Can I cover my face in the street so that I cannot be recognised? Does the ban include headscarves?
In short
No. In public places, covering your face so that you cannot be recognised is forbidden (level 1). A headscarf that leaves the face uncovered is not covered by this ban.
Video transcript
It's a cold day. You go out with your face fully covered by a balaclava. Not allowed: In public places, covering your face so you can't be recognised is banned: face veil, balaclava, scarf over the face. The rule applies regardless of religion. The right way: Keep your face visible. A headscarf, hat or beanie that leaves the face uncovered is fine. A motorbike helmet is an exception. Consequences (Level 1 offence): In court: 200 € – 20.000 €; Municipal fine: Up to 500 €; Young people 14+: Up to 175 €.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- In public places, covering all or part of your face so that you cannot be recognised is a criminal offence (Criminal Code art. 423, level 1).
- The ban has nothing to do with religion and applies to everyone equally: face veils (niqab, burqa), balaclavas, scarves wrapped around the face and masks are all included.
- As long as your face is visible and recognisable, a headscarf, hat or beanie does not fall under this ban.
- It is not an offence if another law requires or allows it (for example, a motorbike helmet). Nor is it an offence if workplace rules require it, or if the municipality has allowed it at festivities such as carnival (art. 424).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- The court can impose a fine of 200 € – 20.000 € (with surcharges, the amount to pay can be higher), or 20–120 hours of community service (werkstraf / peine de travail) instead. The municipality can impose an administrative fine (GAS / SAC) instead of going through the court: no more than 500 € for adults and no more than 175 € for young people aged 14 or over.
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 56 1373/002 (opdeciemen) + Strafwetboek, art. 36
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 1: No prison: a fine, community service or probation. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- A penalty imposed by the court can appear on your criminal record (strafregister / casier judiciaire); the municipality's administrative fine (GAS / SAC) does not
Legal basis:Sv. art. 590 + GAS-wet 24.6.2013, art. 44 §1
- Even without prison, the sentence is a conviction; if you do it again, the judge can take it into account
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 60, eerste lid
What do these terms mean?
- GAS fine
- An administrative fine imposed by the municipality itself. It is not a criminal sentence. The maximum is €500 for adults and €175 for minors. You can appeal within 1 month to the police court (the youth court for minors).
- Criminal record
- The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
Why does this rule exist?
Lawmakers wanted people in public places to be able to recognise each other, for the sake of safety. The rule is the same for everyone, whatever their beliefs.
Where can you go?
- Free first-line legal advice and pro deo lawyerA free or low-cost lawyer if your income is low
- Justice HouseInformation and support for victims, accused people and convicted people (Justitiehuis / Maison de justice)
- Emergency112 · Police 101
- 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
- 11 / 11 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 11 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Md. 423: herkese açık yerlerde yüzü geheel of gedeeltelijk bedekt, niet herkenbaar
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 423 - Found in an official source
Md. 423 seviye 1
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 423 - Found in an official source
Yasak dinden bağımsız, her türlü yüz örtüsü (kanunda din geçmiyor)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 423 (yorum; metin genel) - Found in an official source
Yüz tanınabilirse (başörtüsü) kapsam dışı: unsur 'niet herkenbaar'
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 423 - Found in an official source
Andersluidende wetsbepalingen istisnası
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 423 - Found in an official source
Kask örneği (başka kanunun gerektirdiği durum)
Belgisch Staatsblad 08.04.2024 (Wet 29.02.2024, Strafwetboek boek I en II), boek II art. 423-424 - Found in an official source
Md. 424: arbeidsreglementen of politieverordening naar aanleiding van feestactiviteiten
Strafwetboek Boek II (Wet 29 februari 2024), Justel, art. 424 - Found in an official source
Seviye 1'de hapis yok
FOD Justitie – Hervorming Strafwetboek - Found in an official source
Seviye 1: para cezası / werkstraf; ek ondalıklar (×1,25)
Kamer DOC 56 1373/002 (opdeciemen) + Strafwetboek, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Mahkemenin verdiği ceza Strafregister'e kaydedilir; GAS cezaları ise belediyenin kendi kaydında tutulur
Sv. art. 590 + GAS-wet 24.6.2013, art. 44 §1 - Found in an official source
Önceki kesin mahkûmiyetten sonra 5 yıl içinde yeni suç işlenirse hâkim cezayı bir üst seviyeye çıkarabilir (herhaling)
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 60, eerste lid
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?