Living With Teenagers in Belgium

Below is information on:  

Teenagers are legally viewed as minors until the age of 18. Until this time they are considered to be under the authority of their parents or legal guardians. Under 16s may only go into bars and cafés if accompanied by their parents.

The multi-lingual society means that there are differences between the communities, but local authorities and central government take youth issues seriously. Children are educated about the risks involved with using drugs, alcohol and other substances while at school. Many volunteer youth workers are active in their local community, often as representatives of the Public Social Welfare Centres (CPAS).

Concerned parents (and teenagers themselves) can always approach the English speaking Community Help Service for help and advice on any subject.

There are also a number of websites aimed specifically at young people looking for information:

• Centre for Information for Young People (in French only).
• Laura: for information on sex, contraceptives, illness (in French & Dutch)

Youth Organisations

Most towns have a youth club and in larger cities such as Brussels there are clubs specifically for youngsters of expatriate families. The different language communities have their own youth organisations.

The European Youth Portal has lots of links to youth organisations throughout Belgium including the Youth Council of the French Speaking Community of Belgium where there are listings of all recognised youth organisations.

• For a list of youth organisations: Click here

Scouts

Scouting is very popular throughout Belgium and caters for youngsters even in their late teens. Because of the multi-lingual society there are separate scouting movements in the communities.

• To find a local scout group: Click here 

Jeunes CSC

Teenagers in Wallonia and Brussels have access to Jeunes CSC. This is a youth organisation with local meetings and a lively website with articles, events listings and details of projects. They welcome new members who can get involved in a range of activities including drama, voluntary projects and international exchanges.

• Jeunes CSC website (in French)

Holiday Clubs, Exchanges and Voluntary Work

ONE (Office de la Naissance et de L'Enfance) is mainly associated with the care of much younger children. However, it also oversees the running of holiday clubs (Centres des Vacances) in the French speaking communities. These centres welcome 3 to 15-year-olds during the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. Some are day centres only and others are residential (including camps).

• For further information from ONE: Click here (in French) 
• For information about holiday centres (Centres de Vacances) for the French-speaking community: Click here 

The website has sections for parents and children. It also has a search facility to find a nearby centre. Unfortunately, only the under 12s who attend are subsidised via tax rebates.

• For information on holiday centres for the Flemmish community: Click here (in Dutch)

Study exchanges

Study exchanges are common particularly between the French speaking community and France. Some schools and colleges organise activities for their pupils. Older teenagers can contact organisations such as Club International, which organises exchanges with French students in Paris.

Voluntary work

The European Youth Portal is a good source of information on projects and provides links to lots of organisations looking for voluntary workers in Belgium and overseas.

The British Council is active in Belgium and particularly around Brussels. It puts on various events throughout the year and is always looking for volunteer workers for projects in Belgium and elsewhere.

• British Council Brussels website 
• International Voluntary Service (IVS) website

Youth Employment

There are strict guidelines for those employing under 18 year olds (and certain restrictions apply also to 18 to 21 year olds) regarding the type of work that they may undertake. A lot of jobs involving use of machinery, exposure to chemicals or potentially dangerous substances and jobs which require physical strength, which a young person may find difficult, are all forbidden.

• Safe Start is a web portal for the safety and health of young workers (in French & Dutch)

The employer must provide an induction programme on the first day of work covering the contract, hours of work and health and safety at work. The onus is on the employer to anticipate any potential dangers or problems which may come from the young person's lack of experience and to take steps to avoid problems or accidents.

Casual work can be hard to find. However, there are always people looking for reliable baby-sitters and this can be a good source of income for young people. Some of the expatriate websites post small ads where students can advertise their babysitting services; or LiLi, a free small-ad service used throughout Belgium.

Students

Anyone over 15 may look for part-time work, but those under 16 will need their parents' permission before they may sign an employment contract.

Students wishing to work during their holidays and in term-time can do so but there are certain conditions. The employer and student pay reduced rate social security contributions as long as the student works no more than 23 days in the summer holidays and 23 days in the school year (making a maximum of 46 days). If the student exceeds these limits the right to reduced contributions is lost. For this reason many employers draw up a contract for less than 23 days and ask students to undertake not to work elsewhere immediately afterwards.

Employment agencies specialise in either full-time or temporary work. Students can approach a temping agency (une agence interim) for work but will find that agencies are often reluctant to help under 18s because of the administrative and legal situation surrounding the employment of minors. They will almost certainly offer contracts of less than 23 days and anyone accepting work should read the paperwork carefully. The first three days of work are usually considered as a trial period.

Normal working hours are between 36 and 39 hours per week for a full-time post. Pay and benefits must be equal to those paid to other permanent members of staff undertaking the same work.

Students are allowed to earn a certain amount before they must pay tax; the amount varies according to family situation.

• For more information: Click here (in French).

Child benefit is still available for students over 18 years of age. However, 18 to 25 year olds in education who work in excess of a specified number of hours will find the benefit reduced or stopped.

There is not a huge amount of temporary/seasonal work on offer in Belgium. However, the Ministry of Employment runs a network of offices, known as T-Service, for this kind of work. T-Service offices can be found in major towns or ask at local employment offices.

School Leavers

School leavers looking for work must register with the National Employment Office (Office National de l'Emploi, ONEM) as soon as possible. Since they have not built up any entitlement to unemployment benefit they can only apply for what is known as a waiting allowance (allocation d'attente). They should then visit the local employment office in their area.

There are three employment services in Belgium catering for the various communities.

• Flemish Community: VDAB  (in Dutch)
• Wallonia: FOREM (in French)
• Brussels/Central region: ORBEM/BGDA (in French)

There is a shortage of work for young and inexperienced people. Young people are sometimes offered additional training to improve their work prospects.

Once in work, holiday entitlement is accumulated at a rate of two days for each month worked. Students who begin work in the six months following the end of their studies will receive holiday pay for the whole year.

• Teenagers can also consult the site Infor Jeunes, which has information for 16 to 25 year olds regarding their rights.

Teenagers and Alcohol

Belgium has traditionally had repressive alcohol laws including the prohibition of public consumption right up until the early 1900s. In Belgium no alcoholic drinks may be sold to under 16s. Anyone offering or selling alcohol to those under 16 is liable to be prosecuted. Alcohol advertising is banned on TV during programmes which are aimed at minors.

The government has a specific department to support young people. In the French speaking community this is known as Aide à la Jeunesse (in French). This department works with teenagers on a range of problems including alcohol and drugs as well as supporting the rehabilitation of young offenders. Teenagers receive education on the use and abuse of alcohol in school. However, the government is concerned about the number of young people claiming to drink regularly in spite of this programme.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has a network in Belgium and runs some English speaking meetings.  

• For details of AA meetings in English and links to the French and Dutch speaking associations: Click here

Teenagers and Drugs

Belgian law makes no distinction between hard and soft drugs but does make a distinction between personal and collective use. Use of drugs of any kind in the presence of minors is seldom tolerated. Punishment varies from fines to custodial sentences.

Buying and possessing drugs is an offence, whatever the drug and whatever the quantity and is also punishable by a fine or imprisonment. However, in practical terms the government has admitted that cases of private possession and consumption are of low priority in terms of law enforcement. Individuals found to be in possession of cannabis will seldom be prosecuted especially if they only have a small quantity of the drug and claim either to be using it for the first time or to be giving it up.

Belgium has a strong belief in the freedom of the individual to choose which drugs (if any) to take. Its aim is rather to prevent and limit the risks for users, those around them and society in general. Nevertheless, the Government commits significant funds to the prevention of delinquency and public nuisance caused by the use of drugs.

The federal Government stipulates that each community should ensure that young people are educated about the dangers of using drugs as well as the abuse of alcohol and other substances. Through educational programmes the aim is to persuade young people not to take drugs at all (and in particular to prevent use at a very young age).

For more information the main organisations are:

• Association for Alcohol and other Drug Problems 
• Drug Information Service  (in French)

Teenage Pregnancy

Belgium has quite low rates of teen pregnancy – similar to the Netherlands and certainly lower than the UK and the USA. Abortion rates among teenagers are also low. The age of consent is 16 for both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. Under age sex can be punished and in particular if the minor is under 14 and the other party is over 18 it is quite likely that a criminal prosecution will follow.

Under 18s need permission from a youth court to marry and this is usually granted only in extreme circumstances, for example if the young woman is pregnant.

Access to contraceptives is relatively straightforward. Recent national campaigns have given away free condoms to young men and women and the price of contraceptive pills has been lowered significantly. Some pills, including the morning after pill, are free. Emergency contraception is available in Belgium without prescription. Teenagers are encouraged to consult their GP, gynaecologist or family planning clinic for contraceptive advice or if they find themselves pregnant.

• For information on family planning in Belgium: Click here (in French) 
• To find a family planning clinic: Click here 

Belgium's abortion laws were liberalised in 1990 and currently the law allows for abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy if the woman says she is in a state of distress. Abortion may take place up to 28 weeks if two doctors agree that there is a health risk to the mother or child.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Termination of Pregnancy/Abortion in Belgium

Driving

The Belgians drive on the right and the legal minimum age to drive a car or motorbike is 18 years of age.

Like other European countries, a driving licence (or passport if it is not a photo licence), vehicle registration papers and insurance documents must be carried at all times.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Driving in Belgium

Anyone coming from another country who is under 18 and already holds a driving licence will not be permitted to drive in Belgium until they reach age 18.

Learning to drive

For teenagers learning to drive in Belgium, there is a choice between a driving school or an independent instructor. Some people use a combination of the two. In both cases there are two tests to pass before a licence will be issued. Firstly a theory test (which examines knowledge of the Belgian highway code) and secondly a practical examination. The instructor and the examiner are both in the car during this second test.

Anyone learning to drive with an approved school can take the theory test as many times as they wish. However, if learning with a private instructor a driver is allowed two attempts at the theory test and if they do not pass on the second attempt they must take 12 hours of theory instruction with a school.

Having passed the theory test the new driver receives a certificate which is given to their local authority. They will then be issued with a provisional driving licence. Provisional licences come in four types and are issued according to age and how the driver is being taught. The validity period of the provisional licence also depends on the type of licence and the learner may have anything from three to eighteen months to take the practical test.

While learning to drive anyone under 24 years of age is not allowed to drive at certain times, for example, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and additional restrictions apply on or around public holidays. They may only drive if accompanied by their instructor (or guide) and may not carry any other passengers. There are further restrictions on who may be classed as a guide.

Belgium makes full use of speed cameras and there are no excuses for those caught speeding. Fines are on-the-spot and heavy. Front and rear seat belts must be worn. It is compulsory to have at least third party insurance cover.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Getting a Belgian Driving Licence

Drink-driving regulations

Belgium allows only 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood. Punishment for minor offences could mean a fine. More serious offences will result in heavier fines and possibly imprisonment. Licences can be suspended for up to five years in some cases.

Further Information

• The British Council 
• Belgian Health Ministry