Knives and pepper spray in Belgium (2026)
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
In short: Under the federal weapons law, spring or gravity knives with a lock, butterfly knives and pepper-type sprays are prohibited weapons. Other edged weapons are freely available but may be carried only with a legitimate reason.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Folding pocket knivesCarrying in public places | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Locking or one-handed knivesCarrying in public places | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Fixed-blade knivesCarrying in public places | Edged weapons (blanke wapens) with no special regime are freely available weapons, but carrying one is allowed only for a person who can show a legitimate reason. Edged weapons that look like another object, throwing knives, sword canes, butterfly knives, boxing knuckles and spring or gravity knives with a lock are prohibited weapons that nobody may make, sell, hold, transport or carry. [1] |
| Pepper sprayCarrying in public places | Objects meant to hit people with toxic, suffocating, tear-inducing or similar substances are prohibited weapons, except medical aids. Nobody may make, sell, hold, transport or carry prohibited weapons. [1] |
| Exceptions and legitimate reasonsCarrying in public places | Carrying a freely available weapon is allowed only for a person who can show a legitimate reason. [1] |
| Automatic (switchblade) knivesCarrying in public places | Spring or gravity knives with a lock and butterfly knives are prohibited weapons. Nobody may make, sell, hold, transport or carry them. [1] |
| Blade length limitsCarrying in public places | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Pepper spray: size and age limitsCarrying in public places | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- Not confirmed. The legal text could not be read, and the new Criminal Code applying from 1 September 2026 has not been checked.
- Federal weapons law (Wapenwet of 8 June 2006), as reproduced on a Belgian police web page read through the Internet Archive because politie.be was in maintenance. The consolidated law text on the official legal database could not be fetched, and amendments after the snapshot were not checked.
Sources
- Politie (Lokale Politie Minos), page reproducing the Wapenwet of 8 June 2006 (Internet Archive snapshot of 13 February 2026): Wapens (Internet Archive snapshot of 13 February 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.