Regulations

Recreational use of the waterways is regulated strongly, as it should be. This page tells you all you need to know about the regulations. We make a distinction here between inland navigation and the coast.

Inland navigation

Recreational use of ‘navigable’ waterways

Recreational use of ‘navigable’ waterways is regulated strongly, as it should be.

Flanders:

To give you a basic grounding in these regulations, the waterway administrators have produced a brochure to outline the main points. The Dutch title of this brochure (which is not available in English at present) is ‘De pleziervaart op de bevaarbare waterwegen in Vlaanderen. Een beknopt overzicht van de reglementeringen’.
You can download this brochure directly, download (pdf – 319 Kb) or order it via our 'Downloads and publications' section.

Belgium:

The Ministry of Transport has published a conveniently arranged brochure to give you a summary of the most important regulations for the whole of Belgium. The Dutch title of this brochure (which is not available in English at present) is ‘Vademecum van de pleziervaart in België. Overzicht van de belangrijkste reglementen’.
You can also download this brochure directly download (pdf – 4.8 Mb) or order it via our ‘Downloads and publications’ section.

Recreational use of ‘unnavigable’ waterways in Wallonia

For the recreational use of ‘unnavigable’ waterways in Wallonia by canoe, kayak, and rafting enthusiasts, agreements have been made between the Dutch Canoe Association (NKV) and the Walloon Region.
Subject to compliance with the arrangements agreed between the parties, the members of the NKV may pursue their hobbies here (canoeing/kayaking/rafting). To see these regulations and a detailed list of the waterways in question, please visit the web site http://www.kbkv-frbc.be.eu.org/riv-wal/index.nl.php.

Sailing itself

Sailing itself on the navigable waterways of the Flemish Region is governed by:

• The "Algemeen Politiereglement voor de Scheepvaart op de Binnenwateren" (general shipping regulations since 01.01.2007 - pdf - 944 Kb) (Koninklijk Besluit van 24 september 2006).
• The “Algemeen reglement der scheepvaartwegen” (general shipping regulations, pdf - 400 Kb) (Royal Decree of 15 October 1935, amended by later decrees), also known as ARSK.
• The “Bijzondere Reglementen van sommige scheepvaartwegen" (special regulations for some shipping routes), which impose local rules for each waterway (Royal Decree of 7 September 1950, amended by later decrees). The following sets of regulations are not available in English at present;
  • Politiereglement van de Beneden-Zeeschelde (pdf - 175 Kb)
  • Reglement betreffende het zeekanaal van Brussel naar de Rupel en de haveninrichtingen van Brussel (pdf - 250 Kb)
  • Scheepvaartreglement van de Beneden-Zeeschelde (pdf - 230 Kb)
  • Scheepvaartreglement Gemeenschappelijke Maas (pdf - 370 Kb)
  • Scheepvaartreglement voor het kanaal van Gent naar Terneuzen (pdf - 320 Kb)
  • Schelde reglement (pdf - 1,6 MB)
• "De Berichten aan de Schipperij" (shipping information messages) implement modifications to the relevant regulations, usually to meet temporary needs. These messages are on display at all locks and on the web site: http://ris.vlaanderen.be.

Coast

• “Politie- en scheepvaartreglement voor de Belgische territoriale zee kusthavens en stranden” (police and shipping regulations for Belgian territorial waters, ports, and beaches, pdf – 230 Kb) (Royal Decree of 4 August 1981)
• "De Berichten aan de Zeevarenden" (messages for sailors) implement modifications to the relevant regulations, usually to meet temporary needs. These messages are on display on the web site: http://www.vlaamsehydrografie.be.