Belgium’s New Penal Code and Major Administrative Changes Take Effect September 1st
Belgium is entering a period of significant transformation as a wave of legal, administrative, and consumer changes takes effect on September 1st. The centerpiece is the country’s new Penal Code—the first comprehensive reform of Belgian criminal law in nearly 160 years—accompanied by updates to healthcare services, financial regulations, road safety rules, and more.
A Historic Legal Reform
The new Penal Code, which replaces the 1867 version, was adopted on February 29, 2024 and published in the Belgian Official Gazette on April 8, 2024. Originally scheduled for April 8, 2026, its entry into force was postponed to September 1st to allow the judicial system to adapt its IT systems and train legal professionals.
The reform introduces a fundamental restructuring of how offenses are classified and punished. The traditional distinction between crimes, délits, and contraventions—inherited from Napoleonic law—is replaced by a single concept of “infraction” with an 8-level penalty scale. Level 1 excludes imprisonment entirely, offering fines of 200 to 20,000 euros, community service, or probation, while Level 8 corresponds to life imprisonment. For Levels 7 and 8, no alternative penalties are possible.
A key philosophical shift is the establishment of imprisonment as the “ultimum remedium”—the last resort. Judges must now specifically justify why they choose incarceration over alternative penalties. The new Code also introduces the concept of “écocide” to sanction exceptionally grave environmental damage, and redefines harassment to encompass both online and offline forms without distinction.
Perhaps most significantly for road safety, the term “fatal accident” is replaced by “homicide committed in the context of road traffic.” The base penalty is up to 5 years imprisonment and a 10,000 euro fine, rising to 10 years and 16,000 euros with aggravating circumstances such as drunk driving, drug use, or driving without a license.
Healthcare: Teleconsultations and Immunization
Starting September 1st, speech therapists (logopèdes) can offer video consultations for the first time. The measure, announced by Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, requires the first appointment to be conducted in person, caps consecutive teleconsultations at ten, and excludes children under four. “For caregivers, this will lead to fewer ‘no-shows.’ For patients, it will allow better follow-up. Care will not be interrupted by busy schedules and difficult travel,” Vandenbroucke said.
Reimbursement rules are also being updated, including preventive speech therapy sessions for head and neck cancer treatments and simplified administrative procedures for children with cleft lip or palate.
Meanwhile, the bronchiolitis immunization campaign against RSV resumes for infants born between March 16 and September 30, 2026. Using nirsevimab—an antibody injection rather than a vaccine—a single dose protects for at least five months, covering the peak virus circulation period.
Financial Changes: Dormant Accounts and Pensions
New rules on dormant accounts take effect, significantly changing what happens to forgotten funds. Starting September 1st, dormant account balances under 250 euros will go directly to the State’s Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), up from the previous 60-euro threshold. The prescription period has also been reduced from 30 to 5 years. According to La Libre, this represents approximately 19.5 million euros for the State.
The Federal Pensions Service is also changing its phone number. The free 1765 number will be replaced by standard number 02/225.17.65, a change justified by the over 1 million euros annual cost of maintaining the free line. Service hours remain unchanged (Monday-Friday mornings).
Road Safety and Mobility
A mandatory helmet rule for electric scooter riders takes effect for vehicles capable of exceeding 20 km/h. Shared scooters, capped at that speed, are exempt. The measure responds to alarming statistics: in 2025, 13 people died in electric scooter accidents in Belgium, and among those arriving at emergency rooms, 65% suffered head trauma while only 4% were wearing helmets. RTL Info reports that Touring welcomed the decision, stating “the safety of users, often young people, comes first.”
In Flanders, technical inspection rules are being relaxed. Cars will only need inspection every two years after their first check at four years, insurance certificates will no longer be verified at inspection centers, and the repair deadline for major defects extends from 15 days to two months. The reform has raised concerns about “technical inspection tourism,” with Walloon Mobility Minister François Desquesnes warning against “tourism whose motivations are incompatible with road safety.”
Other Notable Changes
Spotify is increasing its subscription prices in Belgium, with Premium Individual rising from 11.99 to 13.99 euros per month. Additionally, nine provincial schools in East Flanders will ban visible religious symbols—including veils, kippas, crosses, and political insignia—for both students and staff, following a contentious political process that required an alternative majority to pass.
Looking Ahead
The September 1st changes represent one of the most consequential administrative and legal transitions in modern Belgian history. The new Penal Code, in particular, will reshape how the justice system operates for years to come, with courts adapting to the new penalty framework and legal professionals navigating unfamiliar territory. As Belgians adjust to these sweeping changes, the coming months will reveal how effectively the reforms achieve their stated goals of modernization, clarity, and a more humane approach to justice.