Do I need a permit to fish in a river or lake?
In short
Yes. As a rule, you must have a fishing permit to fish in public waters, and each region has its own permit. There are some exemptions for young people.
Video transcript
At the weekend you take your fishing rod down to the river. Required: A fishing permit is compulsory in public waters. Each region has its own permit. The right way: Flanders: visverlof, Wallonia: permis de pêche, both online. Check the closed seasons. Fishing without permit: Penalty: Report and a fine; Rod and fish: Can be seized; In closed season: Heavier.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- In Flanders, the fishing permit is called “visverlof”. You can get it online, or at the post office until the end of 2026. The 2027 permit can only be obtained online.
- In Wallonia, the “permis de pêche” can only be obtained online (permisdepeche.be).
- Each region's permit is only valid in that region. Flemish, Walloon and Brussels permits are not interchangeable.
- Closed seasons, the number of rods, night fishing and exemptions for young people differ by region.
- Brussels: You need a regional permit; you can get it at some post offices. You may only fish during the day and with at most 2 rods. Every fish must be put back in the water immediately; taking fish home is forbidden.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Fishing without a permit leads to an official report and a fine (ask the regional authority for the current amounts)
Legal basis:Wet 1.7.1954 riviervisserij, art. 29
- Court / prison
- In Wallonia, fishing without a permit only leads to a fine, but fishing in the closed season can lead to 8 days to 6 months in prison. In Flanders, many violations of the fishing law count as an 'inbreuk' punished only with an administrative fine; other violations can be prosecuted as environmental offences, and prison is then also possible.
Legal basis:Décret pêche fluviale 27.3.2014, art. 33; Code Env. Livre Ier, art. D.178Omgevingshandhavingsbesluit 23.5.2025, art. 5 + bijlage 1
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- Your rod and other equipment can be seized. In Wallonia, illegally caught fish are put back in the water immediately.
Legal basis:Décret pêche fluviale 27.3.2014, art. 35
- Fishing in the closed season or catching a protected species leads to heavier penalties
Legal basis:Décret pêche fluviale 27.3.2014, art. 33 (iuncto art. 10)
- If you repeat the same offence, the penalty can be heavier. In Wallonia, the maximum penalty can be doubled for a repeat offence.
Legal basis:Code de l'Environnement Livre Ier (Wallonie), art. D.180
Why does this rule exist?
Fish stocks are limited. The permit system and closed seasons protect fish breeding and the ecological balance of the water. Permit fees are spent on protecting water and fish.
Where can you go?
- Regional nature agenciesFlanders: Natuur en Bos · Wallonia: DNF · Brussels: Bruxelles Environnement
- MunicipalityMunicipal forests, animal registration and places for sacrificial slaughter
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 12 / 12 statements in an official source
- Checked: 22.10.2026
- Last checked
- 22.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 12 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Kamu sularında izin zorunlu; her bölgenin belgesi ayrı
Vlaanderen.be, Vissen en hengelen - Found in an official source
Flandre visverlof: çevrimiçi veya 2026 sonuna kadar postanede; 2027 izni yalnız çevrimiçi
Visverlof | Vlaanderen.be - Found in an official source
Valonya permis de pêche yalnız çevrimiçi
Wallonie.be, Obtenir en ligne un permis de pêche - Found in an official source
Flaman belgesi Valonya'da, Valon belgesi Flandre'da geçmez
Vlaanderen.be, Vissen en hengelen - Found in an official source
Gençler için muafiyet bölgeye göre
Vlaanderen.be, Visverlof - Found in an official source
Ceza tutarı
Wet 1.7.1954 riviervisserij, art. 29 - Corrected according to the source
'Hapis cezası genelde yok' eksik: Valonya'da yasak dönemde avlanma 3. kategori (8 gün–6 ay hapis mümkün), izinsiz balık tutma 4. kategori (yalnız para cezası, 1–1.000 €); Flandre'da riviervisserij ihlali DABM'ye göre çevre suçu (1 ay–2 yıl hapis mümkün) veya yalnız idari para cezalı 'inbreuk'
Décret pêche fluviale 27.3.2014, art. 33; Code Env. Livre Ier, art. D.178 - Corrected according to the source
Valonya: ihlalde kullanılan eşyalara el konur; balıklar hemen suya geri bırakılır (el konmaz)
Décret pêche fluviale 27.3.2014, art. 35 - Found in an official source
Yasak dönemde/yasak türde avlanmak, belgesiz avlanmadan daha ağır kategoridedir (Valonya: 3. kategori ↔ 4. kategori)
Décret pêche fluviale 27.3.2014, art. 33 (iuncto art. 10) - Corrected according to the source
'Tutanak sonraki kontrollerde dikkate alınır' belirsiz; kanun tekrarlama (récidive) hâlinde cezanın iki katına çıkabileceğini söylüyor (Valonya)
Code de l'Environnement Livre Ier (Wallonie), art. D.180 - Found in an official source
Flandre: Riviervisserijwet art. 4, 5, 7, 15, 16, 18, 19, 23 ihlalleri yalnız idari 'inbreuk' (OHB bijlage 1, 1.4.2026)
Omgevingshandhavingsbesluit 23.5.2025, art. 5 + bijlage 1 - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Özet, kurallarda (rules[3]) ve kaynakta olan gençler için muafiyeti atlıyor; zorunluluğu herkes için mutlak gösteriyor.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması)
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?