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How can I carry my child on a bicycle: a seat, a trailer, a cargo bike?

In short

You can, but only in a suitable seat or trailer. Without a seat and footrests, a passenger may not sit on the rack. A bicycle trailer can carry at most 2 people.

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This rule in 74 seconds
Video transcript

You're taking your child to school by bike. There's no child seat, but the luggage carrier is free. It depends: Without a seat and footrests, a passenger can't sit on the luggage carrier, or sit side-saddle. A passenger needs their own seat and footrests. The right way: Use a suitable child seat or a trailer: at most 2 people in a trailer. A helmet for your child is recommended. Traffic fine (1st-degree offence): On-the-spot payment: 64 € + 10,67 €; At the police court: 100 € – 2.500 €; In an accident: Fault may go against you.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • To carry a passenger on a bicycle, you need a seat for the passenger and two footrests. You may not carry more people than the bicycle has seats.
  • A passenger may not sit on a bare rack (bagagedrager / porte-bagages) without a seat and footrests. Nor may the passenger sit side-saddle (amazonezit / en amazone).
  • A bicycle trailer (aanhangwagen / remorque) can carry at most 2 passengers. The seats must be safe, and the passengers' hands, feet and backs must be protected. A bicycle may only pull one trailer.
  • The trailer, including its load and passengers, may weigh at most 80 kg. If it is heavier, it must have a brake that works automatically when the cyclist brakes.
  • A two-wheeled bicycle (including a two-wheeled cargo bike or bakfiets) and a bicycle trailer may be at most 1 m wide, load included. A different limit applies to three- or four-wheeled cargo bikes (the vehicle at most 2.50 m). When you are pulling a trailer, you may not ride side by side with another cyclist.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICETraffic offence, degree 1
Fine / payment
Breaking these rules is a 1st-degree offence: on-the-spot fine 64 € (+10,67 € administrative costs).

Legal basis:KB 30.9.2005 (Justel)wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad

Court / prison
No prison sentence. At the police court, a 1st-degree offence can lead to a fine of 100 € – 2.500 €.

Legal basis:wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad

What does this level mean? Traffic offence, degree 1: On-the-spot payment €64; in court €100 – €2,500. All penalty levels →

What really matters: the indirect consequences

  • In an accident, breaking the rules can count against you when liability is shared

    Legal basis:BW Boek 6, art. 6.20 §1

  • Without a suitable seat, the child's foot can get caught in the spokes
  • You are strongly advised to put a cycle helmet on your child

    Legal basis:wegcode.be – Fietsers en de wegcode

What do these terms mean?

On-the-spot payment
A fixed amount offered by the police. If you pay, the case is closed and does not go to court. If not, the prosecutor takes over; the amount can rise and the case can go to court.
Police court
The court for traffic offences and appeals against GAS fines. Despite the name, it is not part of the police; an independent judge decides.

All terms: glossary →

Why does this rule exist?

A child on a bicycle cannot protect themselves in a fall. A seat, footrests and a safe trailer keep the child in place and stop their foot from getting caught in the wheel. A heavy or wide load makes it harder to keep the bicycle balanced and to brake.

Where can you go?

  • Municipal driving licence serviceExchanging a foreign driving licence and other licence matters
  • Free first-line legal adviceIf you have been summoned to the police court (juridische eerstelijnsbijstand / aide juridique de première ligne)
  • 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
16 / 16 statements in an official source
Checked: 02.11.2026
Last checked
22.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 16 checked statementsopen

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?

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