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DEPENDS Depends on the municipality Flanders Wallonia

I run a stall at a market or fair. Do I have to use Dutch?

In short

It depends. Some Flemish municipalities require the text on market and fair stalls to be in Dutch. The rules vary from one municipality to another, so check your own municipality's regulations.

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This rule in 72 seconds
Video transcript

You've set up a stall at a market in a Flemish municipality. You wrote your sign only in your own language. It depends: Some Flemish municipalities require stall texts to be in Dutch. The rule differs in each municipality. The right way: Read the market regulations when you get your stall permit. If there's a rule, write your texts in Dutch. If you break the rule: Municipal admin. fine: Set by municipality; Example: Ninove (fair): Maximum 500 €; Also: Permit can be suspended.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • Under the Belgian Constitution, people are free to use the language of their choice (art. 30). Language use can only be regulated by law, and only for official acts and court proceedings. That is why the Flemish minister annulled a similar market rule in Merchtem on 24 February 2006. In 2008 the Flemish Minister of the Interior stated: “traders are free to use the language of their choice”.
  • In Asse, since 2019, market traders (marktkramers) have used only Dutch in written communication, and Dutch must always be the first language in conversation. The same rule applies to fair stallholders (standhouders) (art. 8.25 and 9.11).
  • In Ninove, advertising and other text on fairground stalls must be in Dutch (art. 142; since 21 September 2026). In Aarschot, too, text on fairground stalls must at least also be in Dutch (fair regulations, art. 27). In Ans (Wallonia), the identification sign on a market stall (name, address, trader card number) must be in French (art. 147).
  • Some municipalities prefer encouragement to penalties. In Londerzeel, market traders signed a voluntary quality charter in January 2026, promising to use Dutch as their working language. Meise's market regulations (2026, art. 45) ask traders to use Dutch. Always read the market regulations (marktreglement) when you apply for a stall permit.
  • Whatever the municipality, compulsory labels, instructions for use and guarantee documents must be in a language that customers in the region where you sell can understand.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
If you break the municipal rule, you can get a municipal administrative fine (GAS-boete / amende SAC). The municipality sets the amount; in Ninove, for example, the maximum for an adult is 500 €.

Legal basis:Politiereglement Ninove 2026, art. 410Politieverordening Asse, art. 16.2 + GAS-wet 24.6.2013

Court / prison
No prison sentence.

Legal basis:Politieverordening Asse, art. 16.2 + GAS-wet 24.6.2013

What really matters: the indirect consequences

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).

All terms: glossary →

Why does this rule exist?

These municipalities say they want to encourage everyone in the Dutch-speaking region to learn the language. According to the Asse decision, Dutch is an important key for newcomers to get a fair chance in society and at work. On the other hand, the Constitution protects the freedom of traders and customers to choose their language. That is why the rules vary from one municipality to another, and some are only an encouragement.

Where can you go?

  • Accountant or social secretariatDimona, e-invoicing and tax obligations
  • Organisations for self-employed peopleFlanders: Unizo · Wallonia and Brussels: UCM
  • Tax office (FOD Financiën / SPF Finances)Declaring foreign property and accounts
  • 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
21 / 21 statements in an official source
Checked: 15.10.2026
Last checked
15.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 21 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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