Lede only allows games in public that are designed as such; all other games require written permission from the mayor, someone to oversee safety precaution, insurance coverage of potential damages and all submitted at least eight days in advance. Arendonk’s inhabitants risk a fine if they fail to inform the local authorities if they see the oak-processionary or brown-tail caterpillars. [4] Official languages are French, Dutch and German, which has official status in one district only. There are five major codes, which are Code civil (The Civil Code), Code de commerce (The Commercial Code), Code penal (The Criminal Code), Code d'instruction criminelle (Code of Criminal Procedure) and the Code judiciaire (Judicial Code). Now in Belgium it is legal to possess up to 3g of cannabis. There were talks in recent years, however, about abolishing this rule. [7] Still, Belgium continuously produces and arranges the legal system. What sounds like a discriminative law today once gave rights to the most vulnerable in society. One such law dating to 1939 concerns the military, which dictates that ‘beasts of burden (horses, oxen, dogs, etc. Recent comments have hinted at stricter policies but will likely mostly affect smoking in public, while possession continues to still be technically legal. Belgium has applied European legislation and given regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. There are also special courts, which are The Assize Court, The Military Court, Workmen’s Court and The Juvenile Court. It became the first country to issue electronic passports complying with international aviation recommendations. After the Netherlands decriminalized euthanasia, Belgium was the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia in 2002. The provision was part of a 1923 law focusing on the potential military intelligence use of pigeons. Inspector General | The legal process held in the village was also recorded, such as marriage and decease. Unbelievable Belgian laws 1. To be specific, the Council of state is a court which is in charge of monitoring the administration in the courts. [3] Belgium law codes are adopted from the Napoleonic code. Donate [1], Commercial law in Belgium is a collection of judicial rules governing matters arising out of commercial dealings. Many of Belgium’s stranger laws are bizarre because they’re archaic, however comprehensible or important for legislators at the time. The Court of Cassation is the supreme judicial court and the head of all judicial courts in Belgium. [6] The constitution of Belgium is officially proclaimed by the first Belgian parliament with the Belgian constitutional law. Until 2005, only the Belgian government could print posters using white paper and black ink. Introduced in 1999, they gave local authorities the power to address petty nuisances. There are only two exceptions . [3] Belgium’s constitution is influenced by earlier constitutions of the French and the Netherlands. [4] They have been adjusted in accordance with the Belgian laws. Published: 06/07/2020 But these are just Belgian law myths that exist only in the minds of ‘gullible pundits’ and, worryingly, on media websites, writes law expert Jogchum Vrielink on Fans of Flanders, stating that many of Belgium’s ‘bizarre’ or ‘weird’ laws have little basis in reality or are an extreme exaggeration or out-of-context. [1][2] Belgium carries out the codification in constant until today. According to Belgian law, you must have some form of identification with you at all times. Civil law system in Belgium is inspired by Roman Law and largely influenced by the French legal system particularly by French Civil Code in 1804. [1] The recorded legal documents are only deleted or altered through the order of the Court. Belgium’s constitution is influenced by earlier constitutions of the French and the Netherlands. Belgium became an independent state in 1830 with the help of British government and there were restrictions on the parliamentary system of Belgium government. These games require a license from the Kansspelcommissie or no-one wins any financial gain. External Link Disclaimer | The law, however, had fallen out of use since the 1970s. [5], Belgium became independent in 1830 after Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo and Southern Netherlands. ICLG - Data Protection Laws and Regulations - Belgium covers common issues including relevant legislation and competent authorities, territorial scope, key principles, individual rights, registration formalities, appointment of a data protection officer and of processors - in 39 jurisdictions. With centuries of rulers adding legislations that still exist today, some of Belgium’s laws come across as astoundingly bizarre. Expatica uses technology such as cookies and scripts to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. In Belgium that’s not the case. What didn’t happen, however, was an update of the draft Constitution, leading to almost two centuries of a constitution contradiction. This means that if you’re driving on a highway and a car approaches from a small country road to your right, you must slow down and let them in. Or that, under no circumstances, should you wear a red hat on Antwerp’s main shopping street (de Meir) nor should women be taller than 5 feet and 6 inches. A law allowing penalty mitigation for wounding or killing someone in a duel was also recently repealed, although at the time of enactment in 1841 it was rather progressive. Accessibility | You may change your settings at any time. But the real Belgian laws are just as weird as the urban myths. Belgium’s reputation for weird laws has grown into legacy via media websites around the world. This is one of the highest ages in the world. [4], The laws in Belgium are codified. Although the Congo declared independence in 1960, the Belgian King can by law mobilize the ‘Belgian-Congo’ military and take any necessary means to protect the country in a war, or even implement proactive measures in times of peace. [3] In the 19th century, the code was influential and fundamental to the world law system. Labor law in Belgium Once you have found a job, there can be a probationary period of up to two weeks for blue-collar workers, and anywhere between one and six months for white-collar workers if the annual wage does not exceed around EUR 36–37,000. The three principal books are “The Consulate of the Sea”, “The Judgements and Customs of Orleon” and “The Maritime Law of Wisby”. There is one difference with the court system of France in Belgium, which is usage of language in the court. USA.gov, International Constitutional Law: Belgium, Raad van State / Conseil d'Etat / Staatsrat [Supreme Administrative Court], Moniteur Belge / Belgisch Staatsblad [Official Journal], Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers / Chambre des Représentants [Chamber of Representatives], Government Access to Encrypted Communications: Belgium, Restrictions on Genetically Modified Organisms: Belgium, Laws on Children Residing with Parents in Prison: Belgium, Foreign Official Gazette Database: Belgium, International Judicial Assistance: Belgium, World Legal Information Institute: Belgium, World Legal Materials from Europe: Belgium, BBC News: Belgium Country Profile (external link), Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments: Belgium, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Belgium, A Guide to Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Belgium, International Religious Freedom Reports: Belgium, Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique [Royal Library of Belgium], Law Library of Congress Legal Reports Search: Belgium. The idea was to clarify the status of each notice. A decree in 1830 debarred members of the House of Orange-Nassau (the Dutch royal family). The Napoleonic code is the French civil code which was issued between 1804 and 1810. French codes are the typical example of a legal system in Belgium affected by conquests of France. [8] Among the five judicial areas, Brussels, Liege and Ghent belong to courts of appeal. A number of municipalities used GAS to cover their civic duty, like restricting children’s games for safety reasons. [8] As the necessity of commercial law increase, diverse sets if customs were prepared and put into book form, having commercial law in view. [1] The designation of type of courts for all cases are determined by the severity and size of the offence. Many of these discriminatory laws and provisions have been amended or repealed, but the Belgian Code of Commerce (article 10) still allows for (only) married women to ‘peddle wares from her husband’s business’, and without herself being subject to the obligations of merchants. Although Belgium historically had a strict stance towards all drugs, Belgium relaxed their laws on the personal possession of cannabis in 2003. In Hasselt, you can receive a GAS-fine for scaring the crowd during a carnival parade; in Lokeren, you can get a fine for scaring anyone, anytime. This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. [8] The Civil code in Belgium is divided into three parts, the first dealing with persons, the second with property, and the third with different modes of acquiring property. Also, Belgium signed the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in November 1950, which is the day of its adoption, and finally ratified it in June 1955. The biggest source of Belgium’s weird laws is the Communal Administrative Sanctions (Gemeentelijke Administratieve Sancties, or GAS).