Moving To Belgium

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mikefoy223

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
7
Location
East LA (Lower Alabama)
Hi, Guys. I may be moving to Belgium in a few months. Does anybody know just what the laws are there? I know Carry is OUT! How about handloading?
Any info on Clubs? (in the MONS area). TIA
 
I was stationed at Florennes, in the south central part of the country in 1987-88. There were a few of our guys who hunted stag, but the hoops they had to jump through were ridiculous. Don't know what the laws are like now, but they're probably worse. Lovely country, lovely people. Try and get to Waterloo and look over the battlefield sometime. It's amazingly small.
 
It's best in the south

I love in his summary about shooting in the US: "My best advice is to pick somewhere in the southern part of the US (excluding California) or the south-east".

That brought a great big grin to my Tennessee face. :)

Then I was sad when he started getting into all the BS laws and hoops. :mad:
 
I remember that when I revealed my Redhawk "life insurance" to my guide during a 1988 wild boar stalking hunt at Stree, Belgium poor ol' Wolfgang (a Netherlander) about had a heart attack! Unlike Germany, handguns were strictly forbidden. --although he was pleased that I had multiple-cartridge backup for my .375 H&H Ruger Number 1's three shots: one chambered plus two in the supporting hand.

Attempt to contact your gaining unit's MWR office. If one exists, MWR "owns" the rod/gun/sportsman's club (or whatever they call it these days). Somebody in MWR ought to be able to provide clues about firearms possession/use under the host nation status of forces agreement. If they can't, try the security/military police/customs officer/NCOIC.

Lot's of luck! While not absolutely forbidden, non-duty use of firearms in europe involves satisfying more "bureau-critters" than you ever imagined possible!:evil:
 
Last edited:
Their laws recently changed such that bolt action rifles are now considered antiques, and legal to own without a license so long as the owner doesn't also posses ammo, so there's all sorts of neat things coming out of attics and closets. Bring money, buy when you get there.
 
Not sure about the laws but OT I have heard the chocolates are to die for! Be sure to send us some!
 
Chocolate aside, Belgium offers some killer beers! A few are "pure" in the German sense but almost all of 'em have neat alcohol content: 6- to 9%! My German buddies didn't think the Belgians made "real" beer as they tend to add a variety of flavors to the brews. I didn't care! Flavored or straight, I enjoyed every bottle!!

Your turn!!:evil:

--and you might even stumble over a FN-built Mauser or some such!
 
I will call my son in law today and ask. He is now a transplanted Texan and told me he had no shooting opportunities while at home. I did not follow up asking if that was because of the laws or just because no one at home possessed any. Since he is now a green card holder we have been fixing the no gun situation. He got a Winchester 70 for a wedding present and has spent a lot of time on the rifle range with me. (When I am not in the sandbox).
Peyton
 
PEYTON---Good Start for your son-in-law. Maybe a good Ruger MK-3 for a first pistol.

df4pos8--since I am almost always dirving and/or carrying, I don't drink anymore.

Thanks for all the info guys.

Mike
 
Yeah Prince, I just don't have any tolerance for boose. Just a cheap date.
However the New Braunsfels Shutzenverine in Texas does the same thing. Or did back in the '90.
 
Chocolate aside, Belgium offers some killer beers!
Click to expand...

Friends, I have been to the mountain. In 1988, we marched in the Armistice Day Parade in Chimay, Belgium with a bunch of French paratroopers and Belgian RAF Commandos. After the parade, they took us to the brewery for the party. The whole town turned out. If you weren't part of the line dancing around the brewery, you either had someone trying to give you a beer, a glass of wine, or something to eat. Chimay is the the best beer in Belgium, and the town sure knows how to party. Better than Oktoberfest, IMO.

The story behind the Trappist Monks in Chimay is particularly interesting. The Pope (whichever one it was at the time) visited them sometime in the 17th century. Being an Italian and a wine drinker, he thought the beer was a particularly awful drink and praised the monks for submitting to the mortification of having to drink such awful stuff. He even gave them a special dispensation to drink beer instead of water on Fast days.

Now I know what I want to be when I grow up. A Beer Monk! :D
 
My son in law tells me the gun control is strict. It takes a while to get the background check done, then you are permitted to buy a rifle or shotgun. Oh, his brother got a divorce and when you file for divorce the court notifies the police who check your gun ownership status. If you own a firearm, the Police come and confiscate it. The firearm is returned when the court proceedings are complete. He did not know if his brother's firearm was actually returned. My son in law said there were gunshops and ranges, but the amount of rules made it difficult to use one.
 
Belgian calling in... Due to some unfortunate events, the Belgian gun law was revised in 2006 - fasttracked by the left-wingers, I can add. As a result, gun ownership has become a little stricter, more expensive but most of all: it's become a real hassle to get all the paperwork sorted out. For example: permits are no longer dealt with on a municipal, but on a provincial level, where there aren't enough (knowledgeable) servants who can deal with the flood of renewals/new applications/...

Now, a few remarks:

It takes a while to get the background check done, then you are permitted to buy a rifle or shotgun
Click to expand...
Background check doesn't take long, but the provinces have to notify your local police dept. to do it - and that may take a while.

Oh, his brother got a divorce and when you file for divorce the court notifies the police who check your gun ownership status. If you own a firearm, the Police come and confiscate it. The firearm is returned when the court proceedings are complete.
Click to expand...
This is definitely NOT standard procedure. In order to get a gun permit, you need permission from all adults (+18) living under the same roof, that's all. Your permit and/or guns CAN be temporarily/permanently revoked or confiscated, but only in specific circumstances (e.g. after convictions for certain offenses). In this case, I suspect it was a "bad" divorce and the ex-wife filed a complaint with the police or told them that she was afraid her ex might hurt her.

My son in law said there were gunshops and ranges, but the amount of rules made it difficult to use one.
Click to expand...
For visiting tourists, it's difficult. In general, Belgians have to be a member of a gun range to get a permit, so becoming a member is the easiest part.

OP, PM me if you want more/specific information. I'll be glad to help you out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top