Wild camping in Belgium: is it allowed? (2026)
Free wild camping is banned in Belgium, but you may bivouac for one night at official bivouac zones in Wallonia and Flanders.
What's allowed
- Bivouacking for one night at a recognised bivouac zone (Wallonia & Flanders)
- A small tent (usually max. 3 people) from sunset to sunrise
- Staying overnight with your motorhome at designated camper spots
- Camping at a (mini) campsite or with a 'Welcome To My Garden' host
What's not allowed
- Pitching your tent freely in forests, nature or on the beach
- Open fire or barbecue in nature areas (especially during a drought warning)
- Staying multiple nights in the same spot
- Wild camping in nature reserves or on private land without permission
Belgium has no ‘right to roam’ like Scandinavia does. Pitching your tent freely in a forest or nature area is illegal. At the same time, Belgium is one of the few countries that has actually built up an official bivouac network — which means sleeping legally in nature is still possible, on designated spots.
Wallonia: the bivouac network
Wallonia has a network of recognised bivouac zones (“aires de bivouac”) in forests and along hiking trails, often in the Ardennes. The general rules:
- Maximum one night in the same spot.
- A lightweight tent only, pitched after sunset and taken down again before morning.
- No open fire and no litter left behind (leave no trace).
- Small groups; some zones have a maximum number of tents.
These zones are free and don’t need to be reserved, unless stated otherwise.
Flanders: bivouac zones & pole camping
In recent years, Flanders has also opened bivouac zones in nature areas (managed by organisations such as Natuurpunt and the Agency for Nature and Forests). The principle is similar: one night, a small tent, no fire, and pack everything out again. Some zones use a free reservation system.
What about a motorhome?
With a motorhome or campervan you can’t simply stay anywhere you like. Use the official camper spots (“aires de camping-car”). Parking overnight in an ordinary car park is a grey area and depends on the local municipality.
Fines
Anyone who does wild camp freely risks a municipal (GAS) fine or a nature fine, which in protected areas can run to several hundred euros. Forest rangers and nature inspectors patrol actively, especially during the summer season.
Practical tips
- Plan your overnight stay in advance at a recognised bivouac zone — you’ll find these on the CampCompass map.
- Respect the drought code: at orange or red level, any fire is forbidden.
- Arrive late, leave early, and leave the spot cleaner than you found it.