method based on an Arakawa C grid, using sigma-transform and mode-splitting numerical methods. The horizontal resolution is 500x500 m and 10 vertical sigma-layers are used. Advection is handled using a TVD scheme with superbee flux limiter. Boundary conditions are provided by coupling this model to a 3D coupled hydrodynamic-sediment transport model of the North-Western European Continental Shelf. The results are validated with measurements carried out by Haecon NV and are compared with those obtained with the MU-STM model. A sensitivity analysis of the model to critical parameters of erosion, deposition and sedimentation based on the concept of residence time was carried out.