Author: Maëlle Blaise

Background On 27 April 2026, the Flemish Government granted five environmental permits for different subprojects forming part of Ventilus. One of these concerns the expansion of the Gezelle high-voltage substation in Bruges. This subproject includes, among other things, the installation of technical infrastructure, paved surfaces, changes to the terrain and vegetation, and interventions affecting water…

Four phases that Urban must now complete more quickly The circular applies only to urban planning permits and certificates issued by the region itself through the authorized official. Municipal permits are therefore excluded. As for regional applications, Urban must now process them through four steps more quickly: No New Statutory Deadlines The circular does not…

What is a water-sensitive open space area? Since 2017, the Flemish Government has been able to designate land as a water-sensitive open space area, commonly referred to by the Dutch acronym WORG. These are areas that are important for water storage or flood management and which, as a result, largely remain undeveloped. In return, Article…

What is a residential reserve area? Residential reserve area is an umbrella term for several categories of land that, in addition to ordinary residential areas, may still provide scope for housing, but only following an express decision by the municipality. The best-known and most common category is the residential expansion area (zone d’extension d’habitat /…

Copyright and related rights income is classified as movable income. It may fall within the scope of either Article 17, § 1, 3° or Article 17, § 1, 5° of the Belgian Income Tax Code (“ITC”). The application of Article 17, § 1, 5° is subject to compliance with the conditions set out therein. It…

Although the cases concerned administrative fines imposed on three clothing retailers, the judgments have implications extending well beyond the textile sector. They illustrate the far-reaching effects of the maximum harmonisation principle established by Directive 2005/29/EC on Unfair Commercial Practices (“UCPD”) and raise broader questions regarding the future of several traditional features of Belgian promotional law,…

What began as a competitive advantage has become an industry standard. Yet these policies have also given rise to a phenomenon that increasingly concerns retailers: the emergence of so-called serial returners, i.e., customers who repeatedly purchase and return goods in volumes and frequencies far beyond what could reasonably be expected from ordinary consumers. The issue…

According to a 2016 study by the BMA, commission fees in property sales generally range between 2% and 4% of the sale price in practice. For a property valued at EUR 390,000, this represents almost EUR 19,000 in agency fees (including VAT), in addition to registration duties and notarial fees. Although real estate agents are…