No, feeding wild pigeons in Belgium violates the 2023 Walloon Animal Welfare Code and Flemish Decree on Animal Welfare, which classify it as an act of animal harassment. Brussels’ 2024 Ordonnance relative à la protection des animaux explicitly prohibits actions that disrupt natural foraging behaviors. Municipal ordinances in Antwerp and Ghent enforce fines up to €2,500 for repeat offenses, aligning with 2026 EU biodiversity compliance directives.
Key Regulations for Feeding Wild Pigeons in Belgium
- Animal Welfare Codes: Wallonia’s Code wallon du bien-être animal (Art. 12) and Flanders’ Dierenwelzijnsdecreet (Art. 8) prohibit feeding pigeons, citing risks of dependency, overpopulation, and disease transmission. Enforcement falls under the SPW Environnement (Wallonia) and Departement Omgeving (Flanders).
- Municipal Bans: Brussels’ Ordonnance du 27 juin 2024 and Antwerp’s Gemeentelijke politieverordening (2025) criminalize pigeon feeding in public spaces, with penalties escalating for commercial or repeated violations. Ghent’s 2026 Stedenbouwkundige verordening extends bans to private balconies visible from streets.
- EU Alignment: Belgium’s 2026 transposition of the EU Biodiversity Strategy tightens restrictions, requiring municipalities to adopt pigeon population control measures, including habitat modification and deterrent programs. Non-compliance risks EU infringement proceedings under the Habitats Directive.