Belgium’s September 1 Overhaul: New Rules Reshape Daily Life
September 1, 2026 marks one of the most significant regulatory transition days in recent Belgian history. From mandatory helmets on faster e-steps to the first complete overhaul of the country’s Criminal Code in nearly 160 years, dozens of new rules are taking effect that will touch nearly every aspect of daily life. According to VRT NWS, the changes span traffic safety, pensions, education, housing, and the justice system.
Helmet Mandatory for Faster E-Steps
One of the most visible changes concerns electric step users. As of today, anyone riding an e-step with a construction-determined maximum speed exceeding 20 km/h must wear a helmet. The rule applies based on the vehicle’s design speed, not the actual speed at any given moment—meaning riders of steps capable of 25 km/h must wear protection even when traveling at 15 km/h. The helmet can be a motorcycle helmet or a bicycle helmet that “protects the temples and the back of the head,” as confirmed by the Federal Public Service Mobility.
The measure comes amid rising safety concerns. According to Arts Safety, injury accidents involving e-step users in Belgium rose from 1,735 in 2022 to 2,453 in 2025, while fatalities increased from 4 to 13 over the same period. International studies show that head and brain injuries play a significant role in serious e-step accidents, particularly at speeds above 20 km/h.
However, the rule has drawn criticism for not going far enough. VIAS, Belgium’s traffic safety institute, expressed regret that the requirement doesn’t extend to shared steps limited to 20 km/h. “It’s a shame that the helmet requirement is not introduced for all steps,” said Stef Willems, VIAS spokesperson. “If you ride a shared step at 18 km/h and you have a bad fall, you can certainly also suffer serious head injury.” VIAS data shows that 60 percent of serious e-step accidents involve head injuries. Mobility organization Touring has also called for stricter enforcement, urging that steps exceeding the 25 km/h limit “must be resolutely removed from traffic.”
Free Pension Line Discontinued
The free pension information line (1765) is being replaced by a standard number (02 225 17 65), ending years of free access to pension advice. The Pension Service states that the change saves more than €1 million per year while maintaining service quality. According to VRT NWS, 85-90 percent of people have fixed or mobile subscriptions that include calling minutes, meaning most callers won’t notice a difference. The municipality of Zwevegem confirms that opening hours remain unchanged (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 12 PM), and callers to the old number will hear a recorded message directing them to the new one.
A Historic New Criminal Code
Perhaps the most consequential change is Belgium’s new Criminal Code, the first complete overhaul since 1867. As NOS reports, the code replaces the traditional tripartite distinction between crimes, misdemeanors, and offenses with a unified concept of “misdrijf” organized across eight penalty levels. Imprisonment becomes the last resort, with judges encouraged to consider alternatives like electronic monitoring, community service, and fines first.
The new code also introduces new offenses, including ecocide—punishable by 15 to 20 years imprisonment—and strengthens provisions on gender-related and domestic violence. A new financial sanction allows courts to impose fines up to three times the criminal benefit obtained. UNIA, Belgium’s equality body, has published detailed guidance on how the new code addresses hate crimes and discrimination offenses.
The transition period will be complex. Courts must apply whichever code—old or new—is more favorable to the defendant for older cases, meaning lawyers and magistrates will need to navigate both systems for years. As researchers at KU Leuven’s Institute for Criminal Law noted: “At the birth of a new code, birth pains are inevitable. Unfortunately, we cannot offer legal practitioners an epidural. Taking a deep breath and sighing a lot is the only option.”
Auto Inspection Reform in Flanders
Flemish drivers will also see significant changes. Cars older than four years now require inspection every two years instead of annually, the insurance certificate check moves to federal ANPR cameras, and separate inspections for towbars are eliminated. The deadline to repair major defects extends from 15 days to two months, according to VRT NWS.
The reforms have drawn criticism from trade unions and sector federation GOCA Vlaanderen, who argue they “seriously undermine road safety, the objectivity of inspections, and employment in the sector.” Touring has warned of potential “inspection tourism,” where Walloon and Brussels drivers seek inspections in Flanders where rules are more lenient.
Financial Changes for Households
Several financial changes also take effect today. Business AM reports that civil servant salaries and social benefits increase by 2 percent due to the spike index being exceeded in June, though the new “centenindex” caps increases for higher incomes. The threshold for dormant balances that automatically flow to the state treasury rises from €60 to €250, while the period to reclaim dormant funds drops from 30 to 5 years. Spotify Premium Individual increases from €11.99 to €13.99 per month.
Education and Social Services
In Flemish education, new minimum goals are introduced, the first and last school days become full teaching days, and optional vacation days disappear. The number of half pedagogical study days in primary education is limited to three per school year, as Nieuws365 reports. Nine East Flanders provincial schools implement a headscarf ban, prohibiting religious or political symbols, according to Doorbraak.
In a move that has raised humanitarian concerns, the number of shelter places in the Brussels Deal for asylum seekers is halved from 2,000 to 1,000, following Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt’s decision. BRUZZ reports that Brussels ministers and aid organizations have warned this could cause a serious humanitarian crisis, with the Samusocial describing the situation as creating “dangerous psychological and psychiatric conditions for those who fall through the cracks.”
What to Watch For
The full impact of these changes will unfold over the coming months. The new Criminal Code’s transition period will test Belgium’s already-strained justice system, while the e-step helmet rule will be monitored for its effect on accident rates. The auto inspection reform faces scrutiny over safety implications, and the Brussels shelter reduction will be closely watched for humanitarian consequences. Additional changes are already scheduled, including the abolition of second-hand inspections for vehicles sold within Belgium on January 1, 2027, and the expansion of recognized garages for vehicle inspections by the end of 2027.
For Belgians, September 1, 2026 represents a watershed moment—a single day when decades of legislative work and policy decisions converge to reshape the country’s regulatory landscape.