56 rules

I am young (14–25)

Cannabis, knives, social media, letting others use your bank account and e-scooters: the risks young people meet most often.

☐ Not allowed: What happens if I drive after smoking cannabis? — Driving under the influence of drugs is forbidden, and there is zero tolerance. If your saliva test is positive, you cannot drive for at least 12 hours. Your licence can be taken away for 15 days and the case goes to court.
☐ Not allowed: Can I look at my phone while I wait at a red light? — No. You must not hold or use your phone while driving, not even at a red light or in a traffic jam. This is a 3rd-degree offence and your licence can be taken away for 15 days.
☐ Not allowed: Can I force my daughter or son to marry someone they do not want? — No. Forced marriage is a crime (level 3). Arranged introductions are allowed, but the final decision is the young person's free choice.
☐ Not allowed: Can I carry a knife, pepper spray or knuckle-duster to protect myself? — No. Pepper spray, knuckle-dusters and some knives are forbidden weapons. Saying 'it is to protect myself' does not make it legal to carry them.
☐ Not allowed: Is cannabis legal in Belgium? Can I carry a small amount? — No, cannabis is not legal. Having it is also a crime. For personal use, in a place that is not open to the public and with no aggravating circumstances, it is at the lowest level (level 1). On the street or in a park it is level 2; selling it is punished very heavily.
☐ Not allowed: What happens if I hit someone in a fight? Is it still a crime if they started it? — Usually yes. The fact that the other person started it does not on its own make you right. Only a proportionate defence against a serious and sudden attack that you cannot escape is self-defence. Deliberately injuring someone is punished from level 1 to 3, depending on how serious the injury is. If the person dies, it is level 4.
☐ Not allowed: Can I let someone use my bank card or account for a few hundred euros? — No, do not lend them. The money that goes through your account often comes from fraud. If you know, or should know, that the money comes from a crime, keeping it in your account or sending it on to someone else is money laundering (level 3).
☐ Not allowed: Is it a crime to insult someone on WhatsApp or to write 'I will find you'? — It can be. A threat that causes someone serious fear is a crime: threatening a serious attack, such as killing, is level 2, and threatening a lighter attack is level 1. Insults and defamation are level 1 crimes if they are made in public (e.g. in a group chat). A screenshot can be used as evidence.
☐ Not allowed: Is it a crime to share intimate photos of my ex or to threaten to share them? — Yes, it is a serious crime. Sharing sexual images without consent is level 3. Threatening to share them, or using them to blackmail someone, is also a separate crime.
☐ Not allowed: Can I secretly go through my partner's phone or Instagram account if I know the password? — No. Getting into someone else's phone or account without permission is a crime (level 2). It makes no difference that they are your spouse.
☐ Not allowed: Is it a crime to keep calling or messaging my ex after we split up, or to wait outside their home? — Yes. Stalking (harassment) is a level 2 crime; in aggravated cases it is level 3.
☐ Not allowed: Can I work undeclared (off the books) while I receive unemployment benefit? — No. Working undeclared while receiving benefits is social fraud. Your benefit is stopped, the money you received wrongly must be paid back, and a criminal case can be started.
☐ Not allowed: Can I use my phone or ride without lights on my bike? — No. Holding a phone in your hand is forbidden on a bike too, and front and rear lights are compulsory in the dark. The alcohol limits also apply to cyclists.
☐ Not allowed: I scratched a parked car and nobody saw. Can I just drive off? — No. If you know you were involved in an accident, leaving so that the facts cannot be established is a criminal offence (vluchtmisdrijf / délit de fuite), even if the accident was not your fault. If the owner is not there, leave your name and address or report it to the police.
☐ Not allowed: Can I use a fake payslip, tenancy agreement or diploma to rent a home or get a job? — No. Making a fake document and knowingly using one are both criminal offences (level 3). Even if someone else made the document, anyone who uses it knowing it is fake is responsible.
☐ Not allowed: Can I stay off work with a doctor's note I bought or tampered with when I am not ill? — No. A fake or altered doctor's note is forgery (level 3). You can also lose your job and your benefit.
☐ Not allowed: Is a social media post calling for hatred or violence against a group a criminal offence? — Yes. Publicly inciting discrimination, hatred or violence against a person or group is a criminal offence (level 2). This rule also protects migrants and refugees who are targeted because of their origin or religion.
☐ Not allowed: What should I do if I am attacked because of my origin or religion? Is this a more serious offence? — Yes, it is more serious. Using violence against someone because of their origin, religion or a similar characteristic is violence with a discriminatory motive (levels 2–5). If you are a victim, contact the police and Unia.
☐ Not allowed: Can I cover my face in the street so that I cannot be recognised? Does the ban include headscarves? — 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.
☐ Not allowed: Can I bring back fake designer bags, watches or clothes from abroad for my own use? — No. Bringing counterfeit goods into Belgium is forbidden. Customs can seize them and fine you.
☐ Not allowed: Is it still theft if I take something small from a supermarket without paying? — Yes. However little it is worth, theft is a criminal offence (level 2). If violence or threats are used, it is level 3.
☐ Not allowed: Is it an offence to spray graffiti on a wall or to damage a car or a bus shelter? — Yes. Spraying graffiti on, or damaging, someone else's property without permission is vandalism. For buildings, vehicles and community facilities, the penalty is heavier (level 2). The municipality can also impose an administrative fine.
☐ Not allowed: What happens if I cause someone's death or injury on the road? Do alcohol, a phone or a red light make the penalty heavier? — Causing someone's death on the road through serious carelessness is a criminal offence (level 3). If you went through a red light, had a phone in your hand, were drunk or were driving far too fast, it is level 4: 5 – 10 years in prison.
☐ Not allowed: Is it a crime to open or keep a child abuse video posted in a WhatsApp group, or to share it 'as a warning'? — Yes, it can be. Knowingly accessing child sexual abuse images is a crime (level 2); knowingly keeping or sharing them is more serious (level 3). Do not share them, even as a warning; report them to the police or Child Focus.
☐ Not allowed: Is it a crime to post something on social media that glorifies a terrorist attack or calls for support for a terrorist organisation? — Yes, it can be. Publicly glorifying or justifying terrorist offences, or encouraging others to commit them, is a crime if it is done with that intention and creates a serious risk that a new offence will be committed (level 3–4). Knowingly supporting a terrorist group is also a crime.
☐ Not allowed: Is attacking a police officer, doctor, teacher or bus driver because of their job punished more severely? — Yes. Violence against a person exercising a societal function, because of that function, is punished one level higher than ordinary violence (levels 2–5). Deliberately killing such a person because of their function is level 8, for which the law prescribes life imprisonment.
☐ Not allowed: Is it a crime to hold someone by force until a debt is paid? — Yes. Deliberately and unlawfully holding someone is deprivation of liberty (level 3). Holding someone as a guarantee that an order or condition will be met is hostage-taking (level 5).
☐ Required: Do I have to show my ID if the police stop me? Can I resist if I think it is unfair? — Yes, you must show your ID. Resisting the police with force is a crime (level 1 without a weapon, level 2 with a weapon). If you think the police action is unfair, stay calm and make a complaint afterwards.
☐ Required: Do I need a permit to fish in a river or lake? — 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.
☐ Required: Do I always have to carry my identity card or residence card? — Yes. From the age of 15, every Belgian must carry their identity card. Foreign nationals must also carry their residence card and show it when the police ask for it.
☐ Required: If I see someone injured or in danger in the street, do I have to help? — Yes. Knowingly failing to help someone in serious danger is a criminal offence (level 2). You do not have to put yourself in danger; calling 112 also counts as helping.
☐ Required: Do I need a licence, a helmet and a number plate for a speed pedelec (an e-bike that goes up to 45 km/h)? — Yes. In law, a speed pedelec is a moped (bromfiets klasse P / cyclomoteur classe P). You must be at least 16 and you need an AM or B licence, a helmet, registration and an SP number plate.
☐ Required: Do I have to wear a helmet and special clothing on a motorbike or a moped? — Yes. On a motorbike or a moped, both the rider and the passenger must wear a helmet. On a motorbike, gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers and boots that protect the ankles are also compulsory.
☐ Required: The police stopped me for a traffic check: which documents must I show, and can I refuse a breath test? — Yes, you must show your driving licence, and the vehicle documents must be in the vehicle. You cannot refuse a breath test: deliberately refusing it carries the same penalty as an alcohol level of 0,8 per mille or more.
☐ Required: Do I have to file a tax return every year? Do I need to do anything about the 'proposal' from the tax authorities? — Yes. From the age of 18, you must file a return every year, even if you had no income. If the tax authorities have sent you a ready-made proposal, checking it may be enough.
☐ Depends: I had one or two beers. Can I drive? — Not if the alcohol in your blood is above 0,5 per mille (0,22 mg/l in your breath). For professional drivers the limit is 0,2 per mille. The safest choice: if you have been drinking, do not drive at all.
☐ Depends: Can my child ride an electric scooter (e-step), and can they ride on the pavement? — In traffic, your child must be at least 16, except in places such as residential and play streets. Electric scooters follow the bicycle rules: riding on the pavement in built-up areas is forbidden, you cannot carry a second person, and the maximum speed is 25 km/h.
☐ Depends: Is it a crime to buy a phone that someone I know is selling very cheaply? — Yes, it can be. Knowingly buying stolen goods is a level 3 crime. By law, being aware that the goods might be stolen also counts as 'knowingly'; that is why a suspiciously low price is risky.
☐ Depends: Can I have a barbecue in the park? — It depends on the municipality and the park. In many parks, barbecues are only allowed in marked areas.
☐ Depends: As a pedestrian, can I cross the road wherever I want? — Only under certain conditions. If there is a pedestrian crossing within about 20 metres, you must use it. You may not step into the road when the pedestrian light is red, and you must give way to trams.
☐ Depends: If I am convicted of a criminal offence, will I lose my residence permit or my Belgian citizenship? — It depends. Not every conviction automatically ends your right of residence. But for serious or repeated offences, your right of residence can be withdrawn, and your citizenship application may also be affected.
☐ Depends: Can someone under 18 get married in Belgium? — As a rule, no. The minimum age for marriage is 18. The family court can only make an exception if there are serious reasons.
☐ Depends: Can I share a photo of my child or of someone else on social media? At what age can my child open an account? — It depends. To share a photo of a recognisable person outside your private circle, you need their permission. A child under 13 needs parental consent to use social media.
☐ Depends: What happens if my child under 18 commits a criminal offence? — The child usually goes before the youth court. The aim is education and repairing the harm rather than punishment. But a young person aged 16 or over can be referred to an adult court for a serious offence.
☐ Depends: Is voting compulsory in Belgian elections? What happens if I do not vote? — It depends. Voting is compulsory for registered voters in federal, regional and European elections. In Flanders, it has not been compulsory in local and provincial elections since 2024.
☐ Depends: Is it an offence to catcall a woman in the street or to insult someone because of their gender? — Yes, it can be. Openly insulting someone in public because of their gender and seriously harming their dignity is an offence (level 2).
☐ Depends: Can I secretly record someone? Is it forbidden to record a phone call I take part in? — It depends. Recording a conversation you take part in is not an offence under the Criminal Code. Secretly recording other people's conversations is an offence (level 2). Secretly watching or recording someone who is naked and thinks they are in private is also an offence (level 3).
☐ Depends: Is unemployment benefit no longer unlimited? How long can I receive it after the 2026 reform? — No, for most people it is no longer unlimited. Since 1 March 2026, benefit for new claims lasts at most 24 months; some groups are exempt from this limit. To qualify, you must have worked long enough, be registered as a jobseeker and be available for work.
☐ Depends: I am a student. How many hours a year can I work as a student, and what should I watch out for? — Since 2025 you can work 650 hours a year at a reduced contribution rate. Working more is not forbidden, but normal contributions are due on the extra hours. It may also affect child benefit and your parents' taxes.
☐ Depends: Is there a licence, helmet or age requirement for an electric bicycle? — Not for an ordinary electric bicycle (at most 250 W, with assistance cutting out at 25 km/h); it counts as a normal bicycle. For a motorised bicycle with a motor of up to 1 kW, you must be at least 16.
☐ Depends: Can I cycle side by side with someone, and can I ride the wrong way down a one-way street? — Yes, under certain conditions. On the road, you may ride two abreast, but outside built-up areas you must ride in single file when a vehicle comes up behind you. You may ride the wrong way down a one-way street only if an additional sign allows it.
☐ Depends: Can I ride on the road when there is a cycle path, and can I leave my bicycle on the pavement? — If there is a usable cycle path on your right, you must use it. Leave your bicycle on the pavement or in a bike park, not on the road or in a parking lane, and without getting in anyone's way.
☐ Depends: Do I need a licence, a number plate and insurance to ride a moped (scooter)? — Under certain conditions. You do not need a licence for a class A moped (at most 25 km/h); for a class B moped (45 km/h) you need an AM licence. Both need a number plate and insurance.
☐ Depends: Can I ride a 125 cc motorbike with my B licence? At what age can I get a motorbike licence? — Under certain conditions. If you have held your B licence for at least 2 years, have completed the 4-hour training and have code 372 on your licence, you can ride a motorbike of up to 125 cc. For a more powerful motorbike, you need an A2 or A licence.
☐ Depends: Can I take a passenger or a child on the back of my motorbike or moped? — Under certain conditions. The passenger must have a seat and keep their feet on the footrests. Children under 3 may not be carried at all, and children under 8 may not be carried on a motorbike over 125 cc.
☐ Depends: Can the police withdraw my driving licence on the spot? What happens if I drive while it is withdrawn? — Yes, in certain serious situations your licence can be withdrawn on the spot, normally for 15 days. Driving during this period is a serious offence and leads to a driving ban of at least 3 months.

Do not do this (27)

TrafficNot allowed

What happens if I hit someone in a fight? Is it still a crime if they started it?

Usually yes. The fact that the other person started it does not on its own make you right. Only a proportionate defence against a serious and sudden attack that you cannot escape is self-defence. Deliberately injuring someone is punished from level 1 to 3, depending on how serious the injury is. If the person dies, it is level 4.Open the rule Digital lifeNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 3

Can I let someone use my bank card or account for a few hundred euros?

No, do not lend them. The money that goes through your account often comes from fraud. If you know, or should know, that the money comes from a crime, keeping it in your account or sending it on to someone else is money laundering (level 3).Open the rule Digital lifeNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2

Is it a crime to insult someone on WhatsApp or to write 'I will find you'?

It can be. A threat that causes someone serious fear is a crime: threatening a serious attack, such as killing, is level 2, and threatening a lighter attack is level 1. Insults and defamation are level 1 crimes if they are made in public (e.g. in a group chat). A screenshot can be used as evidence.Open the rule Digital lifeNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 3

Is it a crime to share intimate photos of my ex or to threaten to share them?

Yes, it is a serious crime. Sharing sexual images without consent is level 3. Threatening to share them, or using them to blackmail someone, is also a separate crime.Open the rule Digital lifeNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2

Can I secretly go through my partner's phone or Instagram account if I know the password?

No. Getting into someone else's phone or account without permission is a crime (level 2). It makes no difference that they are your spouse.Open the rule Digital lifeNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2

Is it a crime to keep calling or messaging my ex after we split up, or to wait outside their home?

Yes. Stalking (harassment) is a level 2 crime; in aggravated cases it is level 3.Open the rule Work and moneyNot allowed

Can I work undeclared (off the books) while I receive unemployment benefit?

No. Working undeclared while receiving benefits is social fraud. Your benefit is stopped, the money you received wrongly must be paid back, and a criminal case can be started.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed· Traffic offence, degree 3

Can I use my phone or ride without lights on my bike?

No. Holding a phone in your hand is forbidden on a bike too, and front and rear lights are compulsory in the dark. The alcohol limits also apply to cyclists.Open the rule TrafficNot allowed

I scratched a parked car and nobody saw. Can I just drive off?

No. If you know you were involved in an accident, leaving so that the facts cannot be established is a criminal offence (vluchtmisdrijf / délit de fuite), even if the accident was not your fault. If the owner is not there, leave your name and address or report it to the police.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 3

Can I use a fake payslip, tenancy agreement or diploma to rent a home or get a job?

No. Making a fake document and knowingly using one are both criminal offences (level 3). Even if someone else made the document, anyone who uses it knowing it is fake is responsible.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 3

Can I stay off work with a doctor's note I bought or tampered with when I am not ill?

No. A fake or altered doctor's note is forgery (level 3). You can also lose your job and your benefit.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2

Is a social media post calling for hatred or violence against a group a criminal offence?

Yes. Publicly inciting discrimination, hatred or violence against a person or group is a criminal offence (level 2). This rule also protects migrants and refugees who are targeted because of their origin or religion.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 5

What should I do if I am attacked because of my origin or religion? Is this a more serious offence?

Yes, it is more serious. Using violence against someone because of their origin, religion or a similar characteristic is violence with a discriminatory motive (levels 2–5). If you are a victim, contact the police and Unia.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 1

Can I cover my face in the street so that I cannot be recognised? Does the ban include headscarves?

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.Open the rule Travel and customsNot allowed

Can I bring back fake designer bags, watches or clothes from abroad for my own use?

No. Bringing counterfeit goods into Belgium is forbidden. Customs can seize them and fine you.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2

Is it still theft if I take something small from a supermarket without paying?

Yes. However little it is worth, theft is a criminal offence (level 2). If violence or threats are used, it is level 3.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2

Is it an offence to spray graffiti on a wall or to damage a car or a bus shelter?

Yes. Spraying graffiti on, or damaging, someone else's property without permission is vandalism. For buildings, vehicles and community facilities, the penalty is heavier (level 2). The municipality can also impose an administrative fine.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 3

What happens if I cause someone's death or injury on the road? Do alcohol, a phone or a red light make the penalty heavier?

Causing someone's death on the road through serious carelessness is a criminal offence (level 3). If you went through a red light, had a phone in your hand, were drunk or were driving far too fast, it is level 4: 5 – 10 years in prison.Open the rule Digital lifeNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 3

Is it a crime to open or keep a child abuse video posted in a WhatsApp group, or to share it 'as a warning'?

Yes, it can be. Knowingly accessing child sexual abuse images is a crime (level 2); knowingly keeping or sharing them is more serious (level 3). Do not share them, even as a warning; report them to the police or Child Focus.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 3

Is it a crime to post something on social media that glorifies a terrorist attack or calls for support for a terrorist organisation?

Yes, it can be. Publicly glorifying or justifying terrorist offences, or encouraging others to commit them, is a crime if it is done with that intention and creates a serious risk that a new offence will be committed (level 3–4). Knowingly supporting a terrorist group is also a crime.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 2

Is attacking a police officer, doctor, teacher or bus driver because of their job punished more severely?

Yes. Violence against a person exercising a societal function, because of that function, is punished one level higher than ordinary violence (levels 2–5). Deliberately killing such a person because of their function is level 8, for which the law prescribes life imprisonment.Open the rule Criminal lawNot allowed· Criminal Code, level 5

Is it a crime to hold someone by force until a debt is paid?

Yes. Deliberately and unlawfully holding someone is deprivation of liberty (level 3). Holding someone as a guarantee that an order or condition will be met is hostage-taking (level 5).Open the rule

You must do this (8)

Criminal lawRequired· Criminal Code, level 1

Do I have to show my ID if the police stop me? Can I resist if I think it is unfair?

Yes, you must show your ID. Resisting the police with force is a crime (level 1 without a weapon, level 2 with a weapon). If you think the police action is unfair, stay calm and make a complaint afterwards.Open the rule Nature and animalsRequired

Do I need a permit to fish in a river or lake?

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.Open the rule Identity and addressRequired

Do I always have to carry my identity card or residence card?

Yes. From the age of 15, every Belgian must carry their identity card. Foreign nationals must also carry their residence card and show it when the police ask for it.Open the rule Criminal lawRequired· Criminal Code, level 2

If I see someone injured or in danger in the street, do I have to help?

Yes. Knowingly failing to help someone in serious danger is a criminal offence (level 2). You do not have to put yourself in danger; calling 112 also counts as helping.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 1

Do I need a licence, a helmet and a number plate for a speed pedelec (an e-bike that goes up to 45 km/h)?

Yes. In law, a speed pedelec is a moped (bromfiets klasse P / cyclomoteur classe P). You must be at least 16 and you need an AM or B licence, a helmet, registration and an SP number plate.Open the rule TrafficRequired· Traffic offence, degree 1

Do I have to wear a helmet and special clothing on a motorbike or a moped?

Yes. On a motorbike or a moped, both the rider and the passenger must wear a helmet. On a motorbike, gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long trousers and boots that protect the ankles are also compulsory.Open the rule TrafficRequired

The police stopped me for a traffic check: which documents must I show, and can I refuse a breath test?

Yes, you must show your driving licence, and the vehicle documents must be in the vehicle. You cannot refuse a breath test: deliberately refusing it carries the same penalty as an alcohol level of 0,8 per mille or more.Open the rule Work and moneyRequired

Do I have to file a tax return every year? Do I need to do anything about the 'proposal' from the tax authorities?

Yes. From the age of 18, you must file a return every year, even if you had no income. If the tax authorities have sent you a ready-made proposal, checking it may be enough.Open the rule

It depends (21)

TrafficDepends

I had one or two beers. Can I drive?

Not if the alcohol in your blood is above 0,5 per mille (0,22 mg/l in your breath). For professional drivers the limit is 0,2 per mille. The safest choice: if you have been drinking, do not drive at all.Open the rule TrafficDepends

Can my child ride an electric scooter (e-step), and can they ride on the pavement?

In traffic, your child must be at least 16, except in places such as residential and play streets. Electric scooters follow the bicycle rules: riding on the pavement in built-up areas is forbidden, you cannot carry a second person, and the maximum speed is 25 km/h.Open the rule Criminal lawDepends· Criminal Code, level 3

Is it a crime to buy a phone that someone I know is selling very cheaply?

Yes, it can be. Knowingly buying stolen goods is a level 3 crime. By law, being aware that the goods might be stolen also counts as 'knowingly'; that is why a suspiciously low price is risky.Open the rule Neighbours and municipalityDepends

Can I have a barbecue in the park?

It depends on the municipality and the park. In many parks, barbecues are only allowed in marked areas.Open the rule TrafficDepends· Traffic offence, degree 1

As a pedestrian, can I cross the road wherever I want?

Only under certain conditions. If there is a pedestrian crossing within about 20 metres, you must use it. You may not step into the road when the pedestrian light is red, and you must give way to trams.Open the rule Criminal lawDepends

If I am convicted of a criminal offence, will I lose my residence permit or my Belgian citizenship?

It depends. Not every conviction automatically ends your right of residence. But for serious or repeated offences, your right of residence can be withdrawn, and your citizenship application may also be affected.Open the rule Family and childrenDepends

Can someone under 18 get married in Belgium?

As a rule, no. The minimum age for marriage is 18. The family court can only make an exception if there are serious reasons.Open the rule Family and childrenDepends

Can I share a photo of my child or of someone else on social media? At what age can my child open an account?

It depends. To share a photo of a recognisable person outside your private circle, you need their permission. A child under 13 needs parental consent to use social media.Open the rule Family and childrenDepends

What happens if my child under 18 commits a criminal offence?

The child usually goes before the youth court. The aim is education and repairing the harm rather than punishment. But a young person aged 16 or over can be referred to an adult court for a serious offence.Open the rule Identity and addressDepends

Is voting compulsory in Belgian elections? What happens if I do not vote?

It depends. Voting is compulsory for registered voters in federal, regional and European elections. In Flanders, it has not been compulsory in local and provincial elections since 2024.Open the rule Criminal lawDepends· Criminal Code, level 2

Is it an offence to catcall a woman in the street or to insult someone because of their gender?

Yes, it can be. Openly insulting someone in public because of their gender and seriously harming their dignity is an offence (level 2).Open the rule Digital lifeDepends· Criminal Code, level 3

Can I secretly record someone? Is it forbidden to record a phone call I take part in?

It depends. Recording a conversation you take part in is not an offence under the Criminal Code. Secretly recording other people's conversations is an offence (level 2). Secretly watching or recording someone who is naked and thinks they are in private is also an offence (level 3).Open the rule Work and moneyDepends

Is unemployment benefit no longer unlimited? How long can I receive it after the 2026 reform?

No, for most people it is no longer unlimited. Since 1 March 2026, benefit for new claims lasts at most 24 months; some groups are exempt from this limit. To qualify, you must have worked long enough, be registered as a jobseeker and be available for work.Open the rule Work and moneyDepends

I am a student. How many hours a year can I work as a student, and what should I watch out for?

Since 2025 you can work 650 hours a year at a reduced contribution rate. Working more is not forbidden, but normal contributions are due on the extra hours. It may also affect child benefit and your parents' taxes.Open the rule TrafficDepends· Traffic offence, degree 1

Is there a licence, helmet or age requirement for an electric bicycle?

Not for an ordinary electric bicycle (at most 250 W, with assistance cutting out at 25 km/h); it counts as a normal bicycle. For a motorised bicycle with a motor of up to 1 kW, you must be at least 16.Open the rule TrafficDepends· Traffic offence, degree 3

Can I cycle side by side with someone, and can I ride the wrong way down a one-way street?

Yes, under certain conditions. On the road, you may ride two abreast, but outside built-up areas you must ride in single file when a vehicle comes up behind you. You may ride the wrong way down a one-way street only if an additional sign allows it.Open the rule TrafficDepends· Traffic offence, degree 1

Can I ride on the road when there is a cycle path, and can I leave my bicycle on the pavement?

If there is a usable cycle path on your right, you must use it. Leave your bicycle on the pavement or in a bike park, not on the road or in a parking lane, and without getting in anyone's way.Open the rule TrafficDepends

Do I need a licence, a number plate and insurance to ride a moped (scooter)?

Under certain conditions. You do not need a licence for a class A moped (at most 25 km/h); for a class B moped (45 km/h) you need an AM licence. Both need a number plate and insurance.Open the rule TrafficDepends· Traffic offence, degree 2

Can I ride a 125 cc motorbike with my B licence? At what age can I get a motorbike licence?

Under certain conditions. If you have held your B licence for at least 2 years, have completed the 4-hour training and have code 372 on your licence, you can ride a motorbike of up to 125 cc. For a more powerful motorbike, you need an A2 or A licence.Open the rule TrafficDepends· Traffic offence, degree 3

Can I take a passenger or a child on the back of my motorbike or moped?

Under certain conditions. The passenger must have a seat and keep their feet on the footrests. Children under 3 may not be carried at all, and children under 8 may not be carried on a motorbike over 125 cc.Open the rule TrafficDepends

Can the police withdraw my driving licence on the spot? What happens if I drive while it is withdrawn?

Yes, in certain serious situations your licence can be withdrawn on the spot, normally for 15 days. Driving during this period is a serious offence and leads to a driving ban of at least 3 months.Open the rule

Do not do this (27)

What happens if I drive after smoking cannabis?

Can I look at my phone while I wait at a red light?

Can I force my daughter or son to marry someone they do not want?

Can I carry a knife, pepper spray or knuckle-duster to protect myself?

Is cannabis legal in Belgium? Can I carry a small amount?

What happens if I hit someone in a fight? Is it still a crime if they started it?

Can I let someone use my bank card or account for a few hundred euros?

Is it a crime to insult someone on WhatsApp or to write 'I will find you'?

Is it a crime to share intimate photos of my ex or to threaten to share them?

Can I secretly go through my partner's phone or Instagram account if I know the password?

Is it a crime to keep calling or messaging my ex after we split up, or to wait outside their home?

Can I work undeclared (off the books) while I receive unemployment benefit?

Can I use my phone or ride without lights on my bike?

I scratched a parked car and nobody saw. Can I just drive off?

Can I use a fake payslip, tenancy agreement or diploma to rent a home or get a job?

Can I stay off work with a doctor's note I bought or tampered with when I am not ill?

Is a social media post calling for hatred or violence against a group a criminal offence?

What should I do if I am attacked because of my origin or religion? Is this a more serious offence?

Can I cover my face in the street so that I cannot be recognised? Does the ban include headscarves?

Can I bring back fake designer bags, watches or clothes from abroad for my own use?

Is it still theft if I take something small from a supermarket without paying?

Is it an offence to spray graffiti on a wall or to damage a car or a bus shelter?

What happens if I cause someone's death or injury on the road? Do alcohol, a phone or a red light make the penalty heavier?

Is it a crime to open or keep a child abuse video posted in a WhatsApp group, or to share it 'as a warning'?

Is it a crime to post something on social media that glorifies a terrorist attack or calls for support for a terrorist organisation?

Is attacking a police officer, doctor, teacher or bus driver because of their job punished more severely?

Is it a crime to hold someone by force until a debt is paid?

You must do this (8)

Do I have to show my ID if the police stop me? Can I resist if I think it is unfair?

Do I need a permit to fish in a river or lake?

Do I always have to carry my identity card or residence card?

If I see someone injured or in danger in the street, do I have to help?

Do I need a licence, a helmet and a number plate for a speed pedelec (an e-bike that goes up to 45 km/h)?

Do I have to wear a helmet and special clothing on a motorbike or a moped?

The police stopped me for a traffic check: which documents must I show, and can I refuse a breath test?

Do I have to file a tax return every year? Do I need to do anything about the 'proposal' from the tax authorities?

It depends (21)

I had one or two beers. Can I drive?

Can my child ride an electric scooter (e-step), and can they ride on the pavement?

Is it a crime to buy a phone that someone I know is selling very cheaply?

Can I have a barbecue in the park?

As a pedestrian, can I cross the road wherever I want?

If I am convicted of a criminal offence, will I lose my residence permit or my Belgian citizenship?

Can someone under 18 get married in Belgium?

Can I share a photo of my child or of someone else on social media? At what age can my child open an account?

What happens if my child under 18 commits a criminal offence?

Is voting compulsory in Belgian elections? What happens if I do not vote?

Is it an offence to catcall a woman in the street or to insult someone because of their gender?

Can I secretly record someone? Is it forbidden to record a phone call I take part in?

Is unemployment benefit no longer unlimited? How long can I receive it after the 2026 reform?

I am a student. How many hours a year can I work as a student, and what should I watch out for?

Is there a licence, helmet or age requirement for an electric bicycle?

Can I cycle side by side with someone, and can I ride the wrong way down a one-way street?

Can I ride on the road when there is a cycle path, and can I leave my bicycle on the pavement?

Do I need a licence, a number plate and insurance to ride a moped (scooter)?

Can I ride a 125 cc motorbike with my B licence? At what age can I get a motorbike licence?

Can I take a passenger or a child on the back of my motorbike or moped?

Can the police withdraw my driving licence on the spot? What happens if I drive while it is withdrawn?