No, Slapjacks are illegal in Belgium under the 2017 Royal Decree on Prohibited Weapons, which classifies them as a disguised weapon under Article 3(1)(d). The Federal Police’s 2024 operational guidelines explicitly target slapjacks due to their potential for concealed violence. Recent 2026 amendments to the Law on Arms and Ammunition further restrict their possession without a carte de chasseur or permis de port d’armes, which slapjacks do not qualify for.
Key Regulations for Slapjacks in Belgium
- Prohibited under weapons law: Slapjacks are categorized as armes blanches (edged weapons) or armes de défense (defensive weapons) per Article 2 of the Law on Arms and Ammunition, requiring prior authorization for possession.
- Enforcement by local authorities: Municipal police and the Direction générale de la Sécurité civile conduct routine checks in nightlife districts (e.g., Brussels’ Saint-Géry) to seize unlicensed slapjacks.
- Penalties for non-compliance: Violations trigger fines up to €10,000 or 6 months’ imprisonment under Article 34 of the Code pénal, with aggravated penalties if used in altercations.