Can I pick linden (lime) blossoms from a tree in the street or in the park?
In short
As a rule, no. Street and park trees belong to the municipality or the region. Breaking branches, climbing the tree or putting a ladder on the road can lead to a penalty.
Video transcript
The linden tree in the street is in bloom. You lean a ladder against it. Not allowed: Street and park trees belong to the municipality. Breaking branches or climbing is fined. The right way: Leave municipal trees alone. Pick linden in your own garden or buy it. Municipal fine (gas): Adults: max. 500 €; Minors: max. 175 €; Damaging the tree: Possible criminal case.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Street and park trees belong to the municipality or the region; breaking branches, climbing them or putting a ladder on the road can lead to a GAS fine under the municipal police regulation.
- Knowingly damaging a tree can count as tree vandalism under the Criminal Code (art. 517, level 2; level 3 for serious damage). General vandalism is art. 515, level 1.
- In the regional parks in Brussels, picking plants or parts of plants is explicitly forbidden.
- In forests, however, the forest rules apply: to pick flowers in Wallonia, you need the forest owner's permission; in Flanders and Brussels, it is forbidden.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Municipal administrative fine (GAS-boete / amende SAC): the legal maximum is 500 € for adults and 175 € for minors (the minimum age is 14 or 16, depending on the municipality)
Legal basis:BeSafe – FAQ GASRèglement général de police Bruxelles 2026, art. 2 §1-§2
- Court / prison
- If you knowingly damage a tree, it can count as tree vandalism: Criminal Code, art. 517, level 2 (6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative penalty); level 3 for serious damage.
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3518/011, art. 515, 517berchem.brussels
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- Compensation can be claimed for the damage to the tree
Legal basis:BW Boek 6, art. 6.5
- Risk of falling off the ladder or causing a traffic accident
- A conviction for vandalism goes on your criminal record
Legal basis:Sv. art. 590, 1°
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?
City trees give everyone shade and clean air. Broken branches leave the tree open to disease. Linden blossoms are an important food source for bees.
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
- 11 / 11 statements in an official source
- Checked: 22.10.2026
- Last checked
- 22.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 11 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Dal kırmak, ağaca tırmanmak belediye yönetmeliğiyle GAS
Règlement général de police commun aux 19 communes bruxelloises (2026), art. 104 ve art. 43, 6° - Corrected according to the source
Ağaca zarar md. 517 seviye 2 (ciddi zararda 3); genel vandalizm md. 515 seviye 1
Kamer DOC 55 3518/011, art. 515, 517 - Found in an official source
Brüksel parklarında bitki/bitki parçası koparmak açıkça yasak
Règlement général de police commun aux 19 communes bruxelloises (2026), art. 104 - Found in an official source
Valonya ormanında günde iki avuç çiçek
Circuler en forêt en Wallonie – wallonie.be - Found in an official source
Flandre ve Brüksel'de ormanda çiçek toplamak yasak
Vlaanderen.be; Bruxelles Environnement FDS broşürü - Found in an official source
GAS üst sınırı yetişkin 500 €, küçük 175 €
BeSafe – FAQ GAS - Found in an official source
Küçükler için yaş sınırı belediyeye göre 14 veya 16
Règlement général de police Bruxelles 2026, art. 2 §1-§2 - Found in an official source
Ağaca kusurla zarar veren tazminat öder
BW Boek 6, art. 6.5 - Found in an official source
Ceza mahkûmiyetleri adli sicile (Strafregister) yazılır
Sv. art. 590, 1° - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Vandalizm suçu 'bilerek' (délibérément) zarar vermeyi şart koşar. Kart her zararı (ör. çiçek toplarken dal kırılmasını) kesin olarak vandalizm sayıyor; kasıt şartı düşmüş.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): 'Sayılabilir' denmiş ama suçun temel şartı olan kasıt (délibérément) yazılmamış; okuyucu her zararın suç olduğunu düşünebilir.
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?