Low emission zones in Belgium

Flanders and Brussels

Antwerp was the first city in Belgium with a Low-Emission Zone. Since 1 February 2017, the city bans vehicles that emit too many pollutants. In the Brussels region, a LEZ has been in effect since 1 January 2018, with Ghent following this example in 2020. Mechelen and Willebroek also considered the introduction of a LEZ, but this plan was abandoned due to complexity.

From LEZ to LEZ

The Flemish government decided in 2024 not to further tighten the rules for LEZs in Antwerp and Ghent because the shift towards a zero-emission vehicle fleet sufficiently improves air quality. The rules in place since 1 September 2023 will remain unchanged and will therefore not be gradually tightened as originally planned. As a result, there will be no ban on Euro 5 diesel vehicles from 2026.

From 2035, only zero-emission vehicles and vans will be allowed to enter the LEZ. To achieve this, the admission conditions for vehicles running on fossil fuels will be systematically tightened from 2031. The Flemish Government determines the time schedule towards zero emissions, but the decision to introduce or maintain a LEZ lies with the local governments.

In Brussels, the planned strengthening of the regulations has been postponed by two years to 1 January 2027