Belgium

Belgium, formally known as the Kingdom of Belgium, is a small country located on the western coast of Europe. Its capital is Brussels, which also serves as the country’s largest city. By population, Belgium is the 79th largest country in the world, as well as being extremely densely populated.

Abnormal Road Movements

Bans in Belgium mainly apply to the transport of oversize loads during certain periods. It should be noted that in this country the movement of such transport is strictly standardised and can take place in specific regions.

Motorways – The ban applies from 6 am on Saturday to 9 am on Monday. For loads exceeding 3.5 metres in width, 30 metres in length or 4.30 metres in height, the ban applies daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. On public holidays – as above – the hours of restriction differ from those on weekends.

Other roads – Oversize loads are also banned on the Antwerp bypass R1, between junction 2 (Antwerpen – Noord) and junction 6 (Linkeroever), Brussels bypass R0, Charleroi bypass R9 and other sections.

Cities – From 7am to 9am and from 4pm to 6pm, the movement of vehicles with abnormal loads is banned in Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Charleroi, Kortrijk, Ghent, Hasselt, Liège, Louvain, Mechelen, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Tournai and Verviers.

Special authorisation must be obtained if vehicles/loads exceed maximum permitted weights and dimensions. For help and assistance, visit the Royal Belgian Federation of carriers and logistics providers’ website https://febetra.be/

All abnormal load operators will require a keeper’s certificate to prove ownership of the trailer, which must be carried as part of the vehicle documents at all times.

EU Directive – Within the European Union (EC), the Council Directive 96/53/EC gives information about the permissible dimensions and weights for road vehicles in international traffic. Vehicle combinations (trucks with ordinary trailers or semi-trailers) which comply with the criteria specified here may travel on roads within the EU without a special permit. The size and weight limits set by the Council Directive are summarised in the tables at the link here

Carriage of Dangerous Goods

Main competent authority Competent authority for Class 1, Class 7 and for each region (updated December 2020)

Other competent authorities Notification according to 1.9.4 Notification and according to 1.9.5 (Tunnel restrictions)

Tunnel restrictions (updated July 2014) according to 1.9.5.

If you are shipping dangerous goods, you must also complete a dangerous goods declaration. See guidance on moving dangerous goods

Heavy Goods Vehicles Road Tolls

In 2016, an electronic toll system was introduced as a replacement for the Eurovignette. All commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must be equipped with a satellite box called an OBU (On-Board Unit). It replaces the Eurovignette in Belgium for trucks over 12 tonnes.

The OBU counts the kilometres travelled and records the routes the truck takes. The system applies on the Belgian motorways, duel carriageways and the country’s major roads.

Rates (€/km) charged vary according to four criteria:

Weight
Type of road
Euroclass of the vehicle
Kilometres covered

Bridge and Tunnel Tolls

The Liefkenshoek Tunnel is situated just north of Antwerp within the Antwerp ring; it operates debit, credit, fuel cards and OBU facilities. For more information about the Tunnel, its closure periods and current charges, please click on the link below, which connects directly to the Liefkenshoek Tunnel website.

Liefkenshoek Tunnel Connects N49 (B) to A12 (NL) – Situated North of Antwerp 

Abnormal loads can travel through the tunnel but must conform to the height policy; it is, therefore advisable to check before arriving. All abnormal loads travel in lane 1 only.

General driving

When overtaking a cyclist or moped rider there should be a distance of least one metre between them and the overtaking vehicle.

Situations where it is prohibited to overtake include:

At level crossings featuring the St Andrew’s cross sign, which may not have gates or light signals
At intersections where right-hand priority is a must
At any other intersections for drivers who have to give right of way
If the other vehicle being overtaken is also overtaking a vehicle with more than two wheels. An exception is when there are three or more lanes for traffic in the direction of travel
If the vehicle being overtaken is approaching a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcyclist crossing at locations where traffic is not controlled by police or traffic lights
In adverse weather, HGVs are unable to overtake on dual carriageways and motorways. However, they can pass agricultural vehicles like tractors or other vehicles using a lane for slow-moving transport
Goods vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes cannot overtake on routes outside built-up areas where there are two lanes for traffic in the direction followed. However, like HGVs, they can overtake farming vehicles and others using a special lane for slow-moving vehicles

Who has priority?

All vehicles coming from the right have priority. However, it should also be noted that trams always have priority, whether they are on the left or right.

Drivers need to slow down or completely stop in a built-up area if a bus has indicated that it intends to leave a stop. In addition, any vehicles emerging from a path or track need to give way to those on the surfaced road.

When it comes to emergency vehicles, drivers must move to the side and give way as soon as they are aware of their approach. If it is required, they should also stop.

Vehicles already present on roundabouts also get priority and the junctions tend to feature ‘give way’ signs. Finally, drivers approaching a crossing not controlled by lights or a traffic officer should give way to pedestrians who are on it, or about to step onto it

Weekend and public holiday Driving Bans

There are no general weekend or public holiday driving bans as such in Belgium.

Driver & Vehicle Documentation

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Permits

Check which international road haulage permits you need.

Check which international road haulage permits you need – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Find out how to apply for bilateral international road haulage permits and the rules you have to follow at the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-permits-for-some-non-eu-countries

To find out more about ECMT Permits, please visit the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ecmt-international-road-haulage-permits

To find out more about ECMT International Removal Permits, please visit the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-removal-permits

Speed Limits for HGV’s over 3.5t

The following speed limits are applicable to HGVs:

Urban Roads – 50km/hr
Non-Urban Roads – 70km/hr
Motorways/Expressways – 80km/hr

Drink Driving

The legal limit in Belgium is 22 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood for professional drivers, penalties for driving under the influence are strict.

Other Items Required

In addition to required documents, motorists are also required by law to carry the following items when driving to avoid hefty on-the-spot fines:

Reflective jackets (which should be worn in case of breakdown outside built-up areas and on all major routes)
Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with more than two wheels)
First aid box (in a strong, dirt-proof box)

Items you should not take into Belgium

Be aware that you cannot take the following with you:

meat or products containing meat
milk or dairy products

You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘Phytosanitary certificate’:

fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
vegetables
plants
plant products

In an emergency

112 – You can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you are visiting. Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Loads & Load Safety

More and more EU member states are implementing Load Safety Best Practice and penalising operators/drivers for failure to implement. You can access the links or pdfs below for further information.

Load security information

Load securing: vehicle operator guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

European Load Safety.pdf

Safety Loads on Vehicles.pdf

Low Emission Zones

A number of regions have low emission zones for Lorries. These LEZs also affect the cities within those regions. For further information on LEZ’s in Belgium

Transport Organisation

FEBETRA – Febetra defends and represents the interests of the Belgian sector of the transport of goods by road on behalf of third parties and of the logistics service providers.

Address: Stapelhuisstraat 5a – 1020 Brussels

Telephone: +32 (0)2 425 68 00

Web: https://febetra.be

British Embassy

Avenue d’Auderghem 10
1040 Brussels
Belgium

Telephone: (+32) 2 287 62 11 / (+44) 1908 51 6666

Web: British Embassy Brussels – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Country Operations