Belgian Buddhists Put Government on Notice Over Recognition

After two decades of waiting, the Buddhist Union of Belgium (UBB) has formally put the Belgian government on notice, demanding official recognition as a non-confessional philosophical organization. The move follows growing frustration over repeated political delays that have left approximately 150,000 Buddhists in Belgium without the legal status granted to other recognized religious and philosophical communities.

According to RTBF, the UBB sent a formal letter to key government members on July 15, 2026, including the Prime Minister, deputy prime ministers, and Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden. If no satisfactory response is received by September 30, the organization has stated it will pursue legal action at the Belgian level and potentially at the European Court of Human Rights.

A 20-Year Struggle for Recognition

The UBB first submitted its formal recognition request in March 2006 under Article 181, section 2 of the Belgian Constitution, which covers non-confessional philosophical organizations. Unlike the country’s recognized religions, which fall under section 1, the UBB seeks recognition as a non-confessional philosophy because Buddhism does not worship a deity.

“We don’t have anger but indignation because there is a kind of discrimination that has occurred,” said Carlo Luyckx, president of the UBB. “We are not treated like the other religions and non-confessional philosophies in this country.”

Belgium maintains a unique system of officially recognizing worldviews. Currently, six religions are recognized under Article 181, section 1: Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Anglicanism, Protestant-Evangelicalism, Islam, and Orthodoxy. Only the organized secular/humanist movement is recognized under section 2 as a non-confessional philosophy. Buddhism would become the eighth recognized worldview in Belgium and only the second non-confessional philosophy.

The Brussels Times reported in April 2024 that the recognition bill had been blocked in the Chamber following divisions within the federal government, with the Francophone socialist (PS) and liberal (MR) parties raising objections influenced by the Centre d’Action Laïque (CAL), the French-speaking secularist umbrella organization that opposed recognizing Buddhism as a non-confessional philosophy.

Political Promises and Setbacks

The recognition process has been marked by repeated political commitments that failed to materialize. The 2020 Vivaldi government coalition agreement explicitly committed to recognizing the UBB as a non-confessional philosophical organization. A draft law was subsequently approved in second reading by the Council of Ministers in December 2023, but it never passed through the parliamentary process before the Chamber was dissolved ahead of the June 2024 elections.

The February 2025 Arizona coalition agreement, however, only mentions creating a uniform legal framework for recognition of religions, without specific provisions for Buddhism. This effectively put the Buddhist recognition process on hold.

“It must be noted that there is no political will for our recognition, nor even for the establishment of a legal framework for the recognition of religions,” Luyckx told RTBF. “That is why, after careful consideration, it was decided to put the government on notice to act.”

As the Boeddhistisch Dagblad reported, the Centre d’Action Laïque was invited to a parliamentary hearing in March 2024 where it launched a frontal attack on the recognition, arguing that Buddhism is a religion despite not having a deity. The CAL’s opposition has been seen by some as motivated by a desire to maintain its monopoly as the sole recognized non-confessional philosophy.

What Official Recognition Would Mean

Official recognition would provide the Buddhist community with significant benefits, including financial support from the state, paid counselors in prisons and hospitals, and official representation in government consultations. Since 2008, the UBB has received an annual grant of approximately 200,000 euros to structure itself in preparation for recognition. After recognition, this would increase to approximately 1.4 million euros annually.

“We see that there is a lot of interest in Buddhism in society,” Luyckx said, noting the potential for meditation programs in prisons and hospitals. “It is especially in prison that techniques like meditation can bear fruit.”

The legal classification debate has been a central controversy. The UBB argues that since Buddhism does not recognize a deity, it should be classified as a non-confessional philosophy. The Dutch version of the Constitution uses the term “godsdienst” (literally “God service”), which implies belief in God. The Council of State, in its opinion of June 6, 2023, supported the UBB’s position, stating that the term “non-confessional” should be viewed in a broad social context.

Government Response and Next Steps

Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden’s office has acknowledged the UBB’s concerns and promised a meeting in the near future. In a statement, her cabinet said work is underway on a uniform legal framework for recognition of religions and non-confessional philosophies during the current legislature, with particular attention given to requests that are already more advanced.

Luyckx remains skeptical of this approach. “Everything was practically settled, but now we have to wait for something that doesn’t exist yet: this legal framework,” he said, as quoted in a De Standaard article republished on the UBB’s website.

Legal experts have warned that further delay could constitute a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. Professor Louis-Leon Christians of UCLouvain has argued that no moratorium can be imposed based on future general legislation, and that 18 years since the initial request exceeds any reasonable timeframe.

“If necessary, we want to go all the way to the European Court of Human Rights,” Luyckx said. “We are convinced that we meet all the conditions.”

What to Watch For

The September 30 deadline now looms as a critical juncture. If the government fails to provide a satisfactory response, the UBB has signaled it will pursue legal remedies both domestically and at the European level. The outcome could have broader implications for Belgium’s system of recognizing religions and philosophical organizations, potentially reshaping how the country approaches the recognition of diverse worldviews in an increasingly pluralistic society.