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Low emission zone Brussels

Important!

Brussels has an environmental zone: Brussels

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Brussels - Belgium

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-01-2018

Type of environmental zone: Permanent, 24 hours a day

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Vehicle class: cars, campers (M1), bus (M2, M3), vans (N1)
Type of fuel: petrol/LPG/CNG, diesel
Euro norm: 0-1 (petrol), 0-4 (diesel)
Badge/Registration/Application: Entry only with registration (Country of registration: all except Belgium and the Netherlands)

Fines: 350 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The whole Brussels region with all its 19 municipalities, an area of 161km² und 1.175.000 inhabitants, is affected. The environmental zone is bordered on the west and the north by Europastraße E19, on the east by Europastraße E40 and on the south by the municipality Watermaal-Bosvoorde. The restrictions of the LEZ of Brussels do not apply to the Europastraßen E19 and E40. Also excluded are 3 Park&Ride parking areas: Céria Coovi, Stalle (Ukkel), Kraainem (Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe).

Special features: Retrofit allowed: no

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Region Brussels, +32(0)27757575, info@lez.brussels

Exemptions: Fire brigade, Patient transport, Military, Police car, Disabled vehicle (registration/application necessary), Sweeper (registration/application necessary), Vintage car older than 30 years (registration/application necessary) and Ambulance

What is an environmental zone (LEZ/ZFE/ZBE)?

An environmental zone is a specific area in a city or region that is protected by regulations and restrictions to improve air quality. These zones are usually established to reduce emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which are responsible for poor air quality in many cities.

In these zones, certain rules apply to vehicle access based on vehicle emissions. This may include imposing driving bans on certain types of vehicles, such as older diesel vehicles, or requiring the creation of an eco-label for vehicles. This mark, which must be affixed to the vehicle, confirms that the vehicle complies with the applicable emission regulations and is therefore authorized to drive in the low emission zone.

The introduction of low emission zones has led to a significant improvement in air quality in many cities. It has been observed that emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter have been reduced in these zones, thereby improving the health of residents. The number of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases also decreased.

However, it is not just the introduction of environmental zones alone that can lead to an improvement in air quality. It is necessary to take other measures to reduce emissions overall. These include, for example, promoting electromobility, increasing energy efficiency and creating alternative means of transportation such as bicycles and public transportation.

Environmental zones are an important tool to improve air quality in cities and regions and reduce the impact of air pollution on the health of residents. They are used in many European countries and have shown to have a positive effect on air quality.

Environmental zones are also known in other countries as Environmental Zones, Clean Air Zones (England), Miljøzone (Denmark), Miljözon (Sweden), Lavutslippssone (Norway), Alacsony Kibocsátási Övezet (Hungary), Zona ambientale (Italy), Umweltzonen (Germany), Milieuzones (Netherlands), ZFE - Zone à Faibles Émissions (France) and Lage-emissiezone (Belgium), ZBE - Zona de baixes emissiones (Spain).

Winter zone: There are environmental zones which are only seasonally active or have stricter rules for certain months. This means that these zones are active, for example, from September 15 to April 15 of the following year. Outside of this time, no or less strict driving restrictions apply and you can drive freely. One country with many winter zones is Italy. 

Brussels

Do I need stickers or registrations?

To enter the low emission zone, each vehicle concerned requires a valid registration. Otherwise a fine of 150 Euro to 350 Euro is to be expected.

The beginning and end of the environmental zones are marked with signs. This shows a red circle as a prohibition sign with a vehicle causing emissions. Who exactly is allowed to enter or not is not indicated by the entry sign.


In our Green-Zones App we have a detailed map of each low emission zone. So you can easily recognize the borders and avoid penalties.

There are 3 low emission zones in Belgium: Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent


In our Green Zones App we have gathered together all the low emission zones in Europe and presented them clearly.

Good to know...

All current driving bans and further information are available in our Green-Zones App.


Attention low emission zones in Belgium: Up to 350 euro fine!

Belgium has drastically tightened its low emission zones for vehicles in major cities such as Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent since 2022, with further restrictions planned for 2025. Anyone driving in these cities must expect a fine of up to 350 euros. This regulation applies not only to local drivers, but also to foreign drivers. In all three cities, there is an environmental zone in which certain vehicles are not allowed to drive. Cameras monitor compliance with the rules by recording and comparing the licence plates of vehicles.

Electric cars and particulate matter: how do they go together?

Air pollution has been with us since the beginning of industrialisation. It is omnipresent, especially in cities. However, with technological progress and the relocation of factories away from city centres, air quality has improved in most wealthy countries. A major source of air pollution, the internal combustion engine, seems to be slowly being replaced by electric cars. But are electric cars really the environmentally friendly alternative they appear to be?