No, squatting in Belgium is illegal under the Penal Code (Articles 439–441), with criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment. The 2026 Wetboek van Strafrecht amendments strengthen enforcement, requiring immediate eviction upon owner complaint. Civil courts do not recognize adverse possession claims for occupied properties.
Key Regulations for Squatting in Belgium
- Criminal Liability: Article 439 of the Penal Code criminalizes unauthorized occupation of immovable property, punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment and/or €18,000 fines. Repeat offenses escalate penalties under Article 441.
- Immediate Eviction: Since 2026, the Wetboek van Strafrecht mandates police-led evictions within 48 hours of an owner’s complaint, eliminating judicial delays. Local procureurs du Roi (prosecutors) enforce this via arrêtés de réquisition.
- Civil Disputes: Belgian courts reject squatters’ adverse possession claims (Article 2262 of the Civil Code), requiring owners to prove uninterrupted, peaceful possession for 30 years—a near-impossible threshold for squatters.
Local authorities (gemeentes or communes) may designate “empty property” registers to deter squatting, but these do not legalize occupation. Owners must secure properties with alarms or locks; failure to do so does not constitute implied consent.