Anyone understand the Low Emission Zones in Belgium?

[whiteroseredrose]

Hi. We were planning a 'road trip' to Belgium this summer. It looks like there are interesting places to see and we can take the car rather than flying.

BUT I've just been reading about the Low Emission Zones in Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. The zone around Brussels is enormous, you can't even drive into the suburbs. According to the website, day passes are €35 and you can have a maximum of 8 per year. Fines start from 1st July ☹️.

Does anyone know if the day passes are needed just for being in the zone, even while parked, or just if the car is being driven? If we drove in, parked in a hotel car park for 4 days and drove out, is that 4 day passes or two?? The website isn't clear. (What on Earth do people do if they live there?)

I just can't get my head around it. We might have to go to Normandy instead!

We looked into this as we will be in Belgium in the summer. I agree it does seem to be overly complicated. Our friends who live in Belgium say that it is slightly easier for them as their cars are automatically registered - its only foreign visiters who need to register etc.

We looked at Ghent and were advised that the LEZ only applies within the ring road R40 so we will be staying at a hotel just outside and getting the tram into the centre for the few days we stay there.

For Brussels I can see theres no real way of avoiding it but I think you would only need to buy the passes for the days in which you are actually driving in the city - if you are parked in a hotel carpark and dont move surely there is no way the cameras would record your car and so no need to buy the passes.

If it was me I would be inclined to stay more in Ghent or another town and then get the train into Brussels for the day - Belgium trains are very good and the size of the country means that nowhere is very far away. Ghent to Brussels for example is around 35 minutes by train.

My understanding from the website that you have to register in advance - but you only need a day pass if your car does NOT confirm to the LEZ conditions. So if you have a relatively new car you shouldn't need one. The purpose is to discourage ancient polluting vehicles. lez.brussels/mytax/en/contact?tab=b-myVehicle&panel=registration#FAQQuestion-registration-howToRegisterAbroad

I have a 12 yo petrol Seat Ibiza and I am fine in the Brussels LEZ.

www.slimnaarantwerpen.be/en/LEZ/check-your-vehicle/conditions-for-admission-as-of-1/1/2020#current-rules Page for Antwerp

lez.stad.gent/en/flows/controleertoegang?_gl=1excdxy_gaMTU1OTkyMDczNS4xNjU2MzIzOTI0_ga_LKPG82H5RRMTY1NjMyMzkyNC4xLjEuMTY1NjMyMzkzNS4w_ga_WBY4XJGJYM*MTY1NjMyMzkyNy4xLjEuMTY1NjMyMzkzNS41Mg..
Gent

Thank you to everyone for your replies.

MissAmbrosia, thank you for your links. We have a 15 year old petrol Honda so that might be OK. Fortunately not diesel. I will register my car and see.

We might do as Thunderb suggested though and not stay in Brussels at all, maybe do a day trip. That would probably be cheaper too!

Gent is lovely - like Bruges with out all the tourists. Ypres and the WWI battlefields are great to visit if a bit sobering. Ypres town it pretty and the Last Post at the Menin Gate is not to be missed. Leuven and Mechelen also nice. Grottes de Haan and Durbuy worth a visit. The beaches are huge but lots of the coast is very built up. I like de Haan, but Blankenberg has lots for kids.