Motorcycling in Belgium

Belgium is a federation of the Flemish-speaking Flanders, the French-speaking Wallonia and the bilingual capital of Brussels. As a result, Belgium has three official languages: French, Dutch and German.

French is prevalent in the south, Dutch in the north. Brussels is bi-lingual and in some Eastern provinces, German is spoken. English is also widely spoken and understood, though not recognised as an official language.

This being the case, road signs and especially place names are often presented in multi-lingual format and can be very confusing to visitors. It’s wise to make sure you’re well aware of the various place name spellings before travelling.

All motorcyclists riding in Belgium must wear protective clothing. This includes gloves, a jacket with long sleeves, trousers with long legs or an overall and boots that protect the ankles.

Children under the age of 3 are not allowed as passengers on motorcycles. Children between the ages of 3 and 8 may be carried as passengers with the use of a special seat, but only on motorcycles up to 125cc.

When riding in Belgium the following documents should be carried at all times:

• Full, valid driving licence
• Proof of insurance (third party or above)
• Proof of ID (Passport)
• Proof of ownership (V5C Certificate)
• If you’re riding around Belgium for longer than 90 days (lucky you!) you’ll need an International Driving Permit

Unless otherwise stated by appropriate signs, the following national speed limits apply:

• Motorways – 120km/h
• Other roads – 90km/h
• Residential areas - 20 km/h

Unless traffic is congested or conditions are dangerous, vehicles must observe a minimum speed limit of 70 km/h on motorways.